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How Do You Sleep? Lyrics
So Sgt. Pepper took you by surprise
You better see right through that mother's eyes
Those freaks was right when they said you was dead
The one mistake you made was in your head
Ah, how do you sleep?
Ah, how do you sleep at night?
You live with straights who tell you you was king
Jump when your momma tell you anything
The only thing you done was yesterday
And since you're gone you're just another day
Ah, how do you sleep?
Ah, how do you sleep at night?
Ah, how do you sleep?
Ah, how do you sleep at night?
A pretty face may last a year or two
But pretty soon they'll see what you can do
The sound you make is muzak to my ears
You must have learned something in all those years
Ah, how do you sleep?
Ah, how do you sleep at night?
i hate this song. it saddens me, because it captures the bitterness that the ex-beatles felt when they split up, and the (mostly temporary) hatred that they felt towards each other, whereas they had originally been the "fourheaded monster". this song is a thinly veiled attack by john, on paul. the reference to yesterday refers to pauls most famous song. the pretty face thing is rather sadly jealousy, concealed by a taunt, because paul was said to be the best looking beatle (although clearly George was) the dead thing is a reference to the rather brilliant rumour that paul was killed and replaced by a lookalike. jump when your momma tell you is a reference to linda, as paul made sacrifices in his career to be with the woman he loved, as did John, although he fails to see this. as i said this is a horrible song. i am inclined to idolise lennon, but i do find it amazing that he could be so petty, and so unkind to a man that had previously been like his brother. i guess it was just a reaction to the grief he must have felt at the ending of such a powerful relationship. at least they made it up in the end.
loved the quip about George in there. i definitely agree. this was below john, seeing as it was quite violent for a man who practiced such peace. that said, this was a response to Paul's equally petty (and pretentious, plus I sort of just hate Paul's solo work other than Yesterday so I'm inclined to dislike that song as well) song "Too Many People" which was an attack at John's preaching and relationship at Yoko. Hate to say it but he "started it." Still, i feel like it left a very bitter feel to the album. Glad they made up...
loved the quip about George in there. i definitely agree. this was below john, seeing as it was quite violent for a man who practiced such peace. that said, this was a response to Paul's equally petty (and pretentious, plus I sort of just hate Paul's solo work other than Yesterday so I'm inclined to dislike that song as well) song "Too Many People" which was an attack at John's preaching and relationship at Yoko. Hate to say it but he "started it." Still, i feel like it left a very bitter feel to the album. Glad they made up later.
I agree. I'm a huge fan of John and all, and I don't mean to disrespect his memory, but he could really be an asshole. This song is an example. Paul, who "started it" had only 2 lines in Too Many People that were about John, and they weren't attacks. This song, is 100% an attack at John's best friend. It's really sad. He later felt bad and said it was about himself, but with all those references and all, there's no way.
I agree. I'm a huge fan of John and all, and I don't mean to disrespect his memory, but he could really be an asshole. This song is an example. Paul, who "started it" had only 2 lines in Too Many People that were about John, and they weren't attacks. This song, is 100% an attack at John's best friend. It's really sad. He later felt bad and said it was about himself, but with all those references and all, there's no way.
I'm glad they made up before John died...
I'm glad they made up before John died...
They had never really made up with each other
They had never really made up with each other
@lucyinthesky That is your choice...but it is John's truth nonetheless, of which I agree with completely. John and George were trying to change the world by using their privileged position within the mainstream, Paul was writing mostly MUZAK to placate the masses. Which do you want to shape your life around?
@lucyinthesky That is your choice...but it is John's truth nonetheless, of which I agree with completely. John and George were trying to change the world by using their privileged position within the mainstream, Paul was writing mostly MUZAK to placate the masses. Which do you want to shape your life around?
It's such a sad memento of the end of the dream of the Beatles, and the worldwide community that formed around them. John should have left his song "God" as the last word in coming of age and ending the Beatles, but this song came later. Sad, too, that Ringo and George were there for the session. What a great clash of styles and personalities they were, though. Both very self-centered, both preternaturally talented, but John was intemperate and aggressive, Paul was overly politic and passive-aggressive, it seems. That two such young men could end up in the same four-person band is simply amazing and forms the core of the late 20th century's most important cultural phenomenon.
Good take. One thing that has always amazed me about the Beatles is they were that rarest of all bands who had two frontmen--one who arguably had one of the most beautiful male voices in pop music (Paul), and one who had one of the coolest voices (John). That they were so incredibly prolific for so many years is just staggering. They literally created musical magic together--the proof is in their solo albums, although great, simply lacked that inherent magic, especially from Revolver on.
