Showing posts with label John Lennon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Lennon. Show all posts

Monday, 28 April 2025

Marianne Faithfull covers Lennon, McCartney and Harrison

Cover version of the month # 108-110

Marianne Faithfull covers Lennon, McCartney and Harrison

I took a bit of a dive into Marianne Faithfull's back catalogue following her death at the end of January and discovered some wonderful songs I had never heard before, including LOADS of brilliant cover versions.

Marianne's version of Dylan's It's All Over Now Baby Blue is really cool, but this blog is going to focus on 3 covers of songs written by John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison.

But before I start, I'd never seen the photograph above before! I discovered it while looking for an image to head this blog. What a super cool, utterly gorgeous woman Marianne Faithfull was! Effortless! Her hair, eyes, style, face ... stunning!

I'm A Loser 

Written in the whirlwind of Beatlemania but dripping with self-doubt and introspection, I’m a Loser was one of the first hints that The Beatles were evolving beyond simple love songs. Lennon, clearly inspired by Dylan, delivers a folk-tinged lament on failure and regret, wrapped in the kind of catchy melody that The Beatles had long since perfected. Were the lyrics about his marriage/relationship with Cynthia?

The harmonies are tight, there is a country tinge and twinge to the song and groove that you can imagine Ringo in particular being fond of. In fact, I would say that upon revisiting this song, it is probably more suited to Ringo. However, perhaps it was just too personal for John to give away. 

George picks a neat guitar solo and Lennon plays harmonica to help the groove. Lennon, it could be said, sounds perhaps a little too jovial whilst singing this song.

I'm a loser

And I lost someone who's near to me

I'm a loser

And I'm not what I appear to be

Originally released on Beatles for Sale in 1964, I’m a Loser would swiftly be followed by a more stark confession from Lennon with the single and title track of the next album - Help! This time, Lennon leaves the listener in no doubt that he means it.

A year on from The Beatles version, in 1965, Marianne Faithfull took I’m a Loser and turned it into something completely different. Faithfull's voice is firm, yet delicate and melancholic, full of heartbreak. There is more of a zip to the song, indeed this cover shaves 15-seconds off the already short (2.5 minutes) original.

Faithfull was only 18 at the time of recording her version, but already her voice carried a wisdom beyond her years. Her cover hints at the kind of raw emotion she would later become known for. 

Reading back through her tough life in the aftermath of her break up with Jagger, when she was living on the streets of London and addicted to heroin, the lyrics become a little haunting. Yet, as with everything Marianne Faithfull seemed to touch, there is beauty. You feel every word.

Yesterday

So much has been written about Paul McCartney's Yesterday that I'm really not sure if I can add anything helpful in this blog. But I'll give it a go!

Quite simply, it's a masterpiece! Paul singing over an acoustic and a string arrangement seemingly played on heart strings. McCartney is heartbroken, pining for his love and yesterday when, love was such an easy game to play.

Marianne Faithfull takes Paul's poetry and portrays the heartbreak and heartache perfectly. Released on her 1967 album Love In A Mist, Faithfull's voice is angelic, backed by gentle piano and a choir who sound heaven sent. Quite simply, this is as good as it gets. Sublime. 2-minutes 15 seconds of perfection.

Beware of Darkness - George Harrison

Written by George Harrison and released on his stunning 1970 album All Things Must Pass, Beware of Darkness beautifully captures Harrison's spiritual energy and empathy, the lyrics are both deeply personal and universally resonant.

George's delivery is gentle but urgent, his voice full of quiet authority. You believe him. The song, like much of All Things Must Pass, is awash in Phil Spector’s signature production—big, spacious, reverb-heavy—but at its core, it remains an intimate, almost prayer-like composition. Beware of Darkness has a really beautiful and pure feeling to it.

Where Harrison’s version warns you about darkness, Marianne Faithfull sounds like she’s already deep inside it. Faithfull recorded the song back in 1971 for an album Masques, but this sat unreleased until 1985 when it was released as part of compilation album called Rich Kid Blues. 

Faithfull strips away the warmth of Harrison’s original and replaces it with something raw and fragile. Spector's rich production is replaced by something sparse, stark, almost ghostly. The lead guitar is exquisite.

I get a little chill listening to Faithfull's cover. Marianne's voice, weathered and worn by experience, carries a depth that makes every word feel lived-in. She doesn’t just sing the warning—she has lived through it. Faithfull was only 25 when she recorded the song, but was struggling with addictions. Following her break up with Jagger, Marianne lost custody of her son, attempted suicide and was living on the streets of London. Masques was recorded to try and help her, the record label rejected it.

Faithfull's cover versions and The Beatles and George Harrison originals are added to my Everything Flows Cool Cover Versions playlist on Spotify which also features all of the songs listed below. Search for the title or CLICK HERE

Previous covers of the month blogs

13. Hurt
39. ABBA-esque
40. Jumpin' Jack Flash
64. Lola
82. Drop
87. Indian Rope Man + bonus Strawberry Fields Forever + This Wheels On Fire
92. Valerie
101. Shout!

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Tuesday, 4 March 2025

Give Peace A Chance

 

Trust me #88
Give Peace A Chance by John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band



Released in July 1969, John Lennon's Give Peace A Chance created worldwide headlines as the Beatle wrote and recorded the song during a 'Bed-In' held with his wife Yoko for their honeymoon in Montreal.

Capturing the times, the song quickly became the anthem for the anti-Vietnam war movement and was sung by 500,000 demonstrators, led by Pete Seeger, at a protest in Washington that year.

Sitting cross-legged on his bed, Lennon leads his audience backed with acoustic guitars, handclaps and stomps through a string of verses beginning with everybody's talking about ... before going on to list a series of words that are equally relevant, nonsense, funny and cool. 

