Tomorrow Never Knows
Trouble Lyrics


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Turn off your mind
Relax and float down stream
It is not dying
It is not dying

Lay down all thought
Surrender to the void
It is shining
It is shining

That you may see
The meaning of within
It is being
It is being

That love is all
And love is everyone
It is knowing
It is knowing

That ignorance and hate
May mourn the dead
It is believing
It is believing

But listen to the
Colour of your dreams
It is not living
It is not living

Or play the game
Existence to the end
Of the beginning
Of the beginning





Of the beginning

Overall Meaning

"Tomorrow Never Knows" is a song by the English rock band The Beatles, written in 1966 by John Lennon and released on the album "Revolver". The lyrics of this song are deeply philosophical and offer an existential commentary on the nature of life and death. The repeated phrase “turn off your mind” is an invitation to the listener to let go of their preconceptions and be open to new ideas and experiences. The line “relax and float down stream” is a metaphor for letting go of control and surrendering to the flow of life.


The next line “It is not dying” is a reference to the idea of ego death - the concept that one can transcend the limitations of their ego and experience a higher state of consciousness. The repeated phrase “lay down all thought” is a call to let go of our attachments and preconceptions about the world. The idea of “surrendering to the void” suggests that we should not fear the unknown, but rather embrace it as an opportunity for growth and self-discovery.


The final stanza of the song contains some of its most powerful and thought-provoking lines. The statement “that love is all and love is everyone” is a profound statement of unity and interconnectedness. The references to “ignorance” and “hate” suggest that these negative emotions continue to divide people and prevent them from experiencing this sense of unity. Finally, the line “listen to the colour of your dreams” is a reference to the psychedelic experience of seeing vivid, kaleidoscopic colours and patterns that can be experienced during deep meditation, and the assertion that this state of mind is not living but a reflection of something beyond material existence.


Line by Line Meaning

Turn off your mind
Stop overthinking and worrying


Relax and float down stream
Let go and allow life to guide you


It is not dying
This is not the end


It is not dying
This is not the end


Lay down all thought
Stop analyzing and just be


Surrender to the void
Let go of control and trust in the unknown


It is shining
There's light in surrender


It is shining
There's light in surrender


That you may see
In order to understand


The meaning of within
The essence of yourself


It is being
The truth is in your existence


It is being
The truth is in your existence


That love is all
Love is the most important thing


And love is everyone
Love is universal and connects us all


It is knowing
Understanding this truth


It is knowing
Understanding this truth


That ignorance and hate
Narrow-mindedness and negativity


May mourn the dead
Only cause harm and sadness


It is believing
Believing in love as the solution


It is believing
Believing in love as the solution


But listen to the
Pay attention to


Colour of your dreams
The vibrancy and potential of your aspirations


It is not living
Existing is not the same as truly living


It is not living
Existing is not the same as truly living


Or play the game
Either conform to societal expectations


Existence to the end
Live life to the fullest, to the very end


Of the beginning
From the start until the end




Contributed by Ethan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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