He's not on the Beatles huge superstar merry go round anymore. He's hanging out with his family, raising his kids and watching the wheels go round. The fundamental building blocks of life.
@@dnldslvstr so it is nowadays... John was finally maturing, turning into the man he should be but yet some just focus on his past. He was only 40 (which being well past is ONLY 40 to me 😁) when he was taken. He was just barely in his 20s when The Beatles got huge and yes he abandoned Julian and Cynthia but he was changing for the better. This is the John I love. I love The Beatles too, but The Beatles as a whole (including Brian Epstein and the others)
Dude, he was the absolute biggest rockstar on the entire planet, and now he just wants to raise a family.... The critics and everybody else can't understand why he does not miss the fame
I quote John Lennon, "I don't believe in Beatles, I just believe in me." Good point there. After all, he was the walrus. I could be the walrus. I'd still have to bum rides off people.” ― Ferris Bueller.
"Watching the wheels grow round n round" = living a simple life. You guys should know that this song was released shortly after Lennon was killed. For those of old enough to have been around back then, this song is both sweet & very sad. Great song.
John basically retired from recording music to raise his kid and spend time with his family. He stopped making new music in 1975 and didn’t return to the studio until 1980. He was huge in the industry, and his friends were wondering what the heck he was doing. They saw him as wasting his time. John saw it as getting off the merry-go-round of recording and touring to do things that were really valuable.
John Lennon had a way of putting his own very personal thoughts on paper in a very relatable way. This particular song is about him taking a hiatus at the peak of his career to spend time with and raise his family. I literally gave up his career for about 5 years just to spend time with his family. It's a beautiful song.
Thank you! I was slammed on here for saying that once. And its not an attack on him or anyone who is literal. And, really, its part of what makes these two great. Total polar opposites in that regard. Lex is out here vibing on it and Brad over there tryna figure it out. It takes all kinds. Truly. Much love.
This is such a sweet song by Lennon after he stepped back from the Beatles and the chaotic life of touring, fame, etc. I believe the message in the lyrics are clear. He is just going to enjoy a simpler life with new fulfillments, especially spending time with his son. Makes me so sad that his life was cut short. Such a talent. Thanks guys for reacting to this one🧡
the song is NOT about watching his kid... the song is about him having been an international superstar, and now realizing that he doesn't want to be part of that life anymore... now, he just watches life... "watching the wheels," is watching the world, without being caught up in the mess of stardom any more..
Watching the wheels is a metaphor for sitting on the sidelines (retired from recording) and watching life unfold from a new prospective (as a father & husband). You have a great channel btw, I'm pretty sure that I watched all your videos so keep them coming!
This song always makes me sad when I hear it. It sounds to me like Lennon was really starting to come into his own at 40 years old and being totally at peace with it, looking forward to what was to come. And then he was murdered just 2 months later…robbed of everything. Who knows what he could have done moving forward
That's how this song makes me feel as well. I was honestly kind of tired of this for a while, because it was a huge hit and was being played constantly. But after he was killed it was just devastating, hearing him at this moment, loving his life and at peace.
The "merry-go-round" was the music / Beatles biz or "game", and the "wheels" are the recording tape reels in the studio when he came up with the lyrics. This is one of his more meaningful, introspective and best songs, imo.
This song is about him focusing on being a Dad rather than being a rock star. Watching the Wheels refers to watching the music Industry roll forward without him. Then -" no longer riding on the merry go round, I just had to let it go." The merry go round refers to being a Part of the music industry, which he had to let go to focus on family. The big give away as to the songs meaning can be encapsulated by "Don't you miss the big time boy? You're no longer on the ball."
This is saying clearly he wants now to live life , watch his son grow and his not on the merry go round of fame, Beatles , and all the stuff it brings. and people cant understand how he can not want that anymore. He was happy now just to be with his family and to watch the world go round and round with his home life , and living life and finding peace in normal life.
I think it is about him coming away from the whirlwind ride of stardom he experienced with the beatles and post beatles. He is now enjoying life as a husband and father, no longer on the merry go round of having to live up to everybody else's expectations of him.
It's not about watching his child grow up, it's about giving away the fruits of fame and life at the top for a quieter existence. He's watching the wheels because he's observing things from the outside.
Lex was definitely on the right track for the lyrics interpretation on this one. The song isn't really about his child at all, it's about growing out of the beatles and fame and all that stuff and leaving it behind
Seriously my favorite song by Lennon…. “I’m just sitting here watching the wheels go ‘round and ‘round, I really love to watch them roll…” it makes me think of the days passing us …. Peace to you both ❤🥰❤️
I think you have to look at In My Life as his greatest song. When you think he wrote it at the age of 24.. to have that kind of insight so young. Beautiful Boy is another song that’s right up there with Watching The Wheels.. especially if you’ve been lucky enough to have a son.
