John Lennon — Remember
Album: John Lennon/Plastic Ono BandAvg rating:
Your rating:
Total ratings: 1065
Length: 4:33
Plays (last 30 days): 3
share
tweet
Remember when you were young?
How the hero was never hung
Always got away
Remember how the man
Used to leave you empty handed?
Always, always let you down
If you ever change your mind
About leaving it all behind
Remember, remember, today
And don't feel sorry
The way it's gone
And don't you worry
'Bout what you've done
Just remember when you were small
How people seemed so tall
Always had their way
Do you remember your Ma and Pa
Just wishing for movie stardom
Always, always playing a part
If you ever feel so sad
And the whole world is driving you mad
Remember, remember, today
And don't feel sorry
'Bout the way it's gone
And don't you worry
'Bout what you've done
No, no, remember, remember
The fifth of November
How the hero was never hung
Always got away
Remember how the man
Used to leave you empty handed?
Always, always let you down
If you ever change your mind
About leaving it all behind
Remember, remember, today
And don't feel sorry
The way it's gone
And don't you worry
'Bout what you've done
Just remember when you were small
How people seemed so tall
Always had their way
Do you remember your Ma and Pa
Just wishing for movie stardom
Always, always playing a part
If you ever feel so sad
And the whole world is driving you mad
Remember, remember, today
And don't feel sorry
'Bout the way it's gone
And don't you worry
'Bout what you've done
No, no, remember, remember
The fifth of November
Comments (124)add comment
BCarn wrote:
My god what a dumb comment.
i love THAT piano.
My god what a dumb comment.
i love THAT piano.
You just played this song 30 minutes ago. Are you running out of ideas?
cambuddyf wrote:
Also nice to hear Lennon’s voice with less reverb or bathroom effect.
Geoff Emerick described in his book how John would keep telling him to add more reverb to his vocals and how much he hated to do it. John apparently hated the sound of his voice, especially dry, and thought the extra reverb made it sound better.
I'm not a fan of it either but I just consider it a part of the overall sound John was trying to achieve. If we could hear Beatles or Lennon/Ono tracks with dryer vocals it probably wouldn't sound quite right.
The great part of this song is the break “and don’t feel sorry about the way it’s gone”. Also nice to hear Lennon’s voice with less reverb or bathroom effect.
Canlistener wrote:
I see music isn't really your thing. Bad luck.
Oh man, has the monkey stopped banging on that piano yet? Never been a huge fan of The Beatles or it's members solo work, but this is awful.
I see music isn't really your thing. Bad luck.
Like Ringo style
I used to always be a McCartney-ite, when it came to taking sides. But in recent years I am shifting - less of the pop, more of the raw heart :)
Good lord, this is bad isn't it.
It's John on the piano.
I'm always flabbergastamazed that this is the same musical artist fellow who sang Slow Down and I Want To Hold Your Hand. One man, two completely different sounds, a mere 6 - 7 years span.
Suffice to say, his important work was with the Beatles.
VH1 wrote:
My god what a dumb comment.
Who played the piano? Yoko Ono? Well, she cant sing and she cant play the piano.
My god what a dumb comment.
Tedious!
Gah, that driving, monotonous beat! :-(
i like the end... Boom!
heyjoe3577 wrote:
After BillG played this track today I remembered the segue used to be Murder → Remember....and well here's a brilliant 11 year old comment about that old song combo.
Bill is just making sure we REMEMBER that the Gilmour song was about Lennon's MURDER.
After BillG played this track today I remembered the segue used to be Murder → Remember....and well here's a brilliant 11 year old comment about that old song combo.
On_The_Beach wrote:
Come on, self-referencing as stupid over and over isn't entertaining? I'm easily amused.
Hoping Bill can delete the brain-dead VH1 comments below (or at least 12 of the 13)? 
Come on, self-referencing as stupid over and over isn't entertaining? I'm easily amused.