Good take. One thing that has always amazed me about the Beatles is they were that rarest of all bands who had two frontmen--one who arguably had one of the most beautiful male voices in pop music (Paul), and one who had one of the coolest voices (John). That they were so incredibly prolific for so many years is just staggering. They literally created musical magic together--the proof is in their solo albums, although great, simply lacked that inherent magic, especially from Revolver on.
Some write here that they idolize John Lennon and this song is painful for them to hear. I think, if I understand his overall messages, that he would have said "Good -- stop idolizing me. I don't have the whole truth any more than any other person, or book, or ideology. All I have is my story, and I tell it in my music."
The great and beautiful thing about JL is that he left us, through his art, the story of a human being searching for the truth. And that includes all sides of him -- the transcendent, the playful, the painful, the bitter.
The breakup was terrifying and painful. What JL wrote here was not noble, or kind, but an honest record of his low point. I'd say that anyone who claims s/he can't identify with that, is not being terribly honest with him/herself.
I love you.
I love you.
I heard after time Lennon said he realised the song was about himself and not Paul. Very Freudian.
@mirkin Wow, that\'s really interesting. I hadn\'t thought of it that way before and now it makes a lot of sense.
@mirkin Wow, that\'s really interesting. I hadn\'t thought of it that way before and now it makes a lot of sense.
There are too many references to McCartney for this song not to be about Paul. When John said it was about himself, I think he meant that he shared the flaws he attributed to Paul. I don't think the reference to Sgt Pepper is to the album (why would the record have taken anyone by surprise?). It is probably a euphemism for a drug or a person they both knew as 'Sgt Pepper'. It is a difficult song to listen to but you get the feeling it is written more in exasperation and sadness than real hatred. Listen closely to McCartney's (wonderful) Ram album and this response makes sense. I am sure Lennon wished he'd never recorded this song, though.
This song clearly talks about the faux Paul McCartney who replaced the real Paul after his death in 1966.
@kassyoulai: I agree, John would not have been so bitter towards the original Paul. This was addressed to Paul's replacement. He's asking him how can he live with himself pretending to be someone else. Otherwise the line "how do you sleep" makes no sense.
@kassyoulai: I agree, John would not have been so bitter towards the original Paul. This was addressed to Paul's replacement. He's asking him how can he live with himself pretending to be someone else. Otherwise the line "how do you sleep" makes no sense.
@kassyoulai Wait a minute... are you serious about "Paul is dead"? How come so many people believe bullshit? As some say here, this song is really crap in all senses, showing Lennon was a real asshole, a jelous guy, shedding shadows on people like Paul who was the sole real beatle. Even he admitted he was a hitter. A multimillonaire talking about "imagining there's no heaven...
@kassyoulai Wait a minute... are you serious about "Paul is dead"? How come so many people believe bullshit? As some say here, this song is really crap in all senses, showing Lennon was a real asshole, a jelous guy, shedding shadows on people like Paul who was the sole real beatle. Even he admitted he was a hitter. A multimillonaire talking about "imagining there's no heaven...
Does anyone else think the line, "The only thing you done was Yesterday." has a double meaning? I think it means the only thing Paul did was the song "Yesterday," but at the same time, he is saying that Paul's success is in the past, and he will end up being a has-been.
Yes. I think everyone else thinks that.
Yes. I think everyone else thinks that.
Just like "and since you're gone, you're just Another Day" has the same two meanings.
Just like "and since you're gone, you're just Another Day" has the same two meanings.
It's sad that John felt the way that he expresses in this song. But does anyone have any thoughts on what he means in the first line?
So Sgt. Pepper took you by surprise
I don't know.
Sgt. Pepper was a huge success, hes just saying that paul didnt expect it to be as popular as it was.
Sgt. Pepper was a huge success, hes just saying that paul didnt expect it to be as popular as it was.
It's interesting. I was reading on all this paul is dead nonsense. I mean you look at how big the beatles were at the time b4 sgt pepper. when sgt pepper came out.. would the industry say paul died and let the biggest band in the world die, or try and keep it a secret...Sgt pepper took you by surprise?? But i've seen paul in concert and believe that's all nonsense. Just an interesting lyric to put in there. And george and ringo played on it. they were seriously sending a message, and i know that paul put out an...
