His first appearance on record was on Ono's album Season of Glass (1981), reciting a story that his father used to tell him. At the age of 9, he performed the song "It's Alright" on the Yoko Ono tribute album Every Man Has A Woman (1984). In 1988 Sean was featured in the cast of Michael Jackson's Moonwalker. He has recalled working with Jackson as a positive experience. Later in life, his initial efforts as a serious musician came as collaborations: he appeared on Lenny Kravitz's album Mama Said (1991) and formed backing-band IMA for his mother's album Rising (1995).
In 1997 Lennon (along with fellow IMA member Timo Ellis) joined New York-based Japanese duo Cibo Matto (Miho Hatori & Yuka Honda) for their second EP, Super Relax. Through his association with Cibo Matto, he was approached by the Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch, who expressed an interest in his music. Lennon's debut solo album, Into the Sun, was released in 1998 on the Beastie Boys' record label, Grand Royal Records. Regarding Grand Royal, Sean has said, "I think I found the only label on the planet who doesn't care who my parents are and what my name is. It's a good feeling to know that I wouldn't have gotten the offer if they wouldn't have liked my songs. That's pretty rare in the music business!". Into the Sun was produced by fellow Cibo Matto member and then girlfriend, Yuka Honda, who Sean claimed was his inspiration for the album. A music video for "Home", a single from the album, was directed by Spike Jonze and enjoyed extended airplay on MTV. Cibo Matto played as Sean's backing band on Into The Sun and joined him during the closing scene in the "Home" music video.
In 1999, Sean's EP Half Horse, Half Musician was released featuring new tracks such as "Heart & Lung" and "Happiness" as well as remixes of songs from Into The Sun. Later in the year, Cibo Matto released their second album Stereo Type A. To the dismay of many Cibo Matto fans Stereo Type A was to be their final album and the group has since disbanded. The Millennium saw Sean briefly stepping into the world of Hip Hop, contributing vocals to Del tha Funkee Homosapien and Handsome Boy Modeling School (in which he performed a duet on "Sunshine" with musician Josh Haden). In 2001, Sean performed "This Boy" and "Across The Universe" live with Rufus Wainwright and Moby for Come Together: A Night for John Lennon's Words and Music. In the following years Sean stayed out of the spotlight (aside from gaining minor media attention when he dated Elizabeth Jagger). However he collaborated with various bands and artists either as a session musician or as a producer.
After Grand Royal Records' demise in 2001, Sean signed with Capitol Records, yet no solo material surfaced until early February 2006, when "Dead Meat" was released as the first single from his new album, Friendly Fire. A promotional trailer for the CD/DVD package of Friendly Fire was leaked online in early 2006. The trailer featured scenes from the film version of the album, a DVD of music videos comprised into a film. In actuality, the videos were screen tests for Coin Locker Babies, another project on which Lennon is working, and rather than waste film, he decided to create a cinematic counterpart to his new album. Friendly Fire went on to be released in October, 2006. Though mixed reviews (however mostly positive) came from the music press, the album was highly praised by fans and many [attribution needed] consider it to be Sean's strongest work to date. The night the album was released, Lennon made his first major television appearance since 2001, performing "Dead Meat" live on the Late Show with David Letterman. Lennon has since appeared on The Sharon Osbourne Show (UK) and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Aside from his solo music, 2006 also saw Lennon collaborating with Jordan Galland and his band Dopo Yume for their album The Secret Show as well as The Strokes guitar player Albert Hammond, Jr. on his debut solo album Yours to Keep. Since 2006, Sean has been touring extensively in promotion of Friendly Fire and while in France remixed his song "Parachute" in collaboration with French artist -M-. The remix is entitled "L'éclipse".
