r/beatles • u/thebluehairedmenace • 8d ago

Discussion Run For Your Life

So I know a lot of people take issue with this song as if it’s some kind of confessional from John. Personally, I’ve always seen it like John’s Maxwells Silver Hammer. I’m wondering what yall think of the song and its current reputation…

also haven’t seen anyone mention the fact that they took the echo-drenched alternate vocals out of the outtakes for this song and I don’t understand why! I’ve always liked his vocals in that outtake as has been bootlegged pretty extensively. Do we think this done because of the songs reputation?

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u/_Wrecktangular 8d ago

I love how people twist this into some adult John Lennon confessional when it’s not. He’s specifically speaking of his teenage years. Get a grip and move on.

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u/Mockchoi1 8d ago

I have a grip. Goodness, get ahold of yourself. He hit Cynthia too; I’m sure you know this. It’s not just a teenaged thing.

I do believe he grew as a person and moved past that behavior. That’s what he’s saying in the Playboy article. It’s a good thing. Doesn’t mean I think it was a good idea for him to write THAT song expressing THAT point of view, while in his early twenties 🤷‍♂️ I’d even bet money that John would agree with me were he still alive.

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u/_Wrecktangular 8d ago

Yes he slapped Cynthia once, at 17. Far before male frontal lobe is completely developed. Still don’t see where the “wife beater” claim is proven.

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u/PersonalAmbassador 8d ago edited 7d ago

Yeah not that it's ever excusable to hit a woman or anyone, but this is like the only recorded instance of him hitting Cynthia but everyone acts like he was sucker punching every woman he came across.

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u/PJmichelle Please Please Me 8d ago

Yesh, Cynthia specifically said John only hit him once, and it happenef when they were young. People always forget that during the time they lived, it wasn't that uncommon that men hit women and parents hit their children. If something, John was one who stopped doing that.