It's interesting. I was reading on all this paul is dead nonsense. I mean you look at how big the beatles were at the time b4 sgt pepper. when sgt pepper came out.. would the industry say paul died and let the biggest band in the world die, or try and keep it a secret...Sgt pepper took you by surprise?? But i've seen paul in concert and believe that's all nonsense. Just an interesting lyric to put in there. And george and ringo played on it. they were seriously sending a message, and i know that paul put out an album and they were in a fight but it's just interesting the people with money or power seems to silence those with power and find whatever way they can to make money. John Lennon, JFK, Martin Luther King. Interesting all the people that have major influence of the world in a positive way get assassinated.
It's interesting. I was reading on all this paul is dead nonsense. I mean you look at how big the beatles were at the time b4 sgt pepper. when sgt pepper came out.. would the industry say paul died and let the biggest band in the world die, or try and keep it a secret...Sgt pepper took you by surprise?? But i've seen paul in concert and believe that's all nonsense. Just an interesting lyric to put in there. And george and ringo played on it. they were seriously sending a message, and i know that paul put out an...
It's interesting. I was reading on all this paul is dead nonsense. I mean you look at how big the beatles were at the time b4 sgt pepper. when sgt pepper came out.. would the industry say paul died and let the biggest band in the world die, or try and keep it a secret...Sgt pepper took you by surprise?? But i've seen paul in concert and believe that's all nonsense. Just an interesting lyric to put in there. And george and ringo played on it. they were seriously sending a message, and i know that paul put out an album and they were in a fight but it's just interesting the people with money or power seems to silence those with power and find whatever way they can to make money. John Lennon, JFK, Martin Luther King. Interesting all the people that have major influence of the world in a positive way get assassinated.
I think he is singing to his fans--not paul. He is saying "you think sgt pepper was so great, yeah, it was Paul's baby alright, but look at him closer--look into that mother's eyes--he is a fraud."
I think he is singing to his fans--not paul. He is saying "you think sgt pepper was so great, yeah, it was Paul's baby alright, but look at him closer--look into that mother's eyes--he is a fraud."
I just learned of this song a couple of days ago, i mean, I have heard it, but i guess I really never read into it until a couple of days ago. Obviously this song is about Paul, but, the thing is, when I first heard this, I thought, wow, I cant believe he could write something so mean. But, after listening to it and thinking about it, you almost have to love the song. John has always wrote songs about what he felt passionatly about, be it war, peace, womens rights, etc. and that is what I, and I believe most, love about him. He didnt ignore his feelings on Paul cause they would be viewed as taboo (much like his views on peace) but wrote what he always did, how he felt. Its a powerful song that I think he regretted doing in hindsight, but he wrote what he felt at the time, and that made John great.
Does this remind n e one else about the rap battles that go on today when people fight through songs. Is this the first one? I wonder
Hello, yeah i completly agree with what your saying :) When John wrote the song he simply just expressed what he was feeling at that moment in time. That was just what he did no matter how agressive or horrible it was. It don't mean he didnt practice what he preached with peace and that like what some people think, just in that moment in time he felt the way he did and later on he moved on from that and made up with Paul! :D And like how every human is, we expirience agression, John just chose to make a song...
Hello, yeah i completly agree with what your saying :) When John wrote the song he simply just expressed what he was feeling at that moment in time. That was just what he did no matter how agressive or horrible it was. It don't mean he didnt practice what he preached with peace and that like what some people think, just in that moment in time he felt the way he did and later on he moved on from that and made up with Paul! :D And like how every human is, we expirience agression, John just chose to make a song about it.
PPEEEAAACCCE :)
underoath_55: i think the "mother's eyes" is a reference to paul's She's Leaving Home on sgt. pepper, when her daughter left the house. (some twisted crazy thing: john's the daughter?) "pretty face" is probably a reference to Paul being the "cute beatle"
personally, this song is quite depressing in some ways (seeing as it's just insults put to music), but I think it's kind of cute. because john must really have loved paul to get so ANGRY and write something like this. aww.
John was most pissed at Paul for breaking up the Beatles. He also was mocking him for his fruitty songs (muzac). I think John believes Sgt Pepper's success went right to his head, and he resented, as did George and Ringo, Paul's bossiness as a result of Sgt. Pepper's success.
John was most pissed at Paul for breaking up the Beatles. He also was mocking him for his fruitty songs (muzac). I think John believes Sgt Pepper's success went right to his head, and he resented, as did George and Ringo, Paul's bossiness as a result of Sgt. Pepper's success.