In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play?
Dear Prudence, greet the brand new day
The sun is up, the sky is blue
It's beautiful and so are you
Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play?
Dear Prudence, open up your eyes
Dear Prudence, see the sunny skies
The wind is low, the birds will sing
That you are part of everything
Dear Prudence, won't you open up your eyes?
Look around, 'round ('round, 'round, 'round)
('Round, 'round, 'round, 'round, 'round)
Look around, 'round, 'round ('round, 'round)
('Round, 'round, 'round, 'round, 'round)
Look around (ahh)
Dear Prudence, let me see you smile
Dear Prudence, like a little child
The clouds will be a daisy chain
So let me see you smile again
Dear Prudence, won't you let me see you smile?
Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play?
Dear Prudence, greet the brand new day
The sun is up, the sky is blue
It's beautiful and so are you
Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play?
Dear Prudence, greet the brand new day
The sun is up, the sky is blue
It's beautiful and so are you
Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play?
Dear Prudence, open up your eyes
Dear Prudence, see the sunny skies
The wind is low, the birds will sing
That you are part of everything
Dear Prudence, won't you open up your eyes?
Look around, 'round ('round, 'round, 'round)
('Round, 'round, 'round, 'round, 'round)
Look around, 'round, 'round ('round, 'round)
('Round, 'round, 'round, 'round, 'round)
Look around (ahh)
Dear Prudence, let me see you smile
Dear Prudence, like a little child
The clouds will be a daisy chain
So let me see you smile again
Dear Prudence, won't you let me see you smile?
Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play?
Dear Prudence, greet the brand new day
The sun is up, the sky is blue
It's beautiful and so are you
Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play?
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This song written by John is a tribute to Prudence Farrow, the sister of Mia Farrow. She inspired the song for Lennon at the Maharishi's retreat, when she would not join the activities, staying instead in long periods of medication. The others wanted her to join them and Lennon enticed her to join in. Lennon improved on the song by adding visions of world beauty. It was probably the only positive song to come out of Lennon's many visits to India.
-- iamthebeatles.com
This song was written about Prudence Farrow, (Mia's sister), whom the band met in their days with the Maharishi.
I love this song. It is one of my favorites to play on guitar. But why would anyone want to name their child Prudence? Maybe it was an ok name back then in England.
Prudence Farrow's parents were not from England. Prudence was born in Los Angeles, California
yeah its about prudence farrow, but i think u can apply it to maybe a girl u know that is beautiful and really cool but for some reason she shuts herself out form the world and stays away from human contact cuz shes been hurt. we all can relate. we all know a prudence... "it's beautiful and so are you, dear prudence..."
This is one of my favorite songs on the White Album. It's just really uplifting and happy. It never fails to make me smile. I really like the fact that John wrote this song to try and cheer someone up. It's really just about getting out into the world and living your life.
About "round round round"-- "rounding" is a kind of extended meditation done at Transcendental Meditation retreats. I think that is what Prudence Farrow is doing, rather than coming out to play. My impression of this song is that John is goofing off, while Prudence is being serious about her meditation, and he wants her to come play with her. She was really quite fantastically beautiful.
According to Gina Catena, who was born and raised in the TM movement, John said he felt Prudence had gotten "slightly barmy" from meditating in her hut 12 hours a day, and he wasn't the only one concerned about her. She didn't come out and play, and consequently didn't hear the song till a couple years later after it had been released.<br /> <br /> Subsequently Mia made some critical comments about the Maharishi, but then stopped talking about him for fear the cult would cut off her contact with her sister.
listen to what John Lennon has said about music "it's a reflection of us all" I think this song is meant to inspire the character "prudence" to live his/her life. Open up your eyes, greet the brand new day those are lyrics suggesting you come out of your shell and live your life. It's a sad thing when someone shuts themselves off from the world and hibernates... I think the music is the sadness and the lyrics are the uplifting stance on inspiring someone... let me see you smile... let me see your beauty as a person and you smiling will make the world a better place for you if you can do it... just my thoughts anyway.. peace and love all.
I just think it's ironic that her name was Prudence and was prudish. I initially heard this song as the Siouxsie and the Banshees' cover, and always thought it was about enticing someone who is sexually prude... Maybe not, still a great song though!
Although this song is technically about Prudence Farrow, I think it can be interpreted in many different ways. I can't relate to having a Prudence in my life, therefor I found my own meaning of the lyrics. To have prudence is to act with caution; to think before you speak, to only do things if they are well-thought out. In my eyes, this song can also be about the missing prudence in our society. Some people are so careless and cruel; prudence should 'come out to play'. Thinking is a beautiful thing, as beautiful as the blue sky. We are missing the intelligence, people keep acting without considering about the consequences. Anyways, I know that the song is technically about a person, but I thought I'd share my thoughts.
Absolutely wonderful how there is a literal meaning to this song, about Prudence farrow, and meaning that is relative to all of us, that too much prudence can stop us from being part of everything. He really nailed nailed it with this one. He created a classic. Shelley might have tipped his hat, I think. I should really go through all the Beatles' and John and Pauls stuff one of these days, because I'm certain there's so much I don't know that I'm missing out on. Love.