He wanted to get off of the merry-go-round of life. I’m right there with him. He was the biggest rockstar along with Paul McCartney that has ever existed. He just wanted to live a normal life.
Lennon was not only my favorite Beatle but is my favorite artist. As Lex said, “he clearly loved his son (Sean)” who he had with Yoko. But, from all accounts, he was shitty with his first son Julian who he had with his first wife Cynthia.
John was an enormous star - leader of The Beatles and with a string of solo albums... and then he decided he wanted to spend his time with his family. This song is about that decision. He was away from the rock scene for about five years before recording a comeback album... and then some **** took him away from us. RIP John - we still need you and love you.
The song absolutely means 100% that he has done everything he possibly could do as an artist and now that he has a family he just wants to sit back basically and take care of his loved ones his family. They're for you here in the lyrics don't you miss the big time I just had to let it go, basically basically he's giving up his career to say that he has everything he ever needed and we'll need 5:27
"Watching the wheels go round and round" is an expression that means "thinking" and in this usage means he's no longer caught up in the music industry, he's just enjoying life as a normal person.
I love all The Beatles work - both in the the band and when they went their separate ways and this is my favourite tune from the Fab Four. A masterpiece.
Makes me still sad that near the end of his life he realized that "Fame" meant nothing. I was all about the love of his family. Still hurts that a man that found peace with himself and finally a clear direction for his future life had it stolen from him. Thanks John. Rest in peace.
This is my favorite post-Beatles song from John Lennon. Lyric interpretation: This song is about John being out of the spotlight as a Beatle to spend time with his family, and be there for his son. People around him are questioning why he'd give up the glamour of being in the spotlight, and are trying to entice him back into a lifestyle he doesn't want. "I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go 'round and 'round" is a metaphor for just living a simple life.
This is one of my fav John Solo songs. He took the time to raise Sean and be a real father to him. However he never was around when Julian was growing up.
The year was 1981. We had just turned to a new decade and even the second year in things were uncertain. I remember when this came out and the feeling of living in that year. Then as the 80's progressed and the jitters wore off things kicked into high gear musically and didn't let up til near the end of the decade. It's amazing how music defines specific times and decades as a whole, and they are each unique in their own way.
I remember driving back to Toronto on December 8th after the day was done and it was a fierce winter storm happening and as we just passed through a whiteout just then did the radio station Q 107 interrupted the radio play to announce the murder and passing of John Lennon, Sad day ...only three weeks before John released Double Fantasy Album and they played this song in tribute and i think it is a masterpiece
Watching the wheels...meaning...sitting back and watching the world around him. Sitting back and smelling the roses. Just chilling and living life and appreciating what life has to offer.
The “wheels” are a reference to the big wheels in the music industry that just kept churning out music and going on tours. He saw it as one big merry-go-round, and he just had to get off.
Lex is right on her interpretation. He was a huge star and put his career on hold to spend time with his son and family. That why the song also says "people say I'm lazy doing what I'm doing" because he stopped working for a few years.
It’s so sad that Lennon got taken away from us just as he was coming out of his hiatus as a musician and beginning to create music again. We lost so many great songs because he didn’t get a chance to write them.😢
John's lyrics included subconscious observations he didn't even realize he was making until much later sometimes. The wheels are probably many things, including toys with wheels. But it wasn't until I became a parent and started watching the wheels go round and round inside my own kids' heads that I understood the song in its totality. I miss you, John. 😪 "I really love to watch them roll..."
It's an autobiographical song. John took a few years off when Sean was born. He was at his creative peak when he did this, people didn't get that he just wanted to be there to raise his boy. This song is an answer to all the questions he got about it.
He had stepped away from the music industry for years; his fellow musicians and artists couldn't believe he'd be happy not recording, not playing music. He was immersing himself in his family, striving not to make the mistakes he'd made before. He was no longer "on the merry-go-round" of writing songs, recording songs, bowing down to "the man" who expects more snd more and more out of you. People thought he was crazy, but he knew he was still in control.
Norm Macdonald’s last tweet before he passed away was a link to this song. As we get older we realise that the wheel of life turns whether we are here or not. It’s such a beautiful song . I detect a sense of gratitude in the song even though he’s letting go of all those things that once defined him.
@@stewartcohen-jones2949 I’ll be sure to grab it! But in all seriousness, im pretty sure I read that off of another comment section from something else. I remember going to fact check & I was bit disappointed since Norm literally just shared the music video & it wasn’t even the last thing he ever posted. I knew their Norm reaction was blocked so I just decided to bring everything back full circle. Just kidding about the comment of course. I’m pretty positive I stole my comment from another YT comment lol. It’s all dumb, anyway, cheers!