Who played the piano? Yoko Ono? Well, she cant sing and she cant play the piano.
Remember...........listen to something else when this starts.
I remember.
John, you are missed....
John, you are missed....
big stud romeotuma wrote:
This song is good for the ears...
I hope Bill has a fine 63rd birthday, with many more to come for multitudinous decades...
Stefen wrote:
Yeah, and they are best to be forgotten!! What they made was all crap!
And this song is proof that even a great songwriter can write extremly bad songs!
People often forget about the Plastic Ono Band. This from 1970.
Yeah, and they are best to be forgotten!! What they made was all crap!
And this song is proof that even a great songwriter can write extremly bad songs!
People often forget about the Plastic Ono Band. This from 1970.
That explosion at the end always "jolts" me.
good Sunday morning to all,
this is as good as a Sunday morning song can be
.
can I get an amen for Aonghus
this is as good as a Sunday morning song can be
.
can I get an amen for Aonghus
rednred wrote:
Touche, you are absolutely right, I agree that was an inappropriate slam against rap and hip hop. So let me revise that to: I'm surprised that so many people who listen to RP, which I feel by definition makes you someone with good and varied tastes in music, give such low ratings to some great music. I'm guessing some of that has to do with the different times, but also to the fact that, if hearing certain music for only the first or second time, in this case "Remember", and without hearing the rest of the album, that is not enough listens to really "get" the music. And, as you wrote, to each his own.
Hey rednred, I appreciate that! Thank you for the thoughtful response
Greetings from NC
Touche, you are absolutely right, I agree that was an inappropriate slam against rap and hip hop. So let me revise that to: I'm surprised that so many people who listen to RP, which I feel by definition makes you someone with good and varied tastes in music, give such low ratings to some great music. I'm guessing some of that has to do with the different times, but also to the fact that, if hearing certain music for only the first or second time, in this case "Remember", and without hearing the rest of the album, that is not enough listens to really "get" the music. And, as you wrote, to each his own.
Hey rednred, I appreciate that! Thank you for the thoughtful response
Greetings from NC inozjeff wrote:
What you said. Plus, sharp and incisive perspectives on the politics of the day. A growth experience in my development as well.
His first 2 solo albums were incredibly internal song cycles full of pain and revelation. They were not exactly commercial so I think many miss the point when it comes to those songs not being like poppy Beatles stuff. This is gut-wrenching soul searching music for the adventurous. Each song really is part of the cohesive struggle he was always going through mainly due to childhood abandonment. A real growth in his development IMO.
What you said. Plus, sharp and incisive perspectives on the politics of the day. A growth experience in my development as well.
I recall hearing this song's last line for the first time: "Do you remember, the 5th of November? (explosion)". Few artists of the time made you think quite like he did. And this was back when many were trying.
so many great ones on this album
"Isolation" never gets much talk
but it's an all time favorite of mine
"Isolation" never gets much talk
but it's an all time favorite of mine
kanga311 wrote:
What does appreciating rap and hip hop have to do with rating John Lennon? They are genres of their own, and don't stand beside classic rock...although many early hip hop artists often sampled classic rock and used lyrics of the Stones, etc. in their music. I was raised on every style of music, which is why I'm here. It's sad to see so many RP comments that are disparaging against rap and hip hop when the artists of these genres are creative in their own right. To each his/her/their own.
Touche, you are absolutely right, I agree that was an inappropriate slam against rap and hip hop. So let me revise that to: I'm surprised that so many people who listen to RP, which I feel by definition makes you someone with good and varied tastes in music, give such low ratings to some great music. I'm guessing some of that has to do with the different times, but also to the fact that, if hearing certain music for only the first or second time, in this case "Remember", and without hearing the rest of the album, that is not enough listens to really "get" the music. And, as you wrote, to each his own.
