How Do You Sleep? Lyrics – John Lennon
How Do You Sleep? Song Lyrics
[Verse 1: John Lennon]
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
[Chorus: John Lennon]
Ah, how do you sleep?
Ah, how do you sleep at night?
[Verse 2: John Lennon]
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
[Chorus: John Lennon]
Ah, how do you sleep?
Ah, how do you sleep at night?
Ah, how do you sleep?
Ah, how do you sleep at night?
[Verse 3: John Lennon]
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
[Chorus: John Lennon]
Ah, how do you sleep?
Ah, how do you sleep at night?
How Do You Sleep? Lyrics Explained
"How Do You Sleep?" by John Lennon is a notable example of his confrontational songwriting style. The lyrics are directed towards his former Beatles bandmate, Paul McCartney, and are considered one of the most scathing and personal diss tracks in music history. Let's explain the meaning of each paragraph.
[Verse 1]
In the first verse, John Lennon references the release of The Beatles' groundbreaking album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." He suggests that the album caught Paul McCartney by surprise, perhaps implying that McCartney was initially resistant to the idea or didn't fully understand the direction of the project. The line "You better see right through that mother's eyes" may allude to McCartney's sometimes idealistic and optimistic view of the world. Lennon goes on to mention "those freaks," which is likely a reference to the counterculture movement of the 1960s. Lennon asserts that these people were correct when they claimed that McCartney was "dead," which could be interpreted as a metaphor for McCartney's artistic or personal changes after The Beatles' breakup. The final line, "The one mistake you made was in your head," implies that McCartney's mistakes were not external but rather a result of his mindset.
[Chorus]
The chorus serves as a direct question to McCartney: "Ah, how do you sleep? Ah, how do you sleep at night?" This is a confrontational challenge, asking McCartney how he can live with himself given the issues and conflicts between them.
[Verse 2]
In the second verse, Lennon continues to criticize McCartney, suggesting that McCartney surrounds himself with conformists or "straights" who always agree with him. He portrays McCartney as being under the control of his mother or influenced by her opinions. Lennon states that the only thing McCartney has achieved is what he did "yesterday," which could be seen as a reference to The Beatles' past glories and his lack of significant contributions since their breakup. The line "you're just another day" may suggest that McCartney's current endeavors are uninspiring or unremarkable.
[Chorus]
The chorus is repeated, reiterating the question of how McCartney can live with himself in the face of Lennon's accusations.
[Verse 3]
In the third verse, Lennon touches on the idea of beauty and its fleeting nature. He tells McCartney that a pretty face may be attractive for a limited time, but eventually, people will see through it and evaluate him based on his actions and achievements. The line "The sound you make is muzak to my ears" implies that McCartney's music no longer has the same depth or significance as it once did, comparing it to elevator or background music. Lennon suggests that McCartney should have learned something from his experiences over the years but appears to have failed to do so.
Overall, "How Do You Sleep?" song is a scathing critique of McCartney, his musical direction, and his persona at that time. It reflects the intense personal and professional rivalry that existed between Lennon and McCartney after The Beatles disbanded and provides a glimpse into the complex emotions and tensions that characterized their relationship.
This is the end of "How Do You Sleep? Song Lyrics" by John Lennon. If you discover any mistake in the song text, please send the correct lyrics by using the Contact Us form.
Official Music Video
Cast & Crew
- Album
- John Lennon (Singles)
- Artist / Band
- Producer(s)
- Phil Spector, Yoko Ono & John Lennon
- Writter(s)
- John Lennon
- Released On
- September 9, 1971
John Lennon (Singles) Songs
- 1.Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)
- 2.Happy Xmas (War Is Over) ft. Yoko Ono, Plastic Ono Band & Harlem Community Choir
- 3.How Do You Sleep?
- 4.Imagine
- 5.Now and Then
- 6.Working Class Hero
John Lennon Albums
FAQs & Knowledge
Who is the singer of "How Do You Sleep?" song?
"How Do You Sleep?" song is sung by John Lennon.
Who is the lyrics writer of "How Do You Sleep?" song?
"How Do You Sleep?" song lyrics written by John Lennon.
Who is the music producer of "How Do You Sleep?" song?
"How Do You Sleep?" song music composed & produced by Phil Spector, Yoko Ono & John Lennon.
When was "How Do You Sleep?" song released?
"How Do You Sleep?" song was released on September 9, 1971.