Wheels on the bus go round and round. He realized there is more important things in life than fame and fortune. That is the meaning of the song. Everyone thinks he should still be the "messiah" of music, but he just wants to live his life.
Great -- transcendent -- vocal on this. Beautiful song and performance. "Not on the merry-go-round": -- no record contract, no pressure to produce. "Watching the wheels" -- one could be sitting on the curb watching traffic go by. Or in terms of Eastern philosophy, watching the wheels of "rebirth".
Watching the wheels go round and round I really love to watch them roll....I think that means he's learned to appreciate what others consider mundane family life. This is what is now most important in his life. The merry go round he got off of is the hectic life with all the ups and downs of being in the public spotlight.
Assassinated three weeks after this beautiful Double Fantasy album came out. Everyone remembers the disbelief. John went out on top, where he belonged.
One of my personal favorites. I'm a massive fan of common sayings,sense and life itself and more than words. Same universe same rock same same. Massive fan word wise of everything especially being
He hadn't had an album out in 7 or 8 years. People were wondering what was going on with John Lennon in 1980. He wasn't on the music ''scene''. And the 'Double Fantasy'' came out in 1980. And was doing well. But then exploded when he was killed just a few months later. He had just been chilin away from "Merry-go-round" and then came back with this great, last album.
Watching the wheels is a metaphor for staying out of the fast lane and chilling, watching the wheels. He took about a 5 year break from music and some of his old friends kinda looked down on that...famously Mick Jagger did. This song was John's retort to them extolling the virtues of getting off the merry go round.
I don’t know if anyone told you this yet, but this song is about himself. John Lennon took a break from the music business for five years. People were constantly saying to him that you want to get back into the business go on tours do interviews, saying in public? And he would say nope I’m just gonna sit back and relax and be with my family. During that five years he had a son named Sean so he just stayed with Yoko for five years. It reads Shawnan really didn’t do much. Then, after the five years he made this album double fantasy, which I think is his best. There’s also a song with the album called darling Shawn about his son it’s really good so it. Now that you know this really listen to the songs and you’ll understand it a lot better.
I always interpreted the wheels as the wheels of industry, glad you understood it Lex. He will always be my favourite musician. Double Fantasy is a very special album. Life is what happens while your busy making other plans. :)
In the context of going from playing gigs in German dives to being the number 1 band on the planet in a few years, I think John was letting us know he came through it (with us). I love this song, almost wrote as one who has retired and can look back and forward on life... RIP also love "The Ballad of John and Yoko" and "Bring On The Lucie (Freda Peeple)"... Peace
Lex is correct on this one. John Lennon was talking about stepping back from the spotlight and enjoying life raising his son, Sean. At the time he wrote this song, he was often asked about returning to the spotlight and if he missed the music industry/fame. This was his answer to those questions, letting everyone know that he was okay not being a cog in the wheel. The merry-go-round he was no longer riding was fame.
Lex got the general gist of the song. One thing you'll find with most John Lennon songs is that he is very rarely specific about what he is trying to say and he likes to say things that have a lot of different messages all wrapped together and just when you think you've figured it out he'll say something that takes you in another direction. This song contains some of that but is one of the few more direct messages than most of his songs. He's talking about when he decided to pull away from the rock star lifestyle and focus on raising his child. A lot of people thought he was crazy, lazy, etc. and kept trying to pull him back into it. "Watching the wheels go round and round" was about seeing all of the people still caught up in the music business continuing to do the same routine that he used to do and he is really kind of getting a kick out of just watching it from a distance.
I think Lex got it.....he just is watching the wheels of the recording industry and fame as he says he is "no longer riding on the merry go round" of being famous, going on tours, meeting with the press, etc. "I just had to let it go". My 24 year old daughter loves this song. It just shows that a great melody can live on and be appreciated at any age.
This is Lennon's best song apart from Dream from the Shaved Fish Album.I went past John's old house the other day on Menlove avenue in Liverpool. All the best Brad and Lex from Liverpool UK ✌
This song always makes me feel sad. I associate it with his death. I was young and on my way to work when I learned of his murder. I pulled over and threw up. The sadness persists to this day.
I remember being a kid sitting in my living room watching Monday Night Football. Out of nowhere the live announcer Howard Cosell announces to football fans across the country that John Lennon was shot and killed. It was surreal. When “The Wheels” came out there was no video, just the song and I listened to it a lot. I always pictured him in his NYC mansion looking out the window watching the traffic roll on and on. It was a rat race world back then and it still is; people don’t understand why you might want to pass on a lot of money and just enjoy a life of quiet with your thoughts and family. But I can understand it since that is what I do now.