What does appreciating rap and hip hop have to do with rating John Lennon? They are genres of their own, and don't stand beside classic rock...although many early hip hop artists often sampled classic rock and used lyrics of the Stones, etc. in their music. I was raised on every style of music, which is why I'm here. It's sad to see so many RP comments that are disparaging against rap and hip hop when the artists of these genres are creative in their own right. To each his/her/their own.
Touche, you are absolutely right, I agree that was an inappropriate slam against rap and hip hop. So let me revise that to: I'm surprised that so many people who listen to RP, which I feel by definition makes you someone with good and varied tastes in music, give such low ratings to some great music. I'm guessing some of that has to do with the different times, but also to the fact that, if hearing certain music for only the first or second time, in this case "Remember", and without hearing the rest of the album, that is not enough listens to really "get" the music. And, as you wrote, to each his own.
rednred wrote:
What does appreciating rap and hip hop have to do with rating John Lennon? They are genres of their own, and don't stand beside classic rock...although many early hip hop artists often sampled classic rock and used lyrics of the Stones, etc. in their music. I was raised on every style of music, which is why I'm here. It's sad to see so many RP comments that are disparaging against rap and hip hop when the artists of these genres are creative in their own right. To each his/her/their own.
A 5.9? Are you kidding me? This is a great song from a revolutionary album that sounds as good and fresh today as it did when it first came out in 1970, right after The Beatles split up. But I agree with the previous comment, it is a very different hearing music in its time vs. years later, when the times are so much different. But it still blows my mind that a generation brought up on rap and hip hop would consider anything from that genre superior to "Remember", or anything from the Plastic Ono Band album.
What does appreciating rap and hip hop have to do with rating John Lennon? They are genres of their own, and don't stand beside classic rock...although many early hip hop artists often sampled classic rock and used lyrics of the Stones, etc. in their music. I was raised on every style of music, which is why I'm here. It's sad to see so many RP comments that are disparaging against rap and hip hop when the artists of these genres are creative in their own right. To each his/her/their own.
tonypf wrote:
Sue,
Totally with your sentiments in the second paragraph. Well put. Thanks.
I couldn't have said it better, or agree more.
Sue,
Totally with your sentiments in the second paragraph. Well put. Thanks.
I couldn't have said it better, or agree more.
His first 2 solo albums were incredibly internal song cycles full of pain and revelation. They were not exactly commercial so I think many miss the point when it comes to those songs not being like poppy Beatles stuff. This is gut-wrenching soul searching music for the adventurous. Each song really is part of the cohesive struggle he was always going through mainly due to childhood abandonment. A real growth in his development IMO.
A 5.9? Are you kidding me? This is a great song from a revolutionary album that sounds as good and fresh today as it did when it first came out in 1970, right after The Beatles split up. But I agree with the previous comment, it is a very different hearing music in its time vs. years later, when the times are so much different. But it still blows my mind that a generation brought up on rap and hip hop would consider anything from that genre superior to "Remember", or anything from the Plastic Ono Band album.
a few days late...
6? WTF people? It's John Lennon and he was incapable of writing anything less than a 7.
What a groove. From the gut. So great. Grew up on this.
The difference between knowing the music in its time vs. hearing now for the first time....
The difference between knowing the music in its time vs. hearing now for the first time....
What a groove. From the gut. So great. Grew up on this.
never heared this before! Sounds so interesting, that i had to see, who was the artist!
Guy Fawkes Day was yesterday!
A good song on from an unbelievable album. There really is nothing else like his first solo album. The chorus part "Don't feel sorry ..,.." is beautiful but he could have used a bit of help with the rest of the melody. Lyrically its up to his normal standards.
suesblues wrote:
Sue,
Totally with your sentiments in the second paragraph. Well put. Thanks.
OK, two things. The explosion at the end of this song took me by surprise, that's why I popped in here to find out what it meant (apaprently a reference to Guy Fawkes night, and exploding the past etc).
