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?


Lyrics submitted by Ice

Dear Prudence Lyrics as written by Paul Mccartney John Lennon

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Dear Prudence song meanings
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56 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment

    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

    J.Diddyon July 12, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This song was written about Prudence Farrow, (Mia's sister), whom the band met in their days with the Maharishi.

    Ferthukoon January 28, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    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.

    song4juliaon January 21, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    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..."

    Bickleon August 15, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    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.

    strawberry_fieldson March 20, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    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.

    jsimonoffon April 29, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    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.

    INLimBo7on February 12, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    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!

    musson April 24, 2014   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    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.

    rchukkon September 25, 2014   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    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.

    Thunder.Rd.on October 22, 2014   Link

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