Yeah he did this song about how he stepped out of the spotlight for a long time after being the biggest celebrity on the planet for a long time. Everyone told him he was crazy. But he was just living his life and enjoying his family until he finally felt like making music again.
The Beatles and post Beatles were the Merry-go-round of fame. This song was close to 10 years after the Beatles. John went private for some time to watch "shadows on the wall ".
The mythology of the song, Syd Barrett showing up at the studio to visit the day they were recording this song. That he had changed so much that they could barely recognize him. Crazy stuff.
John was at the height of his popularity as a solo artist in 1975 when he left the music industry and entertainment industry to spend the next 5 years raising his son Sean. People close to his thought he was nuts and throwing his career away with such a long hiatus. Getting off the merry go round was what he called leaving the public spotlight. Watching the whells go round and round meant spending time doing relatively mundane things most people do. When he returned to music in 1980, his Double Fantasy album was a concept album about his reflections of the previous 5 years out of the spotlight. The albums first single "Just like starting over" was about his new found love for Yoko and his music. He was murdered about a month after the albums release. Watching the wheels was the 3rd single from the album after Just Like Starting Over and Woman. Both Woman and Watching the Wheels were released posthumously in early 1981.
Ah, John Lennon at his most real. A family man that couldn’t be a family man unless he let go of ‘the merry-go-round’. The whole of his contribution to Double Fantasy album is beautiful. When I play it I admit I have to skip over Yoko’s pieces. She could never have developed that kind of skill that he possessed in spades. However I was very taken by the single tracks, ‘Walking on Thin Ice’ and ‘It Happened’ - her best ever efforts.
What do you do when youve done everything you thought you wanted to do? Have everything you thought or dreamed of.... But you never have the one thing you needed?
There is also the wheels of time. This song is about his getting out of the Beatles and not being as active an artist but instead hanging with his family
"He's singing about his kid playing with toys that have wheels". And again I am just completely at a loss after hearing Brad's interpretation of a song's lyrics.
He's not on the Beatles huge superstar merry go round anymore. He's hanging out with his family, raising his kids and watching the wheels go round. The fundamental building blocks of life.
@@globalunitedanimals sadly yes, thank you Yoko :(
Unfortunately John basically abandoned Julian throughout his childhood, so not an accurate statement !
John took the job of a "housewife" raising his kid while Yoko went to work.
kid not kids he dumped his first son Julian who he had with his first wife who looks just like him.
@@dnldslvstr so it is nowadays... John was finally maturing, turning into the man he should be but yet some just focus on his past. He was only 40 (which being well past is ONLY 40 to me 😁) when he was taken.
He was just barely in his 20s when The Beatles got huge and yes he abandoned Julian and Cynthia but he was changing for the better.
This is the John I love. I love The Beatles too, but The Beatles as a whole (including Brian Epstein and the others)
Dude, he was the absolute biggest rockstar on the entire planet, and now he just wants to raise a family.... The critics and everybody else can't understand why he does not miss the fame
Bro, Did you ever see Yoko naked? not a pretty sight, rather be on the road with a rock band
I quote John Lennon, "I don't believe in Beatles, I just believe in me." Good point there. After all, he was the walrus. I could be the walrus. I'd still have to bum rides off people.”
― Ferris Bueller.
@@SilentBob731 "Well here's another clue for you all. The walrus was Paul"
@@mikeoxstiff Nah, Man...The Walrus was Dave. And Dave's not here, Man. 🙃
FACTS!! I'M FROM BROOKLYN AND JOHN LENNON MOVED AROUND LIKE YOU AND ME, HE LOVED THE ROTTEN 🍎 HEAVY!! HE DIDN'T WALK AROUND WITH BODY GUARDS.
"Watching the wheels grow round n round" = living a simple life. You guys should know that this song was released shortly after Lennon was killed. For those of old enough to have been around back then, this song is both sweet & very sad. Great song.
John basically retired from recording music to raise his kid and spend time with his family. He stopped making new music in 1975 and didn’t return to the studio until 1980. He was huge in the industry, and his friends were wondering what the heck he was doing. They saw him as wasting his time. John saw it as getting off the merry-go-round of recording and touring to do things that were really valuable.
He did help Ringo with his Rotogravure album in 1976.
Dont forget he was arguably one of the most famous people in the world until his demise.😢
And in doing so, he was able to revitalize. A renewed creativity if you will. Leading to a “Starting Over” not meant to be. 😢
John Lennon had a way of putting his own very personal thoughts on paper in a very relatable way. This particular song is about him taking a hiatus at the peak of his career to spend time with and raise his family. I literally gave up his career for about 5 years just to spend time with his family. It's a beautiful song.