However, I am amazed by all the misogynistic anti Yoko Ono stuff I've found here! To slam her, is in effect to be insulting Lennon that he could not judge character and was duped. Out of respect for everyone, could people just accept that they formed a very creative and constructive romantic relationship, and get over all this blaming?
However, I am amazed by all the misogynistic anti Yoko Ono stuff I've found here! To slam her, is in effect to be insulting Lennon that he could not judge character and was duped. Out of respect for everyone, could people just accept that they formed a very creative and constructive romantic relationship, and get over all this blaming?
Sue,
Totally with your sentiments in the second paragraph. Well put. Thanks.
What a dreadful song.
kingart wrote:
1. This is a fucking brilliant song.
2. So, was John suppose to repeat his or maybe even Paul's work with the Beatles for the rest of his career
3. Wax he supposed to stop looking for and absorbing new influences after Buddy Holly.
4. was he supposed to find a more conventional, and more conventionally pretty wife
5. This is afucking brilliant song.
I barely recognize this as a Lennon song. Every artist is entitled to their own path regardless of what or who they were before, but I hear no Beatles, no Little Richard or Buddy Holly, no classic rock and roll, none of the elan vital that characterized Slow Down or Hey Bulldog. A lot of Lennon's post Beatles music, good as some of it was, seemed to be more about his self-therapy ruminating. Oh well, we are not qualified to approve of his psyche, but what joy he once had seemed to have been squeezed out of him.
1. This is a fucking brilliant song.
2. So, was John suppose to repeat his or maybe even Paul's work with the Beatles for the rest of his career
3. Wax he supposed to stop looking for and absorbing new influences after Buddy Holly.
4. was he supposed to find a more conventional, and more conventionally pretty wife
5. This is afucking brilliant song.
Lazarus wrote:
not much Freudian psychotherapy these days— mostly just biological medication treatments...
Hey Laz.!
Do you remember that time when Joey, Johnny & Dee Dee and "Richie The Temp." Ramone were in Pychotherapy? Do you remember that?
THAT WAS AWESOME!
not much Freudian psychotherapy these days— mostly just biological medication treatments...
Hey Laz.!
Do you remember that time when Joey, Johnny & Dee Dee and "Richie The Temp." Ramone were in Pychotherapy? Do you remember that?
THAT WAS AWESOME!
Thank you for this cool photo calypsus_1 (Yoko lookin quite hot! Oh, look! There's bearded VanGogh!)
calypsus_1 wrote:
Cannes 1971 by rising70
https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_first_rays/
All rights reserved
.
calypsus_1 wrote:
Cannes 1971 by rising70
https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_first_rays/
Jeanne Moreau, Yoko Ono, and John Lennon.
All rights reserved.
tphord wrote:
This song feels like a warm-up exercise in the morning before trying to write good music. I wonder whether Lennon got tired of the Beatles' polished perfection and controlled emotions, which led to some of his solo music sounding like second-rate first drafts.
I agree with you on your last belief. I don't think Yoko respected the boundaries of the band and wanted to be part of the music-making process--but Lennon wanted that too. John ultimately wanted out of the group and being with Yoko was just part of the process of finding his own identity as ex-Beatle John Lennon.
Maybe she indulged the navel-gazing that crept into his songs, and I blame Yoko for the screeching and wailing that they thought passed for music. But John Lennon didn't owe anyone one more minute of being a Beatle than he wanted. If your heroes stop making music you like, or die while crapping on the toilet like a beached whale, or become so drug-addled and insane that the band breaks up, you just have to be grateful for the great music they made.
9/5/14 edit: Suesblues has an excellent point: John and Yoko loved each other despite real ups and downs in their relationship. I doubt she had the power to brainwash him into making some bad music, given his rather high opinion of himself and strong will. John did what he wanted even though he probably had post-Beatle regrets from time to time.
John was brilliant, this was not.
I was never a Yoko hater but I do feel she screwed Johns brain outta his head and thus ruined his music.
