God
John Lennon
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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 just have to carry on The dream is over
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Written by: John Winston Lennon
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
11 facts about this song
Composition and Lyrics"God" is a song from John Lennon’s first solo album, “John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band,” released in 1970. Considered as one of his most controversial songs, Lennon lists many beliefs and idols including political figures, religious icons, and even Beatles, that he no longer believes in, ending the song with "I just believe in me...and Yoko."
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Emotional ContextThe song was written during a time when Lennon was undergoing Primal Therapy, a trauma-based psychotherapy, to deal with the deep-seated emotional issues that resulted from his early life experiences. Hence, the song also reflects the emotional pain and introspection he was experiencing during this time.
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Beatle's BreakupTowards the end of the song, John Lennon frankly tells his fans "I don't believe in Beatles," signifying that he has moved on from his past as part of the world-famous band and signifies the band's breakup.
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Cultural ImpactThe song’s controversial message, especially doubting the existence of God, had a significant impact on the culture of the 1970s. It was seen as Lennon's public declaration of his personal beliefs and an announcement of his ambitions as an independent artist.
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Album Sessions"God" was recorded at EMI Studios (now Abbey Road Studios) in London. According to studio outtake recordings, it took the musicians a few tries to get the rhythm and tempo just right.
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The Making of the SongIn this song, Lennon performs on the piano with Klaus Voormann on bass and Billy Preston on the organ. Former Beatle Ringo Starr is on drums.
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Music InfluenceThe stripped-down sound and personal lyrics of "God" heavily influenced the rock music of the 1970s and the rise of the singer-songwriter genre.
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Cover VersionsMany musicians, including Bono from U2, have covered "God," showing its enduring influence across the decades.
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Live PerformancesInterestingly, despite its massive cultural impact, "God" was never performed live by Lennon.
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Standalone Single ReleaseIn 2007, "God" was released as a digital download on the iTunes music store. This marked the song's first official release as a standalone single.
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Influence on Music ArtistsThe song has played a significant role in shaping modern music, influencing artists such as Elton John and Liam Gallagher who cited the album and the song as significant influences on their work.
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Citation
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"God Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/4173131/John+Lennon/God>.
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