Brad is the most literal person EVER.
I feel like he would see eye to eye with Drax.
yep
Thank you! I was slammed on here for saying that once. And its not an attack on him or anyone who is literal. And, really, its part of what makes these two great. Total polar opposites in that regard. Lex is out here vibing on it and Brad over there tryna figure it out. It takes all kinds. Truly. Much love.
😆🤣😆🤣😆🤣😆
Baby Daddy about to a get big shock, literally! 🤣
This is such a sweet song by Lennon after he stepped back from the Beatles and the chaotic life of touring, fame, etc. I believe the message in the lyrics are clear. He is just going to enjoy a simpler life with new fulfillments, especially spending time with his son. Makes me so sad that his life was cut short. Such a talent. Thanks guys for reacting to this one🧡
the song is NOT about watching his kid... the song is about him having been an international superstar, and now realizing that he doesn't want to be part of that life anymore... now, he just watches life... "watching the wheels," is watching the world, without being caught up in the mess of stardom any more..
Watching the wheels is a metaphor for sitting on the sidelines (retired from recording) and watching life unfold from a new prospective (as a father & husband). You have a great channel btw, I'm pretty sure that I watched all your videos so keep them coming!
This song always makes me sad when I hear it. It sounds to me like Lennon was really starting to come into his own at 40 years old and being totally at peace with it, looking forward to what was to come. And then he was murdered just 2 months later…robbed of everything. Who knows what he could have done moving forward
He was actually planning to tour in 1981 again, and do more recording.
That's how this song makes me feel as well. I was honestly kind of tired of this for a while, because it was a huge hit and was being played constantly. But after he was killed it was just devastating, hearing him at this moment, loving his life and at peace.
Some people DID know what he could have done, which is why he isn't alive today.
The "merry-go-round" was the music / Beatles biz or "game", and the "wheels" are the recording tape reels in the studio when he came up with the lyrics. This is one of his more meaningful, introspective and best songs, imo.
This made me tear up. RIP John Lennon, you will be remembered.
This is about what he DID NOT miss about being the most recognizable person on the planet at this time in his life.
He was an artist. The real deal.
No one could fool john. He was sharp and in tune with his surroundings and a extremely sharp tongue RIP my most fav artist, musician, poet 🤘❤️
... I'd forgotten about this stunningly natural video of John's family life ... notably withOUT a speck of Gold. Hard to pull off.
Loves this song
This song is about him focusing on being a Dad rather than being a rock star. Watching the Wheels refers to watching the music Industry roll forward without him. Then -" no longer riding on the merry go round, I just had to let it go." The merry go round refers to being a Part of the music industry, which he had to let go to focus on family. The big give away as to the songs meaning can be encapsulated by "Don't you miss the big time boy? You're no longer on the ball."
Brad & Lex, you'll love his "Just Like Starting Over" and "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night"!!!!
Whatever Gets You Thru The Night! featuring Elton John on piano! John's only number one single.
@@robertsullivan4712 he had two #1 singles in the US. "(Just Like) Starting Over" was #1 in 6 countries.
This is saying clearly he wants now to live life , watch his son grow and his not on the merry go round of fame, Beatles , and all the stuff it brings. and people cant understand how he can not want that anymore. He was happy now just to be with his family and to watch the world go round and round with his home life , and living life and finding peace in normal life.
I think it is about him coming away from the whirlwind ride of stardom he experienced with the beatles and post beatles. He is now enjoying life as a husband and father, no longer on the merry go round of having to live up to everybody else's expectations of him.
That's how I saw it as well and I think Lex was almost there. Very astute of her, as usual. Æ 🤔
Agreed, he just didn't get an opportunity past 40 to enjoy his time here, sadly and tragically .
Take it from an old fart. You're right.
And John called Paul to learn how to make that Bread 🍞 recipe. Fact.
Great definition to this song
Brad's serious looks and Lex's funny smiles always get me, you've become so precious to me 🤗
It's not about watching his child grow up, it's about giving away the fruits of fame and life at the top for a quieter existence. He's watching the wheels because he's observing things from the outside.
I`m so happy someone is reacting to this song...This is my favorite John Lennon song...Thank you both.
Lex was definitely on the right track for the lyrics interpretation on this one. The song isn't really about his child at all, it's about growing out of the beatles and fame and all that stuff and leaving it behind
Love this song! Whatever gets you thru the night next
Seriously my favorite song by Lennon…. “I’m just sitting here watching the wheels go ‘round and ‘round, I really love to watch them roll…” it makes me think of the days passing us …. Peace to you both ❤🥰❤️
I think you have to look at In My Life as his greatest song. When you think he wrote it at the age of 24.. to have that kind of insight so young. Beautiful Boy is another song that’s right up there with Watching The Wheels.. especially if you’ve been lucky enough to have a son.
