You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you will join us
And the world will live as one
25 years ago today, December 8, 1980, John Lennon was shot and killed by a crazed fan in front of his New York City home, The Dakota. At the time, I was three. I do not remember the tragedy.
As I grew older, I started to hear about this band called The Beatles.I heard my mom talking from time to time about these four lads from Liverpool, England who, in the 1960's (an ancient time that meant absolutely nothing to me) made such fantastic music that it left girls screaming and swooning, gave even the shyest boy the courage to sing along, and drove the world into a crazy frenzy that could only be described in one word: Beatlemania.
But who were they? I was 10. I didn't care.
A few years later, I was up in the attic of my house, looking for my remote control car or some stupid thing. Instead, I stumbled across a box of old records and laughed. RECORDS! Ha! Who listens to records? I can't believe she lived in a time before cassette tapes. Mom is so old. Wait a minute ... what's this?
I was immediately entranced by the cover. I'd never seen anything like it before. I flipped through a few more records and came across one that had an entire White cover. The angelic presentation intrigued me. I removed one of four vinyl records from the sleeve that was stamped with the words "The Beatles" and played it. (As much as I hated records, my stereo had a record player. I had never used it.) It wasn't too hard to figure out. I started it up and put the needle at the edge of the record. I sat down on my bed and listened as a large airplane landed in all corners of my room. It was the beginning of the song Back In The U.S.S.R. and the start of my music education. I would never listen to music the same way again.
The Beatles were, are, and always will be Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and John Lennon. Their lyrics were often a celebration of love and always a declaration of life. Listening to The Beatles and/or John Lennon's solo works makes you feel like you can do anything, you can love anyone, anything is possible. Sometimes, I think how lucky we are that the Fab Four ever found each other. From the first time they struck a chord, the world was forever changed for the better. If you have never heard them for fear that they are corny or uncool, man are you missing out. The rest of the world knows exactly what I'm talking about. I hope someday you will join us ...
All You Need Is Love
-The Beatles
Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.
There's nothing you can do that can't be done.
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game
It's easy.
There's nothing you can make that can't be made.
No one you can save that can't be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be in time
It's easy.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
There's nothing you can know that isn't known.
Nothing you can see that isn't shown.
Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be.
It's easy.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
All you need is love (all together now)
All you need is love (everybody)
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
R.I.P. John Lennon