I have also always believed she significantly contributed to ending the Beatles.
I was never a Yoko hater but I do feel she screwed Johns brain outta his head and thus ruined his music.
I have also always believed she significantly contributed to ending the Beatles.
This song feels like a warm-up exercise in the morning before trying to write good music. I wonder whether Lennon got tired of the Beatles' polished perfection and controlled emotions, which led to some of his solo music sounding like second-rate first drafts.
I agree with you on your last belief. I don't think Yoko respected the boundaries of the band and wanted to be part of the music-making process--but Lennon wanted that too. John ultimately wanted out of the group and being with Yoko was just part of the process of finding his own identity as ex-Beatle John Lennon.
Maybe she indulged the navel-gazing that crept into his songs, and I blame Yoko for the screeching and wailing that they thought passed for music. But John Lennon didn't owe anyone one more minute of being a Beatle than he wanted. If your heroes stop making music you like, or die while crapping on the toilet like a beached whale, or become so drug-addled and insane that the band breaks up, you just have to be grateful for the great music they made.
9/5/14 edit: Suesblues has an excellent point: John and Yoko loved each other despite real ups and downs in their relationship. I doubt she had the power to brainwash him into making some bad music, given his rather high opinion of himself and strong will. John did what he wanted even though he probably had post-Beatle regrets from time to time.
OK, two things. The explosion at the end of this song took me by surprise, that's why I popped in here to find out what it meant (apaprently a reference to Guy Fawkes night, and exploding the past etc).
However, I am amazed by all the misogynistic anti Yoko Ono stuff I've found here! To slam her, is in effect to be insulting Lennon that he could not judge character and was duped. Out of respect for everyone, could people just accept that they formed a very creative and constructive romantic relationship, and get over all this blaming?
However, I am amazed by all the misogynistic anti Yoko Ono stuff I've found here! To slam her, is in effect to be insulting Lennon that he could not judge character and was duped. Out of respect for everyone, could people just accept that they formed a very creative and constructive romantic relationship, and get over all this blaming?
I barely recognize this as a Lennon song. Every artist is entitled to their own path regardless of what or who they were before, but I hear no Beatles, no Little Richard or Buddy Holly, no classic rock and roll, none of the elan vital that characterized Slow Down or Hey Bulldog. A lot of Lennon's post Beatles music, good as some of it was, seemed to be more about his self-therapy ruminating. Oh well, we are not qualified to approve of his psyche, but what joy he once had seemed to have been squeezed out of him.
slartibart_O wrote:
OR is Spoon very Lennonish in this case? Either way, with such low ratings what does that say about Spoon?
People here disapproving of this Lennon tune says nothing about Spoon - at all.
OR is Spoon very Lennonish in this case? Either way, with such low ratings what does that say about Spoon?
People here disapproving of this Lennon tune says nothing about Spoon - at all.
miahfost wrote:
Maybe, but what is totally lost is that he treated her much worse than she treated him.
Yoko Ono totally ruined this guy.
Maybe, but what is totally lost is that he treated her much worse than she treated him.
big stud Romeo Tuma wrote:
Yup... Primal therapy is a trauma-based psychotherapy created by Arthur Janov, who argues that neurosis is caused by the repressed pain of childhood trauma...
Lennon also went thru scream therapy, where a person screams his guts out until he is too exhausted to be mad anymore... he experimented with all sorts of new-age psychotherapy from the baby-boom hippies... these days in the new millennium, therapists espouse little more than medications...
not much Freudian psychotherapy these days— mostly just biological medication treatments... that's what I have heard from members of my mushrooming multitude of churches...
love this song...
This song was inspired by his primal therapy... from his first post-Beatles album... love it...
Yup... Primal therapy is a trauma-based psychotherapy created by Arthur Janov, who argues that neurosis is caused by the repressed pain of childhood trauma...