My favorite solo work by Lennon. I can SO relate to this now that I've retired and gotten out of the rat race.
Thank you - I haven’t heard this song for so many years
He wanted to get off of the merry-go-round of life. I’m right there with him. He was the biggest rockstar along with Paul McCartney that has ever existed. He just wanted to live a normal life.
This is Lennon giving the finger to the music execs. He lived the way he wanted and didn't care what people thought.
Lennon was not only my favorite Beatle but is my favorite artist. As Lex said, “he clearly loved his son (Sean)” who he had with Yoko. But, from all accounts, he was shitty with his first son Julian who he had with his first wife Cynthia.
John was an enormous star - leader of The Beatles and with a string of solo albums... and then he decided he wanted to spend his time with his family. This song is about that decision. He was away from the rock scene for about five years before recording a comeback album... and then some **** took him away from us. RIP John - we still need you and love you.
It's about sitting back from the chaos and just watching it and being content with the finer things being yourself instead of somebody else. Nice song
John was in biggest pop band at that time & thry broke up. Thid was johns solo album he put out after the beatles ended in 1970s.
The song absolutely means 100% that he has done everything he possibly could do as an artist and now that he has a family he just wants to sit back basically and take care of his loved ones his family. They're for you here in the lyrics don't you miss the big time I just had to let it go, basically basically he's giving up his career to say that he has everything he ever needed and we'll need 5:27
I Really Love to watch them roll....
I think its about appreciating the little things in life. Love John rip.
Try his "Mind Games" video. It's shows the true person he was. RIP John forever missed👍👍👍👍🤟
"Watching the wheels go round and round" is an expression that means "thinking" and in this usage means he's no longer caught up in the music industry, he's just enjoying life as a normal person.
I love all The Beatles work - both in the the band and when they went their separate ways and this is my favourite tune from the Fab Four. A masterpiece.
Makes me still sad that near the end of his life he realized that "Fame" meant nothing. I was all about the love of his family. Still hurts that a man that found peace with himself and finally a clear direction for his future life had it stolen from him. Thanks John. Rest in peace.
This is my favorite post-Beatles song from John Lennon.
Lyric interpretation: This song is about John being out of the spotlight as a Beatle to spend time with his family, and be there for his son. People around him are questioning why he'd give up the glamour of being in the spotlight, and are trying to entice him back into a lifestyle he doesn't want. "I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go 'round and 'round" is a metaphor for just living a simple life.
This is one of my fav John Solo songs. He took the time to raise Sean and be a real father to him. However he never was around when Julian was growing up.
John was the most open and honest recording artist. His life and art were an open book. He’s more personal and human and relatable than anyone.
I seem to come back to this song when I’m dealing with major situations, usually work related but not always…
He's not in the Beatles anymore. He's just doing whatever he wants to do, and watching other people on the treadmill.
The year was 1981. We had just turned to a new decade and even the second year in things were uncertain. I remember when this came out and the feeling of living in that year. Then as the 80's progressed and the jitters wore off things kicked into high gear musically and didn't let up til near the end of the decade. It's amazing how music defines specific times and decades as a whole, and they are each unique in their own way.
1981 is the first year of the decade.
Do you remember what your hopes were for the new decade? As opposed to, what you disliked about the Seventies?
It was his way of sending a message to the music industry
I remember driving back to Toronto on December 8th after the day was done and it was a fierce winter storm happening and as we just passed through a whiteout just then did the radio station Q 107 interrupted the radio play to announce the murder and passing of John Lennon, Sad day ...only three weeks before John released Double Fantasy Album and they played this song in tribute and i think it is a masterpiece
Watching the wheels...meaning...sitting back and watching the world around him. Sitting back and smelling the roses. Just chilling and living life and appreciating what life has to offer.
The “wheels” are a reference to the big wheels in the music industry that just kept churning out music and going on tours. He saw it as one big merry-go-round, and he just had to get off.
Lex is right on her interpretation. He was a huge star and put his career on hold to spend time with his son and family. That why the song also says "people say I'm lazy doing what I'm doing" because he stopped working for a few years.
He is the prototype rock star. Brought the whole thing off, from start to finish.
John Lennons greatest triumph in my opinion. Just love it absolutely!
It’s so sad that Lennon got taken away from us just as he was coming out of his hiatus as a musician and beginning to create music again. We lost so many great songs because he didn’t get a chance to write them.😢
Well said
"Beautiful Boy" would be a logical next Lennon track. Very much related to this one.
