Help!

John 1980: "When 'Help' came out, I was actually crying out for help. Most people think it's just a fast rock 'n roll song. I didn't realize it at the time; I just wrote the song because I was commissioned to write it for the movie. But later, I knew I really was crying out for help. So it was my fat Elvis period. You see the movie: He -- I -- is very fat, very insecure, and he's completely lost himself. And I am singing about when I was so much younger and all the rest, looking back at how easy it was. Now I may be very positive... yes, yes... but I also go through deep depressions where I would like to jump out the window, you know. It becomes easier to deal with as I get older; I don't know whether you learn control or, when you grow up, you calm down a little. Anyway, I was fat and depressed and I was crying out for help."

Nobody this side of 1965 can ever really know what it was like to be what the Beatles were. That said, the irony of this song is almost painful, in retrospect. Here we have John, in his self described "fat Elvis" period, singing about how is he is lost in the world...forgetting the lyrics of his own song, no less--but he crowd still cheers. "The Beatles" became something that John, Paul, George and Ringo could never be. They were just four guys from Liverpool that liked rock and blues and had a great talent for playing, singing, and writing songs...but they became such a cultural icon that it was more than any single person (at least anyone who really thought about it) could endure to be.

This is still a great song, and typical Lennon. In fact, I would classify "Help" as the first song in the John Lennon cannon, fitting in beside his other masterworks such as "In My Life," "Strawberry Fields," "God," and "Nobody Loves You." Taken all in context, all these songs together present a strikingly poignant view of John Lennon as a men who knew exactly what his short comings were, experienced fame beyond all explanation, but also knew that all the supposed "power" he was attributed was in the hands of a very fickle and sometimes misinformed public and there was very l8ttle could do to be himself among the melee that surrounded his life.

He likes larger girls - "I do appreciate you being round" :D

Great song.

PS - No disrespect intended. Just my immature opinion on the lyrics.

Play it backward...

I agree with what other people have said, that this song is about Lennon's insecurities/emotions etc. but I also think it's like a prayer from him to God. At least it sounds kind of like a prayer to me. After all isn't a prayer a cry for help? Just my opinion, you're all entitled to your own :)

"Now I find, I've changed my mind, I've opened up the doors" I don't know if this counts, but one time I was really high and it made sense what this was about. I believe that Lennon was referring to open the doors to your mind.

It's about a guy who's in a terrible relationship and he needs help to fix it up!

cynthia lennon thinks john wrote htis song because he was unhappy with his marriage with her and he was crying out for someone to help him

john wrote this song in 15 minutes, litterly...i heard somewhere on some beatles site.

I can't remember from the book to be totally honest, I'd have to go home and reference the book before I can validate your theory. ;D