Albums
(1998) Into the Sun
(2006) Friendly Fire
EPs
(1999) Half Horse, Half Musician
Singles
(1998) "Home"
(1999) "Queue (Radio Mix)"
(2006) "Dead Meat"
Producer
(1999) Sean Lennon, Half Horse Half Musician
(2001) Valentine Original Soundtrack
(2005) Esthero, Wikked Lil' Grrrls
(2006) Sean Lennon, Friendly Fire
(2007) Irina Lazareanu, Some Place Along the Way
Actor
(1988) Moonwalker
(2006) Friendly Fire
(2008) (in production) Coin Locker Babies
Writer
(2005) Smile For The Camera
(2006) Friendly Fire
(2008) (in production) Coin Locker Babies
Dead Meat
Sean Lennon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't you know you're dead meat
You just messed with the wrong team
Better not try and fall sleep now
you'd better run out of here
I'll close my eyes and count to
Ten and then ill come find you
you're gonna get what you deserve
Gonna get what you deserve
In the end your gonna learn
How you get what you deserve
to much
Now you know to much
Only one choice you leave for us
Who do you think they'll believe us or you
Yeah
hope you realize this isn't a game
You know the price so pay up
Or your life could be chaos
Yeah yeah yeah
you're gonna get what you deserve
Gonna get what you deserve
In the end you're gonna learn
How you get what you deserve
and you get what
Get what you deserve
And you get what
Get what you deserve
The lyrics of Sean Lennon's song "Dead Meat" describe a situation where someone has made a grave mistake by messing with the wrong team and now their life is in danger. The song warns the person to run away while they still can, because they will soon receive the punishment they deserve for their actions. The lyrics suggest that the situation is not a game, and the person has to pay the price for their mistake, or their life could be in chaos.
The song implies that the team the person has messed with is powerful and capable of taking drastic actions. The lyrics also convey a sense of inevitability and fate- the person is going to get what they deserve, and there is no escaping it. The tone of the song is ominous, and the repeated line "you're gonna get what you deserve" emphasizes the severity of the situation.
Overall, "Dead Meat" is a cautionary tale about facing the consequences of one's actions. It warns listeners to be careful who they mess with, and to always consider the possible outcomes of their actions.
Line by Line Meaning
Dead meat
Addressing the person as someone who is in deep trouble.
Don't you know you're dead meat
Telling the person that they have made a grave mistake.
You just messed with the wrong team
Warning the person that they have crossed the wrong people.
Better not try and fall sleep now
Advising the person not to let their guard down.
you'd better run out of here
Urging the person to leave immediately.
I'll close my eyes and count to
Threatening the person with physical harm.
Ten and then ill come find you
Implying that the person should be afraid of what's going to happen next.
you're gonna get what you deserve
Stating that the person will receive their just punishment.
Gonna get what you deserve
Echoing the previous line for emphasis.
In the end your gonna learn
Suggesting that the person will eventually realize their mistake.
How you get what you deserve
Emphasizing that the punishment is deserved.
to much
Pointing out that the person knows too much information.
Now you know to much
Explicitly stating that the person has gained knowledge that is dangerous for them to have.
Only one choice you leave for us
Implying that the person has no other options.
Who do you think they'll believe us or you
Asking a rhetorical question that suggests the person is in a powerless position.
hope you realize this isn't a game
Reminding the person of the seriousness of the situation.
You know the price so pay up
Demanding that the person pays for their mistake.
Or your life could be chaos
Warning the person that they may face grave consequences if they don't comply.
you're gonna get what you deserve
Repeating the earlier statements for emphasis.
Gonna get what you deserve
Emphasizing the inevitable and just conclusion of the situation.
In the end you're gonna learn
Repeating the earlier suggestion that the person will eventually understand what they've done wrong.
How you get what you deserve
Reiterating the idea that the punishment is deserved.
and you get what
Repeating the concept that the person will receive punishment.
Get what you deserve
Echoing the earlier statements for emphasis.
And you get what
Repeating the idea that the person will receive punishment for their actions.
Get what you deserve
Repeating the idea that the punishment is deserved.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: SEAN ONO LENNON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
reznur
It's a shame at how Sean's music is underrated.
The first time I listened to "Friendly Fire" I was blown away by his talent.
Keep it up Sean
Che Rif
Doris Mart ART is underated... That's why ART is ART. 😉
Shaderk
no.
Heisenbrick
Totally agree the new Claypool Lennon Delirium album is fire🔥 I hope we get more great music soon or am I just delirious?
Boram Kim
I love Mark ad you love flag :)
Mako K
I never get tired of hearing this song.
tinfoilhatter
riiight? a haunting melody, but so much more... what the heck has he done, haha::
JamieOwens
The whole album is 🔥🔥
USPatriot4Sanity
This is the first time I gave listening to Sean's music a chance. I have to say this song is very GOOD. It really is a DISGRACE that his music doesn't get more play on American air. I'm very IMPRESSED. I know he doesn't like to be compared to his dad's music, but in saying his dad would be PROUD of this composition is major compliment to ANY musician. Go SEAN.
Patrick Shehane
I'm a composer and musician, as well as a Beatles historian, and I agree with you. This is good, thoughtful music John would be proud out of his mind over. He'd have flipped over his sons work