speed of dark

It's been 27 years this coming Saturday since John Lennon died. It's still so unbelievable that he's gone. I still feel enraged and cheated of what he would have done.

He would certainly be speaking out about the violence in the middle east and our country's involvement there. He'd be outraged about what people continue to do to each other in the name of religion.

What I really wanted to hear today, however, was some old Beatles songs that featured John Lennon. "Mr. Kite" is especially for Indie Mom, as we were talking about it recently. You can hear so much in this song what Elliott Smith--someone else who left us too soon--found so inspiring in his own music.

And I've always marveled at the first section of "Happiness Is a Warm Gun": "She's not a girl who misses much; she's well-acquainted with the touch of a velvet hand, like a lizard on a windowpane." Amazing how much is said in those few words.

I'm Only Sleeping - acoustic take 1 for Revolver (1966)
Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts' Club Band (1967)
Happiness Is a Warm Gun from The White Album (Disc 1) (1968)
Across the Universe from Let It Be (1970)


John Lennon's Official website