The Day Lennon Died

The Beatles were as much a part of my childhood as were Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, Tom Swift, and Doc Savage. My mother had the Beatles' albums up to Sgt. Pepper - within a year of that release, my parents were married and I was conceived, although (possibly) not necessarily in that order. I studied A Hard Days Night and Help! after school on the Channel 7 3:30 movie. In fact, I got teased for liking the Beatles' cartoon series. I may not have "been there" the first time around, but I understood the Beatles.

It was a cold, dark Chicago night, and I was driving with my aunt Bette and my mom, heading down Lake Shore Drive. "(Just Like) Starting Over" was playing on the radio - where we were coming from, I have no idea. All I remember was that I was glad to be over with half of eighth grade, and that Christmas was coming.

Just as we passed over the bridge, hitting the Randolph/Wacker exit, the news came over the radio - WLS (or "World's Largest Store") announced that John Lennon had been shot in New York City. It was a complete and utter shock - somehow, even as a child, without even knowing the full history, I gravitated more towards Lennon than McCartney. There was something about Lennon's character that was reminiscent of another childhood hero, Groucho Marx. (By contact, McCartney seemed more like Zeppo - I knew there was a decent guy in there, but he appeared unwilling - or unable - to let him out).

It wasn't as if a celebrity died - it was as if an older brother - the kind of cooler older brother everyone wants - had passed. In my young mind, I severely shocked - so much so that I barely noticed the glass Pepsi bottle banging against my foot.

And then, after the news item, one of my favorite Beatle tunes came on. It's the kind of song that, hearing cover after cover (including the recent Johnny Cash version), still sticks in my heart. And here they are, for your enjoyment.

There are places I’ll remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I’ve loved them all

But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I’ll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I’ll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more

Though I know I’ll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I’ll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
In my life I love you more

There are a ton of Lennon tributes in the blogosphere. Just consider this my belated thank-you.

Rest in peace, John. Hope you and George are jamming.

"We all shine on, like the moon and the stars and the sun"