Ashwin Lewis
John Lennon's How Do You Sleep? is a song from his second solo album, *Imagine*. It is considered one of pop music's first diss tracks, written in response to Paul McCartney's Too Many People. Lennon himself stated that the song was not about McCartney but about himself, and that he was using his resentment toward Paul to create a song. The song contains lyrics such as So Sgt. Pepper took you by surprise / You better see right through that mother's eyes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artist | John Lennon |
| Album | Imagine |
| Track Number | 8 |
| Lyrics Referring to | Paul McCartney |
| Lyrics Referring to | Sgt. Pepper |
| Lyrics Referring to | Yesterday |
| Response to | Paul McCartney's "Too Many People" |
| Response to | Paul McCartney's album Ram |
| Reply to "How Do You Sleep?" | Paul McCartney's "Let Me Roll It" |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
John Lennon's resentment towards Paul McCartney
John Lennon's song "How Do You Sleep?" is widely believed to be a diss track aimed at his former Beatles bandmate Paul McCartney. The song is said to be a response to McCartney's song "Too Many People", which is also rumoured to be a jab at Lennon. In an interview, Lennon acknowledged that the song "Too Many People" had some lyrics that seemed to be directed at him, and he used his resentment towards McCartney to create "How Do You Sleep?". He also mentioned that there were some subtle digs on McCartney's album that others might not have noticed, but he did, and so he decided to be more direct in his response.
The lyrics of "How Do You Sleep?" seem to critique McCartney's songwriting abilities, with lines such as "The one mistake you made was in your head" and "The sound you make is muzak to my ears". The song also references the Beatles' album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", with the line "So Sgt. Pepper took you by surprise". This could be interpreted as a criticism of McCartney's contribution to that album, suggesting that he was surprised by its success and didn't fully understand its appeal.
The resentment between Lennon and McCartney seemed to stem from various factors, including creative differences, personal issues, and the involvement of third parties like Yoko Ono and Alan Klein. Lennon is said to have become disillusioned with fame and was tired of being in the Beatles, while McCartney was more committed to the band and had become the de facto leader. There was also a dispute over songwriting credits, with Lennon feeling that he had more ownership over the band, and McCartney wanting his name to appear first in the credits.
The feud between Lennon and McCartney caused damage to their reputations and affected their relationships with the other band members. However, it's important to note that by the time of Lennon's death in 1980, they had reconciled and were scheduled to make music together again. This tragic turn of events cut short their plans for a musical reunion and left a lasting impact on their shared history.
In conclusion, "How Do You Sleep?" serves as a manifestation of John Lennon's resentment towards Paul McCartney during a tumultuous period in their relationship. While the song and its lyrics express Lennon's feelings at the time, the complexity of their dynamic is evident in their eventual reconciliation, highlighting the multifaceted nature of their friendship and collaboration.
What is a Sleeper Hit and How Does it Succeed?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
How Do You Sleep? as a diss track
John Lennon's "How Do You Sleep?" is widely considered one of pop music's first diss tracks. It was written in response to Paul McCartney's "Too Many People", with Lennon using his resentment towards McCartney to create the song. The song is scathing in its critique of McCartney, with Lennon taking aim at his former bandmate's music and public image.
The lyrics of "How Do You Sleep?" are filled with biting sarcasm and contempt. Lennon mocks McCartney's musical abilities, referring to his music as "muzak" and suggesting that his only hit song was "Yesterday". He also takes aim at McCartney's appearance, suggesting that his pretty face will not last forever. The song even goes as far as to suggest that McCartney is dead, both metaphorically and literally: "Those freaks was right when they said you was dead / The one mistake you made was in your head".
Lennon also makes references to the Beatles' breakup and the subsequent solo careers of both himself and McCartney. He suggests that McCartney was surprised by the success of his post-Beatles work, particularly the album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", and that he is now just following the orders of his mother and the "straights" he lives with.
Despite the scathing nature of the song, Lennon later claimed that he wasn't feeling vicious when he wrote it and that the song was more about himself than McCartney: "It’s not about Paul, it’s about me. I’m really attacking myself. But I regret the association, well, what’s to regret? He lived through it". McCartney himself responded to the song with the track "Let Me Roll It" from Wings' "Band On The Run" album.
