John always felt he had neglected his first son Julian, but rather than trying to make that up to Julian, John spent every minute he could with his new son Sean.

I love the line, "Life is what happens to you, while you're busy making other plans." and it's so true too but no one seems to notice. He even refers to "Getting Better" in that last verse. I miss John

i dunno wot 2 say, this song can make the toughest of peeps cri...

It's all the more moving for the fact that he never did get to see his son grow up and spread his wings.

gee, i like the comments so much, I can't bring my self to even try to interpret this song...

I think this song is so simple. I don't usually think that about Lennon's songs.

Anway, this song, to me, is simply and ode to his son, whom he quite music to spend time with. Now, if someone like John is going to quite their ultimate love in life for their son, then I'd expect that they write something about that person.

I think this song is so simple. I don't usually think that about Lennon's songs.

Anway, this song, to me, is simply and ode to his son, whom he quite music to spend time with. Now, if someone like John is going to quite their ultimate love in life for their son, then I'd expect that they write something about that person.

This song is so sweet and tender :-)

I agree with ChaosFluro24!

pJ ;p

JOHN LENNON FOREVER!

This is such a sweet song and it makes me so sad whenever I listen to it---John loved Sean so much and like the song said, he couldn't wait to see him come of age, but unfortunately he didn't get to. :(

I love the line "But I guess we'll both just have to patient". john says it in such a way, you can hear he is so looking forward to the future when he can see his soon become a man and although it will be a few years he realises his sons childhood will be one of the best times of his life i.e. "life is what happens when you're busy making other plans". he wants his son to cherish his childhood but he can't wait to see him become a man at the same time.

My mom tells me that this was her song for me when I was born which is extremely sad but this song will always remind me of her when I need it most and I love her for it...incase you didnt realize my name is also sean

I agree with everyone in here--it's clearly about his relationship with and his feelings toward (then-) little Sean, with whom (as opposed to his disregard for his son Julian's upbringing) he remained very close until the moment he was murdered.

To me, if "Hey Jude" (written by McCartney to comfort little Jules during his parents' divorce) is one of The Beatles' prettiest, if (seemingly) musically undemanding, songs, "Beautiful Boy..." has to be one of Lennon's prettiest, if (seemingly) musically undemanding, songs, too.

...If only because it contains one of the most wonderfully simple yet enlightening phrases of the 20th century; "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans".

Now you see why so many people still look up to this man, more than 26 years after his death?

this and jealous guy are my favorite lennon songs. it's pretty obvious what it means and it's just a beautiful (!) song :)

This is a really great song...It really made me sad when he sang " I can't wait to see you grow of age, but I guesss we'll both just have to be patient" he never got the chance...

Fantastic song, but does anyone else think its a bit pedophilic? Not that im complaining.

If you're an idiot, then you'll never understand this song. He's singing to his son. Those with kids know how special this song is, especially if you do have a beautiful son. Awesome song

Everyone knows what this is about, The saddest thing for me is he never got to see Sean grow up :-(

Im sure that you all are right.. However, I kinda look at this song in a different way. (Sorry, ended up a little longer than I expected..)The way I see it,

Close your eyes
Have no fear
The monster's gone
He's on the run and your daddy's here

He is most likely talking to his son. Maybe he could be talking to us? We are in a time of war. A time of seperatness. A time with more borders than bridges. Hard times for sure, just as it was for them. Maybe he is saying close your eyes, and have no fear. The monster (this attitude, or feeling of seperatness which governs our reality) is on the run (as a peace activist, he believed what he was doing was making a change) and your daddy's here (maybe you could look at him as the father figure, trying to protect the world from war and hate.)

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy

Again.. I'm sure you are all right and he is talking about his son.. I interpret as he sees 1) the tremendous amount of beauty this world has to offer, 2) how much beauty is being ignored, and 3) he sees the unlimited amount of potential beauty. Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful (three times..)

Out on the ocean sailing away
I can hardly wait
To see you come of age
But I guess we'll both just have to be patient
'Cause it's a long way to go
A hard row to hoe
Yes it's a long way to go
But in the meantime

Out on the ocean sailing away.. I believe I heard somewhere that he had prophesized his own death? I'm sure the Nixon Administration and their antics had led him to believe that this was possible. I think, and again this is just my interpretation, he is saying that he may not live to see (sailing away) this world become a better place (or come of age), but he can hardly wait. So I guess we'll both just have to be patient, because it's a long way to go. This isn't going to be easy, and there's a lot of progress to be made (A hard row to hoe).

Before you cross the street
Take my hand
Life is what happens to you
While you're busy making other plans

Again.. My interpretation.. Before you cross the street, take my hand. Maybe before people make rash, life altering, world impact decisions (like going to war, whether it be Vietnam or Iraq..) they should listen to what he has to say (take my hand), and "Give Peace A Chance". We are constantly drawing Battle Lines, (making plans) for war, or drawing borders (too keep people out instead of welcoming them in). We are too busy.. And what life could be is just passing us right by. I believe we get a glimpse every once in a while though. But somehow the people that understand this "pose a threat". I guess it lightens one too many pocketbooks for comfort...

Before you go to sleep
Say a little prayer
Every day in every way
It's getting better and better

Maybe he is saying that once brought to light, we can fix the situation. Put in a little effort (say a little prayer), and every day in every way, it's going to get better and better...

Just a thought..

It's so sad when he says "I can hardly wait to see you come of age but I guess we'll both just have to be patient 'cause it's a long way to go" because he never got to see either of his sons come of age. :(

"Before you cross the street, Take my hand,
Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans".

I tried to winkle out the true origin of the concept and kept finding myself thinking I had heard a passage from the Bible. So I searched and read Proverbs 16, over and over. (Go ahead... find it and read it... no need for me to post the whole thing...) I may need to return to the whole chapter and hash it out in my mind, but I'm not going to do that today. The closest verse I could find is Proverbs 16:9 "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."
Sure sounds familiar to me...