Lennon also went thru scream therapy, where a person screams his guts out until he is too exhausted to be mad anymore... he experimented with all sorts of new-age psychotherapy from the baby-boom hippies... these days in the new millennium, therapists espouse little more than medications...
not much Freudian psychotherapy these days— mostly just biological medication treatments... that's what I have heard from members of my mushrooming multitude of churches...
love this song...
I'm just musically weird, listening to a different drummer—the same reason most don't like this song (choppy, discordant, etc.) is why I do like it. But then, despite buying "Walls and Bridges" back in the day, I was not really a big Lennon fan.
Tizmself wrote:
As John wrote and sang - All You Need Is Love.
She totally loved him.
He totally loved her.
Nothing else matters.
He totally loved her.
Nothing else matters.
As John wrote and sang - All You Need Is Love.John was brilliant, this was not.
I was never a Yoko hater but I do feel she screwed Johns brain outta his head and thus ruined his music.
I have also always believed she significantly contributed to ending the Beatles.
I was never a Yoko hater but I do feel she screwed Johns brain outta his head and thus ruined his music.
I have also always believed she significantly contributed to ending the Beatles.
Musically speaking, i'd say this is horrible in terms of quality.
But hey, music's made to feel, not to measure...
Even so:
3
But hey, music's made to feel, not to measure...
Even so:
3
miahfost wrote:
She totally loved him.
He totally loved her.
Nothing else matters.
Yoko Ono totally ruined this guy.
She totally loved him.
He totally loved her.
Nothing else matters.
scrubbrush wrote:
very Spoonish. Not Lennon's best work.
OR is Spoon very Lennonish in this case? Either way, with such low ratings what does that say about Spoon?
very Spoonish. Not Lennon's best work.
OR is Spoon very Lennonish in this case? Either way, with such low ratings what does that say about Spoon?
Yoko Ono totally ruined this guy.
Brian Epstein,John Lennon by rising70
https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_first_rays/
All rights reserved Zep wrote:
Just like tomorrow!
This one is definitely, umm, challenging....
Just like tomorrow!
HBD, John.
This one is definitely, umm, challenging....
Oh man, has the monkey stopped banging on that piano yet? Never been a huge fan of The Beatles or it's members solo work, but this is awful.
dburges wrote:
very Spoonish. Not Lennon's best work.
I'm not familiar with this track and for an instant, before hearing Lennon's voice, I thought it was Spoon.
very Spoonish. Not Lennon's best work.
Not one of my favorites, but I am struck by how fresh it sounds. Hard to believe this was recorded in '70.
George Harrison blossomed after the Beatles, McCartney went more commercial and Ringo just had fun. Lennon solo is nothing like the Fab Four.
Cannes 1971 by rising70
https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_first_rays/
Jeanne Moreau, Yoko Ono, and John Lennon.
All rights reserved.
One of my Lennon favorites.
Simple truths, stated simply.
Simple truths, stated simply.
a_genuine_find wrote:
I suppose it's the strong lyrical merit that appeals to some. Melodically it is discordant and choppy and unappealing.
It's deliberately discordant and choppy — not melodious. I believe that was his point with this song.
I suppose it's the strong lyrical merit that appeals to some. Melodically it is discordant and choppy and unappealing.
It's deliberately discordant and choppy — not melodious. I believe that was his point with this song.
I'm not familiar with this track and for an instant, before hearing Lennon's voice, I thought it was Spoon.
Nuance wrote:
Agreed. One of his worst efforts.
that explosion should have come at the beginning... and blown up this hot mess.
Agreed. One of his worst efforts.
I disagree. I think this song is much more about the intensity of day to day struggles, and stop and think about the moment in your life.
and then, the time change....good on ya, john.
and then, the time change....good on ya, john.
Beatle-philes may correct me, but as I recall, this was composed during or soon after the Primal Scream therapy phase. John and Yoko were trying to get sane. I find the song very provocative.
that explosion should have come at the beginning... and blown up this hot mess.
a_genuine_find wrote:
I suppose it's the strong lyrical merit that appeals to some. Melodically it is discordant and choppy and unappealing.
