God part 1: Lennon

The next four blog entries will deal with "God", no not the white bearded dude in the sky, but rather the song written by John Lennon and the four subsequent versions inspired by it. So without further ado, Part 1.

Following the Beatles official break-up in April 1970, John and Yoko began working on two albums simultaneously, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band and John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, both produced by the now imprisoned Phil Spector. I won't speak of Yoko's, but John's album was a true winner containing some of his best loved songs and beginning what would be an shinning solo career. Inspired by the therapy sessions he and Yoko had just completed, John appears poised and introspective crafting the album's eleven songs with freed emotions, tackling a whole host of subjects (his mom, spirituality, the Beatles, Yoko).

The first time I heard this song I was a newly enlightened college atheist, and I wanted this song to be an anthem for me. John Lennon saying he doesn't believe in Jesus or the Bible, how perfect. Sadly my interpretation was premature and not well thought out. But what was John saying, why is this song called 'God' and why does John list off a number of things he doesn't believe in? Well, let's take a look.



First things first, what does John mean when he says "God is a concept for which we measure our pain"? Instead of babbling a reason myself, let's let John explain it himself.

“Our pain is the pain we go through all the time. You’re born in pain, and pain is what we’re in most of the time. And I think that the bigger the pain, the more gods we need. It was my own revelation. I just know that’s what I know.”

Alright pre-"I don't believe" rant done, but before we go looking into the long list let's skip to the end of the rant. After a long list of 'donts' John gives us two 'dos' and they far out weight the donts in importance. John tells us that he just believes in himself and in Yoko, that is his reality. Outside of what everyone else believes in, or what he used to believe in, now John is focused on himself and on his relationship. This is the primary message of the song, that following the end of the 60s, the end of the Beatles, and the end of a long list of former heroes, practices, and beliefs, John in the coming decade (the 70s) is focused on himself.

After establishing his reality, John tells Beatle fans, his "dear friends", that the past is over. The dreams of yesterday, the dream/reality of the Beatles being the biggest, best band in the world is over. Referencing "Yesterday" and "I am the Walrus", John dismantles Beatlemania telling fans "they'll just have to carry on", he's just John now.

The I don't believe rant than is just John doing what he wants Beatle fans to do, move on from your past likes, dislikes, heroes, and beliefs; focus on yourself and the now.

So why did John call this song 'God'? Well, in my humble opinion there are three reasons. First, John feels man makes gods to deal with the everyday pain we all experience. Next, that people, beliefs, and practices we put on a pedestal and call god, are not as important as ourselves. We must make ourselves, and our own actions godly. Finally, that as good as the Beatles were they are not god.

“I believe in God, but not as one thing, not as an old man in the sky. I believe that what people call God is something in all of us.” -Lennon

*Fun Fact*
Besides Lennon, "God" features a very Beatle-y set of musicians. Ringo on drums, Klaus Voorman on bass, and Billy Preston playing that wonderful piano backing.