“God is a concept by which we measure our pain.
I'll say it again: God is a concept by which we measure our pain.
I don't believe in magic.
I don't believe in I-Ching.
I don't believe in Bible.
I don't believe in tarot.
I don't believe in Hitler.
I don't believe in Jesus.
I don't believe in Kennedy.
I don't believe in Buddha.
I don't believe in Mantra.
I don't believe in Gita.
I don't believe in Yoga.
I don't believe in Kings.
I don't believe in Elvis.
I don't believe in Zimmerman.
I don't believe in Beatles.
I just believe in me. Yoko and me, and that's reality.
The dream is over. What can I say?
The dream is over — Yesterday.
I was the dream weaver, but now I'm reborn.
I was the Walrus, but now I'm John.
And so dear friends, you'll just have to carry on.
The dream is over.”
John opens the song with the declaration that God is only an idea created by man, and the more pain we feel, the more we produce the legend of God for our own superficial comfort and hopes. A clever device devised by man to avoid the work of dealing with our internal personal psychological and emotional battles, which too often seems too painful to acknowledge.
I don't believe in magic.
I don't believe in I-Ching.
I don't believe in Bible.
I don't believe in tarot.
Then Lennon emphasizes his non-belief in things associated with magic and superstition. Illusions that contribute to an already heavily disillusioned world.
I don't believe in Hitler.
I don't believe in Jesus.
I don't believe in Kennedy.
I don't believe in Buddha.
John stresses the point that no human, especially political and/or spiritual leaders, can pave the way for others. Each person has got to realize their own inner truths through self awareness.
John knew that praying for a savior is a waste of time and avoids the personal issues within that we each must look at and deal with if we expect individual peace and love, which could then blossom and flower worldwide. He had become “one” with himself, and thus had a more meaningful, purposeful, and fulfilling relationship with his fans and Yoko.
I don't believe in Mantra.
I don't believe in Gita.
I don't believe in Yoga.
John continues with his disbelief's. Such things as chants, scriptures, and physical exercises, which are supposed to enlighten us, actually do not. Again, John understands the importance of inner reflection above all else.
I don't believe in Kings.
I don't believe in Elvis.
I don't believe in Zimmerman.
I don't believe in Beatles.
Lennon returns to humans as his source and outlet for disapproval. At the very end of the “I don't believe” chants, John echoes the syllables, “Bea-tles” with clarity and might. John accents his disfavor of the Beatle myth. John felt that the Beatles were nothing more than a vehicle of illusion just as Christ, Hitler, the I-Ching, Elvis, and the rest of man's fanaticisms, which John no longer wished to be a part of or involved in.
He acknowledges that too much power in a few hands (Kings) over the masses is rarely good, Elvis had lost himself trying to live up to the legend the populace had created of him with his over-indulgence of drugs, Zimmerman (Bob Dylan) was really nothing more than a poet - far from being worthy of leading people to inner peace, and the Beatles were guilty of creating the illusion 'We can save you,' just as the Bible, Christ, and all of the other names and practices he denounces in the song. At this time John despised the Beatles as a mere “magic act,” who gained in popularity, but didn't do much more good than the other cult heroes of ancient and modern times. John went from, “We are more popular than Jesus,” during his time with the Beatles, to “I don't believe in Jesus” or “Beatles” while with Yoko. John, at this time, had become one with himself, and was writing his songs truthfully. personally, and less commercially without care of public scrutiny.
I just believe in me. Yoko and me, and that's reality.
John again alerts us to his awakening. He sees that putting faith in others for one's own salvation is an invalid approach to intrinsic treatment. Only we know what we are up to when we check our ulterior motives. No President, priest, performer, or card-reader can sort out our hallucinations and misconceptions for us. We must honestly and willingly seek our own salvation through internal observation and actions. This is the reality!
The dream is over. What can I say?
The dream is over — Yesterday.
I think these two lines are amazing! John states how the “dream” he, Paul, George, and Ringo had created was finally behind him, and now he was going to reveal a more self-reliant Lennon to the world in the hopes to rid himself of the burden of “savior” once and for all. Also, the word “Yesterday” was a song Paul had written with the Beatles, which John did not think much of, and here he uses it the way he feels it fits best. John didn't believe in the notion of yesterday the way Paul did. John didn't like the idea of wishing for or living in the past, so for him yesterday was as good as gone - just as the Beatles were gone. “Today” was always a natural new beginning to John.
I was the dream weaver, but now I'm reborn.
I was the Walrus, but now I'm John.
John feels a sense of guilt that he added to the illusions of the world — a world so bent on looking to “Redeemers” for their own personal guidance. “I was the dream weaver, but now I'm reborn,” defines a critical time in John's life. He can now concentrate on being a creative songwriter and activist, as opposed to wasting his remaining years being a guru to a Beatle cult audience who interpreted every Beatle word literally, much like the Bible and Gita. His songwriting had matured away from the whimsical style of the fab four.
