From Newsgroup: rec.music.beatles

It sounds, at first blush, as if Lennon is singing about himself in the
verses and *to* himself in the choruses.

Why would Lennon, however, have felt any need to hide his love away?

The Beatles' friend and biographer Tony Bramwell wrote that the song was written about Brian Epstein, who strove to keep his homosexuality under
wraps -- although in most footage it seems pretty obvious.

Any other possibilities?
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.music.beatles

Wikipedia says:

Lennon said of the song, "That's me in my Dylan period again. I am like
a chameleon, influenced by whatever is going on. If Elvis can do it, I
can do it. If the Everly Brothers can do it, me and Paul can. Same with
Dylan." The song is an early example of John self-reflecting in his
writing, which had begun with songs such as "I'm a Loser" in the summer
of 1964. Lennon wrote the song at home, wanting another song for the
film Help!. The song "is just basically John doing Dylan", Paul
McCartney confirmed. The song is similar to a folkish strophic form and
uses a Dylanesque acoustic guitar figure in compound duple time,
normally committed to score in 6 8 or 12 8 time, with chiefly acoustic accompaniment, no backing voices and light percussion from brushed
snare, tambourine and maraca. A flute, however, replaces the harmonica
that Dylan typically used.

The song's lyrics are ambiguous. Potentially, Lennon could have been
referring to the fact that, as a Beatle, he was expected to keep the
fact he was married a secret. He could also have been writing about his inability to express his true 'loving' self in public and his feelings
of isolation and paranoia related to fame. Some, such as singer Tom
Robinson, have suggested that the song was written for the Beatles'
manager Brian Epstein, who had to hide his homosexuality from the
public. Lennon himself, however, never publicly discussed his
inspiration for the lyrics. When the song was first written, Lennon used "two-foot tall" to rhyme with the "wall" in the first verse, but
mistakenly said "two-foot small" when he sang the line to McCartney, and decided to keep it this way. Pete Shotton, Lennon's former bandmate from
The Quarrymen, was present when the song was being composed, and
suggested adding "Hey" to the start of the line in the refrain.

--
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.music.beatles

On Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:37:53 +0000, Bruce wrote:

Wikipedia says:

Lennon said of the song, "That's me in my Dylan period again. I am like
a chameleon, influenced by whatever is going on. If Elvis can do it, I
can do it. If the Everly Brothers can do it, me and Paul can. Same with Dylan." The song is an early example of John self-reflecting in his
writing, which had begun with songs such as "I'm a Loser" in the summer
of 1964. Lennon wrote the song at home, wanting another song for the
film Help!. The song "is just basically John doing Dylan", Paul
McCartney confirmed. The song is similar to a folkish strophic form and
uses a Dylanesque acoustic guitar figure in compound duple time,
normally committed to score in 6 8 or 12 8 time, with chiefly acoustic accompaniment, no backing voices and light percussion from brushed
snare, tambourine and maraca. A flute, however, replaces the harmonica
that Dylan typically used.

The song's lyrics are ambiguous. Potentially, Lennon could have been referring to the fact that, as a Beatle, he was expected to keep the
fact he was married a secret. He could also have been writing about his inability to express his true 'loving' self in public and his feelings
of isolation and paranoia related to fame. Some, such as singer Tom
Robinson, have suggested that the song was written for the Beatles'
manager Brian Epstein, who had to hide his homosexuality from the
public. Lennon himself, however, never publicly discussed his
inspiration for the lyrics. When the song was first written, Lennon used "two-foot tall" to rhyme with the "wall" in the first verse, but
mistakenly said "two-foot small" when he sang the line to McCartney, and decided to keep it this way. Pete Shotton, Lennon's former bandmate from
The Quarrymen, was present when the song was being composed, and
suggested adding "Hey" to the start of the line in the refrain.

--

Fascinating how The Beatles and Bob Dylan both inspired each other and
had what seemed like moments of rivalry.
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.music.beatles

That's the way John Lennon was, though: He would have these blind
enthusiasms, only to terminate them with violent apostasies. This
applies to Dylan, the Maharishi, to Allen Klein, to Janov and Primal
Scream therapy. If only he had the sense to discern Yoko for the
narcissistic psychopath she was.

Lennon turned against his wife Cynthia and against McCartney in sick
ways, but he had not embraced them blindly; they had earned his trust
and respect, and it was Yoko, I believe, who engineered the destruction
of those relationships. That's what narcissists do, just like cult
leaders. A person who is severed from what stabilizes him is vulnerable
to the narcissistic cult leader.
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.music.beatles

On Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:42 +0000, Norbert wrote:

That's the way John Lennon was, though: He would have these blind enthusiasms, only to terminate them with violent apostasies. This
applies to Dylan, the Maharishi, to Allen Klein, to Janov and Primal
Scream therapy. If only he had the sense to discern Yoko for the narcissistic psychopath she was.

Lennon turned against his wife Cynthia and against McCartney in sick
ways, but he had not embraced them blindly; they had earned his trust
and respect, and it was Yoko, I believe, who engineered the destruction
of those relationships. That's what narcissists do, just like cult
leaders. A person who is severed from what stabilizes him is vulnerable
to the narcissistic cult leader.

Well put, grim times for Beatle John.
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.music.beatles

How about for his friends, coworkers, and family? McCartney cared more
about Cynthia and Julian than John did -- as he demonstrated by writing
"Hey Jude" and half-jokingly proposing marriage to Cynthia.

Lennon allowed Yoko to poison his behavior towards everyone who had once mattered to him -- and to only accept those who kissed (or pretended to
kiss, as in the case of Klein, Richter, and Mintz) her ass. That's the
way narcissists are.
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.music.beatles

On Fri, 28 Feb 2025 13:16:26 +0000, Norbert wrote:

How about for his friends, coworkers, and family? McCartney cared more
about Cynthia and Julian than John did -- as he demonstrated by writing
"Hey Jude" and half-jokingly proposing marriage to Cynthia.

Lennon allowed Yoko to poison his behavior towards everyone who had once mattered to him -- and to only accept those who kissed (or pretended to
kiss, as in the case of Klein, Richter, and Mintz) her ass. That's the
way narcissists are.

Ssd story, agreed.
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2