The song opens with the chorus, "Let me take you down cos I'm going to, Strawberry Fields, nothing is real, and nothing to get hung-about. Strawberry Fields forever."
It was written during the time of the Beatles, and has both figurative and metaphorical representations. One, it is an actual place John went to visit often - Strawberry Fields being an orphanage near John's home in Liverpool where he went as a young boy to escape his troubles — And two, this song is also using Strawberry Fields symbolically - a place he mentally wanders to forget his stress - yearning for simpler times. He also is frustrated and disillusioned with those who go through life blind to things going on around them, and too there are indications of Lennon's own insecurities about his genius. John invites us to come on "down" and join him into a world where there is no fussing, fighting, or killing.
"Living is easy with eyes closed. Misunderstanding all you see.
This is so true when you deliberate about how easy life is when you accept things superficially and don't utilize research. However, John knew that living life shallowly is not really living at all.
"It's getting hard to be someone, but it all works out."
John finds seeing things as they really are is no easy task, but he trust that in the end it will all work out.
"It doesn't matter much to me."
And John figures if things don't work out "it doesn't matter much..." because there is no way he is turning back and giving up on the road less traveled.
The next verse begins, "No one I think is in my tree, I mean it must be high or low."
It's apparent John is struggling with the notion that maybe he is not a genius after all. There's a saying, "There's a fine line between genius and insanity," and John may, at that point in time, have questioned his sanity even for a brief time.
"That is you can't you know, tune in, but it's all right. That is I think it's not too bad."
John lets us know that the mental state he is in is not a place where many minds "tune in," "but it's alright." John's okay with knowing his psychic state is not for everyone, but hopes that there are enough intelligent and well-informed people to acknowledge brilliance and a greater message. Lennon tapped into primal emotions that never left his consciousness.
"Always, know sometimes, think it's me, but you know I know when it's a dream."
I don't have the facts here in front of me, but I'm guessing John's confused about who he is at times. He reassures us though that even when he may be in doubt and "thinks it's him," he is quite certain he "...know when it's a dream."
Before repeating the chorus one last time, John ends with, "I think I know I mean a yes, but it's all wrong. That is I think I disagree."
Again, the fine line of genius and insanity is gripping. John want's to agree with society, but he knows society is "all wrong," forcing him to disagree with it's direction and conditions. John felt mankind could build reality from it's dreams.
Just another idea:'it doesn't matter much to me' a bit amotivational"? And "I know when it's a dream' may mean recognize hallucinations or illusions as what they are figments of his imagination, projections.
Just another idea:'it doesn't matter much to me' a bit amotivational"? And "I know when it's a dream' may mean recognize hallucinations or illusions as what they are figments of his imagination, projections.
@Kenny5271957 I think you have a good interpretation. Not sure Lennon ever thought he was a genius though. I'm more inclined to think he found it amusing that people thought he was a genius, but I didn't know the man so that's just speculation. I wonder also, who's to say that living superficially isn't really living? It's living differently than taking the time and effort to care about others that are suffering, for instance, but is that not living?
@Kenny5271957 I think you have a good interpretation. Not sure Lennon ever thought he was a genius though. I'm more inclined to think he found it amusing that people thought he was a genius, but I didn't know the man so that's just speculation. I wonder also, who's to say that living superficially isn't really living? It's living differently than taking the time and effort to care about others that are suffering, for instance, but is that not living?
The song opens with the chorus, "Let me take you down cos I'm going to, Strawberry Fields, nothing is real, and nothing to get hung-about. Strawberry Fields forever."
It was written during the time of the Beatles, and has both figurative and metaphorical representations. One, it is an actual place John went to visit often - Strawberry Fields being an orphanage near John's home in Liverpool where he went as a young boy to escape his troubles — And two, this song is also using Strawberry Fields symbolically - a place he mentally wanders to forget his stress - yearning for simpler times. He also is frustrated and disillusioned with those who go through life blind to things going on around them, and too there are indications of Lennon's own insecurities about his genius. John invites us to come on "down" and join him into a world where there is no fussing, fighting, or killing.
"Living is easy with eyes closed. Misunderstanding all you see.
This is so true when you deliberate about how easy life is when you accept things superficially and don't utilize research. However, John knew that living life shallowly is not really living at all.
"It's getting hard to be someone, but it all works out."
John finds seeing things as they really are is no easy task, but he trust that in the end it will all work out.
"It doesn't matter much to me."
And John figures if things don't work out "it doesn't matter much..." because there is no way he is turning back and giving up on the road less traveled.
The next verse begins, "No one I think is in my tree, I mean it must be high or low."
It's apparent John is struggling with the notion that maybe he is not a genius after all. There's a saying, "There's a fine line between genius and insanity," and John may, at that point in time, have questioned his sanity even for a brief time.
"That is you can't you know, tune in, but it's all right. That is I think it's not too bad."
John lets us know that the mental state he is in is not a place where many minds "tune in," "but it's alright." John's okay with knowing his psychic state is not for everyone, but hopes that there are enough intelligent and well-informed people to acknowledge brilliance and a greater message. Lennon tapped into primal emotions that never left his consciousness.
"Always, know sometimes, think it's me, but you know I know when it's a dream."
I don't have the facts here in front of me, but I'm guessing John's confused about who he is at times. He reassures us though that even when he may be in doubt and "thinks it's him," he is quite certain he "...know when it's a dream."
Before repeating the chorus one last time, John ends with, "I think I know I mean a yes, but it's all wrong. That is I think I disagree."
Again, the fine line of genius and insanity is gripping. John want's to agree with society, but he knows society is "all wrong," forcing him to disagree with it's direction and conditions. John felt mankind could build reality from it's dreams.
Great explanation :)
Great explanation :)
Just another idea:'it doesn't matter much to me' a bit amotivational"? And "I know when it's a dream' may mean recognize hallucinations or illusions as what they are figments of his imagination, projections.
Just another idea:'it doesn't matter much to me' a bit amotivational"? And "I know when it's a dream' may mean recognize hallucinations or illusions as what they are figments of his imagination, projections.
@Kenny5271957 I think you have a good interpretation. Not sure Lennon ever thought he was a genius though. I'm more inclined to think he found it amusing that people thought he was a genius, but I didn't know the man so that's just speculation. I wonder also, who's to say that living superficially isn't really living? It's living differently than taking the time and effort to care about others that are suffering, for instance, but is that not living?
@Kenny5271957 I think you have a good interpretation. Not sure Lennon ever thought he was a genius though. I'm more inclined to think he found it amusing that people thought he was a genius, but I didn't know the man so that's just speculation. I wonder also, who's to say that living superficially isn't really living? It's living differently than taking the time and effort to care about others that are suffering, for instance, but is that not living?