And so dear friends, you'll just have to carry on.
The dream is over.
John let's us know it is time for all of us “to carry on “ with our lives, and to stop looking up to the Beatles, Christ, Buddha, Kennedy and others for guidance. Lennon's message is uncomplicated. LOOK WITHIN — NOT OUTWARD! ...The dream is over folks!
You put alot of work into this comment and just wanted to thank you. You obvious are BIG Lennon fan and in my book, that's a beautiful thing. Imagine all the people sharing all the world....
You put alot of work into this comment and just wanted to thank you. You obvious are BIG Lennon fan and in my book, that's a beautiful thing. Imagine all the people sharing all the world....
@Kenny5271957 your interpretation of this does seem to mesh with what was going on in John's life at the time. He was definitely in a phase of finding himself and rejecting the Magical associations and expectations he had placed on other people, idea's, religions and belief systems. He had no ill will towards those people and ideas. But he had expected too much of people, religion, being like Elvis etc.. He had learned a lot but he had not learned how to be happy or to get what he wanted when he wanted to. Nor had he learned to control...
@Kenny5271957 your interpretation of this does seem to mesh with what was going on in John's life at the time. He was definitely in a phase of finding himself and rejecting the Magical associations and expectations he had placed on other people, idea's, religions and belief systems. He had no ill will towards those people and ideas. But he had expected too much of people, religion, being like Elvis etc.. He had learned a lot but he had not learned how to be happy or to get what he wanted when he wanted to. Nor had he learned to control his base instincts like anger , selfishness or covetousness. I don't say that to downgrade him as I Myself have struggled with the same issues. Over the 5 years that folowed he did much. From inspiring many with Imagine, to an affair with his housekeeper to playing with Chuck Berry and Elton John. Then he went in to a long seclusion that appeared to have a centering affect on the man. He and Yoko had a child on John's 35th, reepaired their marriage and then just as he was coming out of his self imposed isolation and he had new Music He was killed by a fan who apparently thought John owed him something for having become his idol. Reports were that he was calming but we all do at 40 or so.There is no way of knowing what the next decade or decades would have brought him. In many ways I think it saved his image for posterity. Double Fantasy would have been huge either way. Seeing a Resurgent John become popular in the eighties and perhaps have followup hits might've made him into a caicature of his former self, or not.But in 1970 he had not found so much the answer as an answer to what he did not believe.
“God is a concept by which we measure our pain. I'll say it again: God is a concept by which we measure our pain.
I don't believe in magic. I don't believe in I-Ching. I don't believe in Bible. I don't believe in tarot. I don't believe in Hitler. I don't believe in Jesus. I don't believe in Kennedy. I don't believe in Buddha. I don't believe in Mantra. I don't believe in Gita. I don't believe in Yoga. I don't believe in Kings. I don't believe in Elvis. I don't believe in Zimmerman. I don't believe in Beatles.
I just believe in me. Yoko and me, and that's reality.
The dream is over. What can I say? The dream is over — Yesterday. I was the dream weaver, but now I'm reborn. I was the Walrus, but now I'm John. And so dear friends, you'll just have to carry on. The dream is over.”
John opens the song with the declaration that God is only an idea created by man, and the more pain we feel, the more we produce the legend of God for our own superficial comfort and hopes. A clever device devised by man to avoid the work of dealing with our internal personal psychological and emotional battles, which too often seems too painful to acknowledge.
I don't believe in magic.
I don't believe in I-Ching. I don't believe in Bible. I don't believe in tarot.
Then Lennon emphasizes his non-belief in things associated with magic and superstition. Illusions that contribute to an already heavily disillusioned world.
I don't believe in Hitler. I don't believe in Jesus. I don't believe in Kennedy. I don't believe in Buddha.
John stresses the point that no human, especially political and/or spiritual leaders, can pave the way for others. Each person has got to realize their own inner truths through self awareness. John knew that praying for a savior is a waste of time and avoids the personal issues within that we each must look at and deal with if we expect individual peace and love, which could then blossom and flower worldwide. He had become “one” with himself, and thus had a more meaningful, purposeful, and fulfilling relationship with his fans and Yoko.
I don't believe in Mantra. I don't believe in Gita. I don't believe in Yoga.
John continues with his disbelief's. Such things as chants, scriptures, and physical exercises, which are supposed to enlighten us, actually do not. Again, John understands the importance of inner reflection above all else.
I don't believe in Kings. I don't believe in Elvis. I don't believe in Zimmerman. I don't believe in Beatles.
Lennon returns to humans as his source and outlet for disapproval. At the very end of the “I don't believe” chants, John echoes the syllables, “Bea-tles” with clarity and might. John accents his disfavor of the Beatle myth. John felt that the Beatles were nothing more than a vehicle of illusion just as Christ, Hitler, the I-Ching, Elvis, and the rest of man's fanaticisms, which John no longer wished to be a part of or involved in.
