I think there's a danger that many walk into: assuming that a song (or anything else I suppose) has no "real meaning" unless there's a linear thought that's immediately conveyed. The individual fragments hold meanings within themselves, and they can formulate an overall "message", or may just be great moments in the general discourse, a la "I am the Walrus", or even "Tomorrow Never Knows" (transplanting the Tibetan Book of the Dead phrases piece by piece to blow our collective minds ^.^) . Even if "Some kind of innocence is measured out in years" has no real significance to Lennon, I like to think that, subconsciously at least, he's referring to the innocence of youth, etc...
I think there's a danger that many walk into: assuming that a song (or anything else I suppose) has no "real meaning" unless there's a linear thought that's immediately conveyed. The individual fragments hold meanings within themselves, and they can formulate an overall "message", or may just be great moments in the general discourse, a la "I am the Walrus", or even "Tomorrow Never Knows" (transplanting the Tibetan Book of the Dead phrases piece by piece to blow our collective minds ^.^) . Even if "Some kind of innocence is measured out in years" has no real significance to Lennon, I like to think that, subconsciously at least, he's referring to the innocence of youth, etc...