Definitely, in my top 3 of his solo releases.
watching the wheels go round and round mean something Brad!!!
John's lyrics included subconscious observations he didn't even realize he was making until much later sometimes. The wheels are probably many things, including toys with wheels. But it wasn't until I became a parent and started watching the wheels go round and round inside my own kids' heads that I understood the song in its totality. I miss you, John. 😪
"I really love to watch them roll..."
It's an autobiographical song. John took a few years off when Sean was born.
He was at his creative peak when he did this, people didn't get that he just wanted to be there to raise his boy.
This song is an answer to all the questions he got about it.
He had stepped away from the music industry for years; his fellow musicians and artists couldn't believe he'd be happy not recording, not playing music. He was immersing himself in his family, striving not to make the mistakes he'd made before. He was no longer "on the merry-go-round" of writing songs, recording songs, bowing down to "the man" who expects more snd more and more out of you. People thought he was crazy, but he knew he was still in control.
My all time favorite John Lennon song!
He's off the merry go round of living to work, now he's chilled and enjoying family life.
Norm Macdonald’s last tweet before he passed away was a link to this song. As we get older we realise that the wheel of life turns whether we are here or not. It’s such a beautiful song . I detect a sense of gratitude in the song even though he’s letting go of all those things that once defined him.
Damn it lol. I commented this first! 😂
@@autumnsnow8467
So you did. I was of course unaware of this at time of commenting. Don’t forget to collect your winners medal on the way out.
@@stewartcohen-jones2949 I’ll be sure to grab it! But in all seriousness, im pretty sure I read that off of another comment section from something else. I remember going to fact check & I was bit disappointed since Norm literally just shared the music video & it wasn’t even the last thing he ever posted. I knew their Norm reaction was blocked so I just decided to bring everything back full circle. Just kidding about the comment of course. I’m pretty positive I stole my comment from another YT comment lol. It’s all dumb, anyway, cheers!
@@autumnsnow8467
No probs. I think it was his second or third last tweet. He felt the need to share it during his last days.
Wheels on the bus go round and round. He realized there is more important things in life than fame and fortune. That is the meaning of the song. Everyone thinks he should still be the "messiah" of music, but he just wants to live his life.
This is one of my favorites of Johns solos songs
He left the business of stardom and watching the world go by.
Oh...it's lyrics Lex. A tremendous song writer!
Great -- transcendent -- vocal on this. Beautiful song and performance.
"Not on the merry-go-round": -- no record contract, no pressure to produce.
"Watching the wheels" -- one could be sitting on the curb watching traffic go by. Or in terms of Eastern philosophy, watching the wheels of "rebirth".
Watching the wheels go round and round I really love to watch them roll....I think that means he's learned to appreciate what others consider mundane family life. This is what is now most important in his life. The merry go round he got off of is the hectic life with all the ups and downs of being in the public spotlight.
Assassinated three weeks after this beautiful Double Fantasy album came out. Everyone remembers the disbelief. John went out on top, where he belonged.
One of my personal favorites. I'm a massive fan of common sayings,sense and life itself and more than words. Same universe same rock same same. Massive fan word wise of everything especially being
He hadn't had an album out in 7 or 8 years. People were wondering what was going on with John Lennon in 1980. He wasn't on the music ''scene''. And the 'Double Fantasy'' came out in 1980. And was doing well. But then exploded when he was killed just a few months later. He had just been chilin away from "Merry-go-round" and then came back with this great, last album.
Watching the wheels is a metaphor for staying out of the fast lane and chilling, watching the wheels. He took about a 5 year break from music and some of his old friends kinda looked down on that...famously Mick Jagger did. This song was John's retort to them extolling the virtues of getting off the merry go round.
I don’t know if anyone told you this yet, but this song is about himself. John Lennon took a break from the music business for five years. People were constantly saying to him that you want to get back into the business go on tours do interviews, saying in public? And he would say nope I’m just gonna sit back and relax and be with my family. During that five years he had a son named Sean so he just stayed with Yoko for five years. It reads Shawnan really didn’t do much. Then, after the five years he made this album double fantasy, which I think is his best. There’s also a song with the album called darling Shawn about his son it’s really good so it. Now that you know this really listen to the songs and you’ll understand it a lot better.
This song was typical of John’s honest outlook on Life. Musical Soothsayer of his Time!
Its such a great song..he had so many...hes really missed
I always interpreted the wheels as the wheels of industry, glad you understood it Lex.
He will always be my favourite musician.
Double Fantasy is a very special album.
