The Meaning of John Lennon’s Song, 'God'
The Dream Is Over. What Can I Say?
The dream has faded, slipping quietly into the cracks of time. Here I am, in my office on a languid Thursday afternoon, the air thick with the scent of old vinyl. A record spins slowly on the turntable, caught in the golden light streaming through the window, dust particles suspended like tiny echoes of the past. The needle touches down, and the music breathes to life, each note rippling through the room, stirring up ghosts of memories.
Suddenly, I’m fourteen again, back on St. Mary’s Road in Galway. I can almost feel the damp chill of those evenings. It was then, very late one night, that I stumbled upon a crackling pirate radio station on my CB radio, its signal reaching out through the darkness. A song came on, and I sat there, transfixed. It was Lennon, and his words hit like a wave: “I don’t believe in Beatles. I just believe in me.”
Did I really hear that? It was as if he was breaking a spell, shattering a sacred illusion. Yet somehow, it felt freeing. There, in that moment, I understood that a world I idolised was just a dream, and like all dreams, it had to end. But in the quiet of this room, on this fading afternoon, it feels like the dream still lingers, as if it’s etched in the grooves of this record.
'God,' from Lennon's 1970 album John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, surely represents one of the most personal and provocative statements of his career and remains one that divides fans even to today - including some of the members of my home as I learned from my sixteen year old daughter, who is also a huge music fan.
"I was the walrus but now I'm John'...Coming at a time when Lennon was grappling with profound questions about identity, faith, and purpose, the song reflects his journey through self-discovery, skepticism, and ultimately, liberation from long-held beliefs. In this blog, I'll dive into the background of this powerful song, attempt to analyse its lyrics with my background in psychology, and explore the broader significance it holds within Lennon's body of work.
The Context of Plastic Ono Band
Of course, I have to mention the unmentionable. Following the breakup of The Beatles in 1970 (boo hoo), Lennon embarked on a solo career, initially alongside his wife Yoko Ono. John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, his first post-Beatles album, emerged as a bold statement of independence and vulnerability. Interestingly, it was deeply influenced by the primal therapy sessions he underwent with Dr. Arthur Janov, designed to help him confront repressed childhood traumas and raw emotions. It is reported that these sessions unearthed feelings of abandonment, anger, and confusion that Lennon, like so many of us, had buried in order to survive.
Released in December 1970, the album stripped down Lennon's sound to its bare essentials, with stark production and minimal instrumentation. 'God,' the album's penultimate track, acts as a cathartic release of Lennon’s accumulated frustrations with societal institutions, his own insecurities, and the mythos surrounding (his) fame and idolatry.
'God opens with a simple but profound declaration:"God is a concept by which we measure our pain." This line, delivered in Lennon's somber tone, establishes the song's premise: that faith, institutions, and iconic figures are constructs we use to cope with suffering. For Lennon, these constructs had, at times and over time, obscured his own sense of self.
A List of Disavowals
For me, the most memorable part of the song is the list of things Lennon declares he does not believe in. With each line, he renounces something that he, or others, once held sacred: “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…” He continues with references to other religious, philosophical, and cultural pillars, such as Buddha, mantra, Jesus, and finally, Elvis and...Well, The Beatles. This list is more than a repudiation of various belief systems; it's a way for Lennon to dismantle the icons he, and we, once revered. "I Was the Walrus, But Now I'm John" As he proceeds down the list, he ultimately arrives at: “I don’t believe in Beatles.”
Now, this line might well be the most startling of all for listeners. The Beatles had become and remain a cultural institution, embodying ideals and dreams for millions. By renouncing his belief in the Beatles, Lennon makes a bold statement about his journey to find his own identity apart from the group. The line “I was the Walrus, but now I’m John” underlines his transformation from a cultural icon back to a real, individual fragile, person. He’s no longer a character or a mythical figure. He’s simply himself: John.
The Song’s Structure and Musical Elements
Musically, 'God' is as minimalistic as its lyrics are bold. The song is characterised by a slow, haunting piano line, played by Billy Preston, that reinforces the gravity of Lennon’s words. Ringo Starr's drums provide a steady, unadorned beat, grounding the song in a way that mirrors the grounding Lennon is seeking through his renunciations. This simple structure makes Lennon's voice the primary focus, allowing his words to shine with unfiltered clarity. The lack of embellishment in the instrumentation reflects his desire for authenticity, echoing his decision to forgo the personas and mythologies that had previously surrounded him.
The primary themes of 'God' revolve around disillusionment, identity, and liberation. Lennon’s declaration that “God is a concept by which we measure our pain” hints at the tension between spiritual faith and personal suffering. He’s not dismissing the concept of God entirely, but he’s questioning the role that such constructs play in the human experience. For Lennon, God represents a sort of mask—a coping mechanism that we turn to rather than confronting life’s harsh realities.
Throughout the song, Lennon works through his disillusionment with the ideas and institutions that once shaped his worldview. His list of “don’t believes” suggests that he’s come to a point of self-awareness where he can no longer cling to external crutches, whether they be religious doctrines, cultural icons, or even his own past. The repeated “I don’t believe in…” is a cathartic process of stripping away everything that’s not authentically him, leading to the self-affirmation: “I just believe in me…Yoko and me.”
Legacy and Impact of "God"
'God' marked a turning point in Lennon’s career and public image. Fans and critics alike were shocked and moved by his raw honesty and willingness to question and reject the very things that had propelled him to fame. This act of renunciation was seen by some as a profound act of courage, while others viewed it as dismissive of the ideals that The Beatles had come to represent. The song continues to resonate with listeners as a powerful statement of self-liberation. In a world where people still look to institutions, celebrities, and religions for guidance and solace, 'God' serves as a reminder of the importance of self-discovery and personal integrity. Lennon's message, ultimately, is that we all have the right and the need to define ourselves, free from the illusions or expectations imposed upon us by society.
For those who listen carefully, 'God' is more than just another Lennon song; it’s a manifesto for individuality and personal liberation.