John Lennon, 9 Oct 1940 - 8 Dec 1980

Posted: Monday, December 12, 2011 by Travis Cody in
5

I let the day pass last week without comment, but not unobserved.  Today I re-post my thoughts from last year to commemorate the date the John Lennon was killed.

From 8 December 2010:  There will be many profound words spoken and written about John Lennon's legacy.  His music will be featured on radio stations and Ipods.  His lyrics will be quoted. 

Rightfully so.  Deservedly so.

People will gather outside the NY apartment building where he was murdered.  They will remember the moment they heard the news that he had been shot, and then they will remember the moment they heard that he was dead.

It was a Monday night.  I was 16 years old.  It was the winter of my senior year in high school.  I was gradually recovering from a devastating knee injury from the last football game I ever played, and coming to terms with the end of my dream of becoming a Marine.  I was watching the football game between Miami and New England.  Miami won 16-13.  I had to look that up because I didn't remember.


Howard Cosell told me and millions of others that John Lennon had been murdered.

I wasn't devastated, but I was affected.  I wasn't dead, just momentarily crippled.  My knee was going to heal reasonably.  We couldn't afford the surgery, so I'd have to make the best recovery I could without it.  Barely a month after the injury, I was hardly able to put much weight on the knee, even with the aid of crutches.  Although I would never play football in college or be a Marine, I was still going to have a life and a future.

John Lennon was dead.    

There are the obvious songs to post in tribute to a man who wrote so many wonderful lyrics and so much intriguing music either as a solo singer/songwriter or in partnership with others.  I wanted something less obvious, although no less significant. 


I liked his solo work, but I loved his work with the Beatles.  On 8 December 1980, fans finally knew there would never be a Beatles reunion.  So that's what I want today.  John Lennon as part of John, Paul, George, and Ringo. 

My Ipod is on Beatles rotation.  So take another day and remember John Lennon, and The Beatles, with joy.   

5 comments:

  1. Ivanhoe says:
    12 December, 2011 06:21

    Great post! The Beatles are not exactly my generation music, but I can appreciate it. I actually went to see Paul when he was in town years ago. The tickets were pretty expensive, but I saw a Beetle! :)
    Have a great week, Trav!

  1. Cherie says:
    12 December, 2011 07:39

    Yes, the Beatles time was my favorite John Lennon work. Certainly, a brilliant man who pushed the envelope (beyond was was comfortable as I saw in a documentary last year). But, that's what the brilliant ones must do in order to keep things interesting for themselves.

  1. Charles Gramlich says:
    12 December, 2011 08:07

    I have a friend who feels very much about Lennon as you do.

  1. Akelamalu says:
    12 December, 2011 08:20

    The Beatles were definitely my era, I grew up with them so was devastated to hear of Lennon's death. Great tribute to a genius Trav.

  1. Vinny "Bond" Marini says:
    14 December, 2011 11:32

    Another quality repeat!

Post a Comment