He acknowledges that too much power in a few hands (Kings) over the masses is rarely good, Elvis had lost himself trying to live up to the legend the populace had created of him with his over-indulgence of drugs, Zimmerman (Bob Dylan) was really nothing more than a poet - far from being worthy of leading people to inner peace, and the Beatles were guilty of creating the illusion 'We can save you,' just as the Bible, Christ, and all of the other names and practices he denounces in the song. At this time John despised the Beatles as a mere “magic act,” who gained in popularity, but didn't do much more good than the other cult heroes of ancient and modern times. John went from, “We are more popular than Jesus,” during his time with the Beatles, to “I don't believe in Jesus” or “Beatles” while with Yoko. John, at this time, had become one with himself, and was writing his songs truthfully. personally, and less commercially without care of public scrutiny.
I just believe in me. Yoko and me, and that's reality.
John again alerts us to his awakening. He sees that putting faith in others for one's own salvation is an invalid approach to intrinsic treatment. Only we know what we are up to when we check our ulterior motives. No President, priest, performer, or card-reader can sort out our hallucinations and misconceptions for us. We must honestly and willingly seek our own salvation through internal observation and actions. This is the reality!
The dream is over. What can I say? The dream is over — Yesterday.
I think these two lines are amazing! John states how the “dream” he, Paul, George, and Ringo had created was finally behind him, and now he was going to reveal a more self-reliant Lennon to the world in the hopes to rid himself of the burden of “savior” once and for all. Also, the word “Yesterday” was a song Paul had written with the Beatles, which John did not think much of, and here he uses it the way he feels it fits best. John didn't believe in the notion of yesterday the way Paul did. John didn't like the idea of wishing for or living in the past, so for him yesterday was as good as gone - just as the Beatles were gone. “Today” was always a natural new beginning to John.
I was the dream weaver, but now I'm reborn. I was the Walrus, but now I'm John.
John feels a sense of guilt that he added to the illusions of the world — a world so bent on looking to “Redeemers” for their own personal guidance. “I was the dream weaver, but now I'm reborn,” defines a critical time in John's life. He can now concentrate on being a creative songwriter and activist, as opposed to wasting his remaining years being a guru to a Beatle cult audience who interpreted every Beatle word literally, much like the Bible and Gita. His songwriting had matured away from the whimsical style of the fab four.
And so dear friends, you'll just have to carry on. The dream is over.
John let's us know it is time for all of us “to carry on “ with our lives, and to stop looking up to the Beatles, Christ, Buddha, Kennedy and others for guidance. Lennon's message is uncomplicated. LOOK WITHIN — NOT OUTWARD! ...The dream is over folks!
You put alot of work into this comment and just wanted to thank you. You obvious are BIG Lennon fan and in my book, that's a beautiful thing. Imagine all the people sharing all the world....
You put alot of work into this comment and just wanted to thank you. You obvious are BIG Lennon fan and in my book, that's a beautiful thing. Imagine all the people sharing all the world....
@Kenny5271957 your interpretation of this does seem to mesh with what was going on in John's life at the time. He was definitely in a phase of finding himself and rejecting the Magical associations and expectations he had placed on other people, idea's, religions and belief systems. He had no ill will towards those people and ideas. But he had expected too much of people, religion, being like Elvis etc.. He had learned a lot but he had not learned how to be happy or to get what he wanted when he wanted to. Nor had he learned to control...
@Kenny5271957 your interpretation of this does seem to mesh with what was going on in John's life at the time. He was definitely in a phase of finding himself and rejecting the Magical associations and expectations he had placed on other people, idea's, religions and belief systems. He had no ill will towards those people and ideas. But he had expected too much of people, religion, being like Elvis etc.. He had learned a lot but he had not learned how to be happy or to get what he wanted when he wanted to. Nor had he learned to control his base instincts like anger , selfishness or covetousness. I don't say that to downgrade him as I Myself have struggled with the same issues. Over the 5 years that folowed he did much. From inspiring many with Imagine, to an affair with his housekeeper to playing with Chuck Berry and Elton John. Then he went in to a long seclusion that appeared to have a centering affect on the man. He and Yoko had a child on John's 35th, reepaired their marriage and then just as he was coming out of his self imposed isolation and he had new Music He was killed by a fan who apparently thought John owed him something for having become his idol. Reports were that he was calming but we all do at 40 or so.There is no way of knowing what the next decade or decades would have brought him. In many ways I think it saved his image for posterity. Double Fantasy would have been huge either way. Seeing a Resurgent John become popular in the eighties and perhaps have followup hits might've made him into a caicature of his former self, or not.But in 1970 he had not found so much the answer as an answer to what he did not believe.