Sleep Punching: What Your Body Language Says About You
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The song's place on Lennon's album *Imagine*
"How Do You Sleep?" is the eighth track on John Lennon's second solo album, *Imagine*. It was released on 9 September 1971 by Apple Records. The song is widely considered to be one of pop music's first "diss tracks".
The song was written in response to the Paul McCartney track "Too Many People". It was composed during a period of high personal tensions between Lennon and McCartney, following the break-up of the Beatles and McCartney's legal victory to dissolve their partnership. Lennon himself described the song as "not a terrible vicious horrible vendetta", but rather a way to channel his resentment towards McCartney and the other Beatles.
The lyrics of "How Do You Sleep?" contain several references to McCartney. For example, the line "So Sgt. Pepper took you by surprise" alludes to the Beatles' album *Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band*. The inside cover of *Imagine* also featured a picture of Lennon holding the ears of a pig, ridiculing the cover photo of McCartney's May 1971 album, *Ram*.
Despite the song's scathing lyrics, Lennon later reflected that it was "not about Paul, it's about me. I’m really attacking myself". He also stated that he and McCartney had moved past the feud, saying, "Him and me are okay".
Who Are Sleeping Partners and What Do They Do?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
McCartney's response to the song
Paul McCartney is thought to have instigated the feud that inspired John Lennon's song "How Do You Sleep?" with his album "Ram". McCartney's album included several digs at Lennon and his partner Yoko Ono. Lennon responded with "How Do You Sleep?", which included "poison pen lyrics" about McCartney.
Lennon later claimed that the song was about himself, not McCartney. He said: "It's not about Paul, it's about me. I'm really attacking myself. But I regret the association, well, what's to regret? He lived through it. The only thing that matters is how he and I feel about these things and not what the writer or commentator thinks about it. Him and me are okay."
McCartney responded to "How Do You Sleep?" with his song "Dear Friend", which was released on his album "Wild Life" a few months later. The song included the lyrics: "I never meant to be so cold and make you cry, I never meant to hurt you, and I never wanted to be your enemy... I always thought of you as a friend, but friends come in and out of life, some by chance, and some by choice."
In an interview, McCartney said that he and Lennon were "like brothers" and that they had a very intense relationship. He also said that he was "a bit more sensitive than John" and that Lennon could be "a bit more cruel".
Zmodo Cameras: Away, Home, Sleep, Wakeup Modes Explained
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The song's recording and featured musicians
John Lennon's "How Do You Sleep?" was recorded on 26 May 1971 at Ascot Sound Studios, Lennon's recording studio at his Tittenhurst Park home in Berkshire, England. The song was produced by Lennon, Yoko Ono, and Phil Spector and released on 8 October 1971 in the UK and 9 September 1971 in the US.
The song features Lennon on vocals and piano, George Harrison on slide guitar, Nicky Hopkins on piano, John Tout on piano, Ted Turner on acoustic guitar, and Rod Linton on acoustic guitar. Harrison's slide guitar performance has been praised as "his best guitar solo to date" by Lennon himself, who also mentioned that ["George] thinks ['How'] is the best song he's ever heard".
The backing track for "How Do You Sleep?" was completed in 11 takes, with the last take becoming the album master. The song's strings were taped on 4 July 1971 at New York's Record Plant. The recording features Klaus Voormann on bass guitar, Alan White on drums, and Nicky Hopkins on Wurlitzer electric piano.
The song is included on Lennon's second solo album, "Imagine", which was released in September 1971, two years after The Beatles' breakup. The album sessions were co-produced by Lennon and Ono and took place at Ascot Sound Studios, a studio built by the couple in 1970.
China's Unique Roof Sleeping Culture Explained
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The song is about the Lennon/McCartney feud and is considered one of pop music's first diss tracks.
Lennon wrote the song in response to Paul McCartney's track "Too Many People".
The lyrics are scathing towards McCartney and include digs at him, such as "The one mistake you made was in your head".
The song was released in 1971 on John Lennon's second solo album, "Imagine", after the Beatles broke up.
Paul McCartney responded to the song with the track "Let Me Roll It" from Wings' "Band On The Run".