I hate to say it, but I agree. I blame the overbearing piano. (Drumming doesn't aspire to much either I guess)
I suppose it's the strong lyrical merit that appeals to some. Melodically it is discordant and choppy and unappealing.
I hate to say it, but I agree. I blame the overbearing piano. (Drumming doesn't aspire to much either I guess)
mrdak wrote:
If never you are in pain, then you're not paying attention.
A man in pain........... You can hear it in his voice.
If never you are in pain, then you're not paying attention.
A man in pain........... You can hear it in his voice.
I suppose it's the strong lyrical merit that appeals to some. Melodically it is discordant and choppy and unappealing.
I guess you had to be there to appreciate this song. The early 70's were a difficult time where still-young people were trying to put together the shards left from 1968. Kind of like a post 9-11 era in a way.
bang bang bang bang bang....refrain
You have to imagine that the other Beatles were listening to this at least pleased that they didn't allow Yoko to affect the group's music the same way. Poor John was lead astray for the sake of love.
Not his best, but it's Lennon and a sub-par Lennon song is better then not.
Didn't know John was capable of sucking like this.
"Remember when you were small
How people seemed so tall"
One of my very earliest memories (I don't think I was 3 years old yet) was looking up at all the adults around me, wondering how come they never fell over, they seemed so tall.
Thanks, John.
How people seemed so tall"
One of my very earliest memories (I don't think I was 3 years old yet) was looking up at all the adults around me, wondering how come they never fell over, they seemed so tall.
Thanks, John.
:D love hearing this right now.
ThePoose wrote:
Indeed.
This album is one of the finest ever produced: raw, primal, powerful and devastating. If you don't end up in tears listening to it, then you have no heart.
Indeed.
ThePoose wrote:
And John was only 30(!) when it was released. The guy had the soul of eternity...
This album is one of the finest ever produced: raw, primal, powerful and devastating. If you don't end up in tears listening to it, then you have no heart.
I appreciate it so much more now that I'm a grownup. And John was only 30(!) when it was released. The guy had the soul of eternity...
A number of years ago, my wife, daughter and myself went to the John Lennon exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. It was a room at the top of the museum and it was all white. His lyrics to different songs were enlarged to about 2 feet by 3 feet and suspended from the ceiling on wires. If I remember corrrectly, when you walked near one of these panels it would light up and the song would start playing, sounding as if it was emanating from the sheet of lyrics itself. It was as if he was in the room singing directly to you. It was one of the most moving exhibits I have ever experienced. Nicely done.
Many of the songs from this album were presented there. It's his best work by far.
Many of the songs from this album were presented there. It's his best work by far.
More_Cowbell wrote:
I've always enjoyed this song. And November 5th is Guy Fawkes Day in England. He attempted to blow up parliament, hence the explosion at the end of this song.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes
I've always enjoyed this song. And November 5th is Guy Fawkes Day in England. He attempted to blow up parliament, hence the explosion at the end of this song.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes
Rember Guy Fawkes Day.
One of my favorite songs from Plastic Ono Band — so simple but so powerful. Perfect. I'll never forget how the ending took me by surprise the first time I heard it.
steeler wrote:
Agreed - complete simpliciity and nerve and expression of true emotion. Brilliant.
Simple. Effective. Spare truth.
Agreed - complete simpliciity and nerve and expression of true emotion. Brilliant.
WonderLizard wrote:
I must admit I was one of those people who believed Ringo to be a second-rate drummer. (I also felt his eccentric style suited the Beatles' music.) Ironically it took listening on one of RP's high quality streams to realize Ringo Starr is actually a very accomplished drummer.
Ordinarily, I let ignorance speak for itself, but gee whiz, that's Alan White on drums—one of the best of that or any other era.