Life is what happens while your busy making other plans. :)
In the context of going from playing gigs in German dives to being the number 1 band on the planet in a few years, I think John was letting us know he came through it (with us). I love this song, almost wrote as one who has retired and can look back and forward on life... RIP
also love "The Ballad of John and Yoko" and "Bring On The Lucie (Freda Peeple)"... Peace
Lex is correct on this one. John Lennon was talking about stepping back from the spotlight and enjoying life raising his son, Sean. At the time he wrote this song, he was often asked about returning to the spotlight and if he missed the music industry/fame. This was his answer to those questions, letting everyone know that he was okay not being a cog in the wheel. The merry-go-round he was no longer riding was fame.
Lex got the general gist of the song. One thing you'll find with most John Lennon songs is that he is very rarely specific about what he is trying to say and he likes to say things that have a lot of different messages all wrapped together and just when you think you've figured it out he'll say something that takes you in another direction. This song contains some of that but is one of the few more direct messages than most of his songs. He's talking about when he decided to pull away from the rock star lifestyle and focus on raising his child. A lot of people thought he was crazy, lazy, etc. and kept trying to pull him back into it. "Watching the wheels go round and round" was about seeing all of the people still caught up in the music business continuing to do the same routine that he used to do and he is really kind of getting a kick out of just watching it from a distance.
I think Lex got it.....he just is watching the wheels of the recording industry and fame as he says he is "no longer riding on the merry go round" of being famous, going on tours, meeting with the press, etc. "I just had to let it go". My 24 year old daughter loves this song. It just shows that a great melody can live on and be appreciated at any age.
This is Lennon's best song apart from Dream from the Shaved Fish Album.I went past John's old house the other day on Menlove avenue in Liverpool. All the best Brad and Lex from Liverpool UK ✌
John Lennon was the most socially aware artist of all the "mega-stars...." his solo work tells so much about how he viewed the world...
Lex is right on point. He was Watching life, no longer being the main show.
This song always makes me feel sad. I associate it with his death. I was young and on my way to work when I learned of his murder. I pulled over and threw up. The sadness persists to this day.
I remember being a kid sitting in my living room watching Monday Night Football. Out of nowhere the live announcer Howard Cosell announces to football fans across the country that John Lennon was shot and killed. It was surreal. When “The Wheels” came out there was no video, just the song and I listened to it a lot. I always pictured him in his NYC mansion looking out the window watching the traffic roll on and on. It was a rat race world back then and it still is; people don’t understand why you might want to pass on a lot of money and just enjoy a life of quiet with your thoughts and family. But I can understand it since that is what I do now.
Yeah he did this song about how he stepped out of the spotlight for a long time after being the biggest celebrity on the planet for a long time. Everyone told him he was crazy. But he was just living his life and enjoying his family until he finally felt like making music again.
I wish he were still here. R.I.P.
This is probably my favourite John Lennon song.
The Beatles and post Beatles were the Merry-go-round of fame. This song was close to 10 years after the Beatles. John went private for some time to watch "shadows on the wall ".
The mythology of the song, Syd Barrett showing up at the studio to visit the day they were recording this song. That he had changed so much that they could barely recognize him. Crazy stuff.
He is genuine and real
John was at the height of his popularity as a solo artist in 1975 when he left the music industry and entertainment industry to spend the next 5 years raising his son Sean. People close to his thought he was nuts and throwing his career away with such a long hiatus. Getting off the merry go round was what he called leaving the public spotlight. Watching the whells go round and round meant spending time doing relatively mundane things most people do. When he returned to music in 1980, his Double Fantasy album was a concept album about his reflections of the previous 5 years out of the spotlight. The albums first single "Just like starting over" was about his new found love for Yoko and his music. He was murdered about a month after the albums release. Watching the wheels was the 3rd single from the album after Just Like Starting Over and Woman. Both Woman and Watching the Wheels were released posthumously in early 1981.
Ah, John Lennon at his most real. A family man that couldn’t be a family man unless he let go of ‘the merry-go-round’.
The whole of his contribution to Double Fantasy album is beautiful. When I play it I admit I have to skip over Yoko’s pieces. She could never have developed that kind of skill that he possessed in spades. However I was very taken by the single tracks, ‘Walking on Thin Ice’ and ‘It Happened’ - her best ever efforts.
What do you do when youve done everything you thought you wanted to do? Have everything you thought or dreamed of....
But you never have the one thing you needed?
That was the very first single i´ve ever bought. I was 12 years old! 1981...
There is also the wheels of time. This song is about his getting out of the Beatles and not being as active an artist but instead hanging with his family
"He's singing about his kid playing with toys that have wheels". And again I am just completely at a loss after hearing Brad's interpretation of a song's lyrics.