Lennon was given his first guitar by his father at age 11 and formed his first band at age 13 with school friend Justin Clayton, who has since played on each of Lennon’s albums. “Justin and I spent all our time learning the classic rock and roll songs, like ‘Roll Over Beethoven,’ Lennon recalls. “As I got older, I began to listen to the Beatles more carefully and became fascinated by the intelligence that went into their songwriting — the arrangements, melodies, and lyrics, which was great as I began to write my own songs. Crafting a great song is always my final goal.”
Though Lennon was also interested in pursuing acting (and was offered an education through the renowned Royal Shakespeare Company), he decided to stick with music. “I'd fallen madly in love with being able to play three or four chords, and everybody standing up and yelling and screaming,” he says. “The simplicity and ease of it drove me toward a career in music more than anything else.”
In 1983 Lennon, then aged 20, was offered his first record deal and released Valotte the following year. Produced by Phil Ramone, the album was certified platinum and earned Lennon a Grammy Award nomination for “Best New Artist.” It also included two major hits, the title track, which was a fixture on the Billboard Top 40 chart for 12 weeks, peaking at No. 9, followed by Too Late For Goodbyes, which spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Noted film director Sam Peckinpah (The Wild Bunch, The Getaway) directed the videos for both singles, the success of which made Lennon an international star, necessitating a global tour of Asia, Europe, the U.S., and Australia. “It was bonkers,” Lennon says. “Coming out of hotels, people would literally trying to rip the clothes off you. I had spent my last year of school in the middle of nowhere in North Wales. To go from that to doing a world tour and having screaming girls after you was crazy.”
Because of his popularity, the record company urged Lennon to make a follow-up album immediately, which he did, releasing The Secret Value of Daydreaming in March 1986. Though Lennon felt he did not have enough time to write or record the album, Daydreaming (also produced by Phil Ramone) went on to gold certification and spawned the hit “Stick Around,” which earned him his first No. 1 on the Billboard Rock chart. (Eighties stars Michael J. Fox and Jami Gertz appear in the song’s video.) After taking a much-needed break, Lennon released the vocally experimental Mr. Jordan in 1989, which featured the rock radio hit Now You’re In Heaven, followed by 1991’s Help Yourself, whose highlights include Saltwater, a plea for environmental responsibility, and Other Side of Town, featuring Blue Nile singer Paul Buchanan.
Lennon decided to take a hiatus following the release of Help Yourself to focus on other creative pursuits, including his interest in acting. In 1993, he was featured as the voice of David Copperfield in an animated NBC special of the Dickens classic. In 1995, film director Mike Figgis asked Lennon to make a cameo in his new film Leaving Las Vegas. “I was told to dress like an ’80s English rock and roll bartender,” Lennon says, “So I rode my Harley to the set wearing clothes I would normally wear and Mike said, ‘That’s great!’” (Nicolas Cage, who won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for his role, orders a beer from Lennon’s bartender character before getting head-butted by another patron and thrown out by Lennon.)
In 1996, Lennon contributed the original composition “Cole’s Song” to the soundtrack to the film Mr. Holland’s Opus, which starred Richard Dreyfuss and featured a score by the late renowned composer Michael Kamen. “I’d met Michael a few times and thought he was an incredible writer and orchestrator,” Lennon says. “I got word that he thought of me for writing this song, not only because of the subject matter, but because two of Dad’s songs were also in the film,” Lennon says. “He thought it would be a nice touch for me to come up with something that would work at the end of the film.” Also that year, Lennon made a cameo in the independent comedy film Cannes Man, directed by Richard Martini and starring Seymour Cassel and Francesco Quinn.
Lennon returned to the music business in 1998 with Photograph Smile.
In 2002, he recorded a version of "When I'm Sixty-Four", from the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album, for an Allstate Insurance commercial.
In 2009, Lennon released a tribute song and EP, "Lucy", honouring the memory of Lucy Vodden (née O'Donnell), the little girl who inspired the song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds".
Lennon released his sixth solo album, the self-produced Everything Changes, in the UK on September 26th, 2011, through British independent label Conehead Management Ltd.
The seventh studio album by Lennon, Jude, was released on 9 September 2022. The album's title is a reference to the Beatles 1968 song "Hey Jude", written by Paul McCartney (and credited to Lennon–McCartney) for the then five-year-old Julian.