I must admit I was one of those people who believed Ringo to be a second-rate drummer. (I also felt his eccentric style suited the Beatles' music.) Ironically it took listening on one of RP's high quality streams to realize Ringo Starr is actually a very accomplished drummer.
It sounds like the B-52s were listening to this song when they wrote 'Dance this Mess Around'
davidyoull wrote:
- Riff
P.S. Btw, I like Tom Waits too, but you're spot-on about wondering whether the torment is more vaudeville than venom-induced.
Definitely. It's chilling and crushing. I've never heard a more powerful, more personal album. Tom Waits sometimes makes me think that maybe he's in grand torment, but he writes SO MANY songs like that, that I can't tell what might be real and what are character sketches aside from the obvious.
Thank heavens for you and a couple of other posters on this song. This album is absolutely no BS from John Lennon. He was in some torment after the breakup of the Beatles and he is questioning everything, and most often of all he questions himself in very real and uncompromising terms.
'Remember' isn't the best track on the album, but it's darn good. 'Mother' is the best one - make sure your psychic armor is on full power when listening to that one.
Now I know why Lennon was so pissed off - to produce a jewel like this and have people ask him to do another copy of 'Hey Bulldog' or whatever from the past !!!!
- Riff
P.S. Btw, I like Tom Waits too, but you're spot-on about wondering whether the torment is more vaudeville than venom-induced.
ch83575 wrote:
John must have looked long and hard to find a worse drummer than ringo.
Ordinarily, I let ignorance speak for itself, but gee whiz, that's Alan White on drums--one of the best of that or any other era.
Very weak effort
Bleh.....
Simple. Effective. Spare truth.
I love the Beatles and John Lennon, but this song is way too mediocre for RP.
John must have looked long and hard to find a worse drummer than ringo.
Definitely NOT one of JL's best tracks.
Now we are gettin' to the meat and potatoes of the situation.
ThePoose wrote:
This album is one of the finest ever produced: raw, primal, powerful and devastating. If you don't end up in tears listening to it, then you have no heart.
Definitely. It's chilling and crushing. I've never heard a more powerful, more personal album. Tom Waits sometimes makes me think that maybe he's in grand torment, but he writes SO MANY songs like that, that I can't tell what might be real and what are character sketches aside from the obvious.
This album is one of the finest ever produced: raw, primal, powerful and devastating. If you don't end up in tears listening to it, then you have no heart.
davidyoull wrote:
Not something I ever need to be reminded of. But Lennon is always welcome at my ears.
For sure. Gilmour too!
More_Cowbell wrote:
Nailed it! Good observation!
Not something I ever need to be reminded of. But Lennon is always welcome at my ears.
More_Cowbell wrote:
Nailed it! Good observation!
yeah, good indeed - rather brilliant, actually
heyjoe3577 wrote:
Bill is just making sure we REMEMBER that the Gilmour song was about Lennon's MURDER.
Nailed it! Good observation!
Bill is just making sure we REMEMBER that the Gilmour song was about Lennon's MURDER.
I know it's Lennon ... it still sounds pretty weak to me.
That was hard to listen to. I agree with the statements about extra space. Sometimes the space is cool, like in Widespread Panic\'s \"Picking Up the Pieces\", but this space was monotonous.
Originally Posted by renlat:
5.5 average??
Come on people!... 
Yep. Remember school assignments with a minimum page count, and getting to that page count by using big margins, and lots of whitespace? This song is like that.
5.5 average??
Come on people!...
Originally Posted by dmax:
You know, if this weren't Lennon, it wouldn't matter. I'm still not sure that it does, even despite the legacy of the author.
Can agree with that. "It" really didn't happen this time. Sounds like a filler. Apart from the songs he wrote together with McCartney, his songs were kinda monotonous, but, in his case that was often part of the appeal. This song is no example of that.
(Who cares about keeping the environment, etc. in a human-compatible condition, when you have to do whatever your cult leader wants at any given moment?)