Working Class, NYC, and Lost Weekends: John Lennon After the Beatles

John Lennon is known, to this day, as the most well know Beatles, as well as one of the most well known people in the world. Well before the Beatles had broken up, John was beginning to strike out on his own, forming The Plastic Ono band and spending more and more time with his girlfriend, and later on, wife, Yoko Ono. After the Beatles he became increasing involved in social and political activism, especially working towards peace. Although he was murdered in 1980, he remains a important public figure, and as well as a realistic, charming, witty, genius artist.

Following the break up of the Beatles in 1970, both John (with Yoko, as they were married by this time) underwent primal therapy, hoping to face the demons in his past, including the many issues he had as a child with his mother, father, and aunt Mimi. This therapy very much affected his music, and his debut solo album, Lennon/Plastic Ono Band was quite emotional, with hits like 'Mother', 'Working Class Hero', and 'Power To The People', which displayed the beginnings of his social involvement.

However, Lennon's musicality soon changed back to a Beatles-esque sound with his album Imagine. 'Imagine' is still one of his better known songs, with the lyrics:

You may say that I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will be as one

I'm quite sure most people who have access to radio or internet have heard this song. Later on, Lennon would say the song was "anti-religious, anti-nationalistic, anti-conventional, anti-capitalistic", but most of all, it represented the ever present image as 'Lennon- Peace Maker'.

Imagine also featured a song that was less peaceful, directed at former Beatles and songwriting partner, Paul McCartney, called 'How Do You Sleep'. The song jabs at McCartney, referencing events that took place during the Beatles several times. Overall, the album received very favorable reviews.



In August 1971, John and Yoko moved to America, specifically New York City. This was to become Lennon's home, as he would never return to Britain. At this point, Lennon was very vocal in his protest against the Vietnam War, which had the entire world in wraps. Hundreds of men were dying every week, and many Americans, especially young Americans, wanted the troops brought home. One way John outwardly opposed the war was the song 'Happy Christmas (War Is Over)', as well as billboards that said "WAR IS OVER (If you want it)." After this, fearing John would become a leader for the youth movement, the Nixon administration investigated John increasing more over the years, built a case against him and, ultimately, decided to deport him. It wasn't until 1975, on John's birthday and the birth of his second son Sean, that John found out he had been granted a green card, and could stay in the States.

His third solo album, Some Time In New York City, included the song 'Woman Is The Nigger Of The World', which received extreme criticism. Many DJ's refused to play it on the radio. Lennon defended it as a pro-feminist song, and even quoted U.S Representative Ron Dellums, who said "If you define 'nigger' as someone whose lifestyle is defined by others, whose opportunities are defined by others, whose role in society is defined by others, the good news is that you don't have to be black to be a nigger in this society. Most of the people in America are niggers."

Lennon hosted and participated in multiple concerts for the benefit of others, like John Sinclair, who went to jail, and received a ten-year sentence for selling two joints of marijuana, and the One to One concert, which helped children at the Willowbrook State School Mental Facility. The One to One concerts (there were two) were Lennon's last full-fledged concerts.



Soon after, while recording his fourth solo album Mind Games, John and Yoko split. John retreated to Los Angeles, with Yoko's assistant May Pang accompanying him. Many called this eighteen month period Lennon's 'Lost Weekend', as he met new friends, became re-acquainted with old ones (like Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Mal Evans), got to know his first son, Julian, better, and finished Mind Games. However, the album did not get as many positive reviews as expected. This, added to the fact that John was separated from Yoko, drove John to taking drugs and excessively consuming alcohol. Many cite this period as a dark time for Lennon, in which he was often drunk and depressed.

John and May returned to New York in 1974, and John started work on his fifth album Walls and Bridges. For this album, John refrained from drinking and doing drugs, and continued doing so until his death. He also reestablished a relationship with Yoko, and soon after, Yoko became pregnant.

Walls and Bridges brought about the only number one single, 'Whatever Gets You Through The Night', which featured Elton John. Other hit songs included '#9 Dream' and 'Stand By Me'. John also appeared at Elton John's Thanksgiving concert at Madison Square Garden, receiving a ten-minute standing ovation.

Sean Taro Ono Lennon was born on October 9, 1975, the same day as his father's 35th birthday. John became a house-husband, caring dearly for his son, feeding him, playing with him, and teaching him how to swim, and would later write a song for him called 'Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)'. He withdrew from the public eye, and, for the first time, focused on his family.



In October of 1980, Lennon released 'Just Like (Starting Over)', which was off his album Double Fantasy. Double Fantasy featured both songs by John, and songs by Yoko. By this period of time, the media was much kinder to Yoko, crediting her music and art as true talent. Yoko and John had begun work on their next album, Milk and Honey and a worldwide tour, when, on December 8, 1980, John was shot down by Mark David Chapman, in front of his apartment, the Dakota. Despite attempts to revive him at the hospital, John Lennon was pronounced dead.

In New York's Central Park, there is a 2.5 acre landscaped section called the Strawberry Fields memorial, often called 'Imagine circle', as seen in the picture below. This memorial is one of many to remember this beautiful man missed by many. Other memorial sites include places like Liverpool, England, and Havana, Cuba.



Musician, author, artist, public figure, leader, revolutionary, peace advocate, father, husband, friend; John was all these things and more. He is still missed dearly by those who outlived him, and his messages of peace, community, humor, shared existence and love continue to spread.

-Raivynn