Stick Around
Julian Lennon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I might stick around
If you want to say that I trust you
I might stick around
But if you disappear
Then nothing will be clear, ah
And if you go away
To stay, ah
If you say your love won't bring me down
I might stick around
If I kiss your lips just one more time
I could lose control
But if you disappear
Then nothing will be clear, ah
And if you go away
Then where am I to stay, ah
To stay, ah
If I breathe your scent just one more time
I could be controlled
If you tempt me with your final sin
I could be controlled
But if you disappear
Then nothing will be clear, ah
And if you go away
Then where am I to stay, ah
To stay, ah...(repeat and fade)
The lyrics of Julian Lennon's "Stick Around" express the uncertainty and dependence on someone in a romantic relationship. The song is about the singer's willingness to stick around for someone who is trustworthy and loyal but also his fear of being left alone. The repeated refrain emphasizes this idea of sticking around but also emphasizes the uncertainty of the relationship. The condition of the relationship is dependent on the other person's willingness to stay, and he expresses his fear of being left alone.
Lennon expresses his uncertainty with lines like "If you want to tell me something new, I might stick around" and "If you say your love won't bring me down, I might stick around." These lyrics show that the singer is not entirely convinced that the other person is trustworthy, but he's willing to find out. He also emphasizes his fear of being left alone with lines like "And if you disappear, then nothing will be clear." The lines "If I kiss your lips just one more time, I could lose control" and "If you tempt me with your final sin, I could be controlled" expresses the idea that his feelings for this person are intense, but at the same time, he's afraid of losing control and becoming dependent on them.
Overall, "Stick Around" is a song about the uncertainty and fear of being in a romantic relationship. It expresses the need for trust and loyalty and the fear of being left alone. The song's lyrics are relatable to anyone who's been in a situation where they're unsure of their partner's loyalty and are afraid of losing control of their emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
If you want to tell me something new
Julian may stay around if he is introduced to a new idea or information
I might stick around
There is a chance that Julian will remain in the current situation
If you want to say that I trust you
Julian may stay if it's communicated to him that he's trusted
But if you disappear
If the person he's addressing suddenly leaves or disappears
Then nothing will be clear, ah
Julian will be left in a state of confusion
And if you go away
If the person he's addressing leaves
Then where am I to stay, ah
Julian wouldn't have a reason to stay in that situation anymore
If you say your love won't bring me down
If the person assures Julian that their love for him won't negatively affect him
If I kiss your lips just one more time
There may be a chance that Julian loses control if he kisses the person again
But if you disappear
If the person he's addressing suddenly leaves or disappears
Then nothing will be clear, ah
Julian will be left in a state of confusion
And if you go away
If the person he's addressing leaves
Then where am I to stay, ah
Julian wouldn't have a reason to stay in that situation anymore
If I breathe your scent just one more time
There may be a chance that Julian loses control if he catches the person's scent
I could be controlled
Julian may not be able to resist the temptation
If you tempt me with your final sin
If the person offers Julian something he perceives as a final 'forbidden fruit'
I could be controlled
Julian may not be able to resist the temptation
But if you disappear
If the person he's addressing suddenly leaves or disappears
Then nothing will be clear, ah
Julian will be left in a state of confusion
And if you go away
If the person he's addressing leaves
Then where am I to stay, ah
Julian wouldn't have a reason to stay in that situation anymore
To stay, ah...
Julian contemplates whether staying is worth it without the person he's addressing
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BUDDY GUY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Juan E. Velez
OMG this an incredible song by Julian Lennon, I really loved it. He's talented like his Dad. He's amazing in his own right. Way to Julian Lennon.I wish you the very Best in your amazing talent
Nina Olga Sativa
Yes true. Grovn too. But who are you
kim peay
LOVED MY TEENAGED YEARS THE BEST ! 1980'S FOREVER IN MY HEART.
LuAnneLennonFan72
How I LOVED this song when it came out...Still do to this day! Shows what timeless music does to you...It's like hearing it for the first time!!
jonn stoffer
I have admired him and his music since I was a freshman in High School back in 84. NEVER get tired of some Julian Lennon 👍🍺
WildPomStudios
This is such a fun 1980’s video that I remember watching on MTV! Try to name all the celebrity cameos!
Absolute classic video gold! Gotta love the fabulous 80’s! Just wish there was a better quality video of this to watch!
Pop Trash Beauty
I forgot how much I loved this song :)
DJ M
This song is sooo underrated. .
Sandra Hawes
Yet soon good!
Juan E. Velez
I totally agree with you Julian Lennon is incredibly very talented , like his Dad I wish him the very best.