Each verse leads to the chorus (which becomes a mantra by the end);

all we are saying is give peace a chance


Isn't the footage extraordinary? 

Lennon's relationship with Ono led to bursts of spontaneous music and art with love and/or social/political commentary at the heart of them. The Unfinished Music albums (incredible that these were released when The Beatles were still going!) are absolutely crazy but document one of the most important nights of Lennon's life, when Ono came over and stayed the night while Cynthia was away. They made love and they made music. Well, the latter might be debatable. Good luck getting through the album!

I love that Lennon returned his MBE to Buckingham Palace with the note;

I am returning this MBE in protest against Britain's involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against Cold Turkey slipping down the charts. 
With love, John Lennon of Bag.

Instant Karma was recorded and released in days and Lennon would go on to write songs of peace and protest; Power To The People, Imagine and Happy Xmas (War Is Over). 

Yoko and I are quite willing to be the world's clowns if by doing so it will do some good. 
I know I'm one of these 'famous personalities'. 
For reasons only known to themselves, people do print what I say. 
And I'm saying peace. John Lennon

Give Peace A Chance simple, pure, soulful and a message that we all need to be singing in these troubled times. Where are the figureheads of Lennon's stature in these troubled times? 


Give Peace A Chance is added to my Trust Me playlist. Search for Everything Flows - Trust Me on Spotify or CLICK HERE. Check below for blogs on previous songs to feature in this series.

Previous Trust Me blogs

1. Something On Your Mind by Karen Dalton
1A. Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells
2. I Am, I Said  by Neil Diamond
3. Where's The Playground Susie?   by Glen Campbell
4. If You Could Read My Mind by Gordon Lighfoot
5. Gimme Some Truth by John Lennon
6. Gone With The Wind Is My Love by Rita and the Tiaras
7. In The Year 2525 by Zager and Evans
8. The Music Box by Ruth Copeland
9. The Ship Song by Nick Cave
10. Sometimes by James
11. I Walk The Earth by King Biscuit Time
12. Didn't Know What I Was In For by Better Oblivion Community Centre
13. When My Boy Walks Down The Street by The Magnetic Fields
14. The Man Don't Give A F**k by Super Furry Animals
15. All Flowers In Time Bend Towards The Sun by Jeff Buckley and Liz Fraser
16. Are You Lookin' by The Tymes
17. A Real Hero by College & Electric Youth
18. Feelings Gone by Callum Easter
19. Sunday Morning by The Velvet Underground
20. Did I Say by Teenage Fanclub
21. Don't Look Back by Teenage Fanclub
23. Belfast by Orbital
24. Clouds by The Jayhawks
25. Dreaming Of You by The Coral
26. Everlasting Love by Love Affair
27. Walk Away Renee by The Left Banke
28. Teenage Kicks by The Undertones
29. Shaky Ground by Sneeze
29. Rill Rill by Sleigh Bells
30. I Can Feel Your Love by Felice Taylor
31. The State We're In by The Chemical Brothers w/ Beth Orton
32. Sunshine After The Rain by Ellie Greenwich
33. Losing My Edge by LCD Soundsystem
34. Mondo 77 by Looper
35. Les Fleurs by Minnie Riperton
36. Rat Trap by The Boomtown Rats
37. How High by The Charlatans
38. I Can't Let Go by Evie Sands
39. Pop Song 89 by R.E.M.
40. Summertime Clothes by Animal Collective
41. There She Goes by The Las
42. We're Going To Be Friends by White Stripes
43. Autumn Sweater by Yo La Tengo
44. Sister Rena by Lomond Campbell
45. Revolution by The Beatles
46. Lazarus by The Boo Radleys
47. Wrote For Luck by Happy Mondays
48. American Trilogy by The Delgados
49. Loser by Beck 
50. Silent Sigh by Badly Drawn Boy
51. Comedy by Shack
52. Take The Skinheads Bowling by Camper Van Beethoven
53. Freakscene by Dinosaur Jr
54. Thank You For Being You by The Pastels
55. I Think I'm In Love by Spiritualized
56. Chestnut Mare by The Byrds
57. Cannonball by The Breeders
58. Like A Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan
59. You Make Me Weak At The Knees by Electrelane
60. Lucky by Radiohead
61. Strange Currencies by R.E.M.
61. I Am The Cosmos by Chris Bell
62. Like A Ship (Without A Sail) by Pastor TL Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir
63. Nothing But A Heartache by The Flirtations
64. Made of Stone by The Stone Roses
65. Tonight In Belfast by Orbital, David Holmes, DJ Helen and Mike Garry
66. Anything by Adrianne Lenker
67. I Hold Something In My Hand by Bill Ryder-Jones
68. I Meant Every Word by Burnett Sisters
69. Dream Baby Dream by Suicide
70. Stove by The Lemonheads
71. Red Lady by Phil Cordell
72. Little Fluffy Clouds by The Orb
73. I Can Do It With A Broken Heart by Taylor Swift
74. Turnin' My Heartbeat Up by The M.V.P.'s
75. Razzle Dazzle Rose by Camera Obscura
76. Such Great Heights by The Postal Service
77. The Rat by The Walkmen
78. My God Has A Telephone by Aaron Frazer
79. Unfinished Sympathy by Massive Attack
80. Sweet and Tender Romance by The McKinleys
81. Hoppipolla by Sigur Ros
82. 69 Police by David Holmes
83. Hey Lisa by David Holmes
84. I Am A Rock by Simon & Garfunkel
85. Kung Fu by Ash
86. Kids by MGMT
87. Slight Return by The Bluetones





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Thursday, 2 November 2023

Now and Then

Now and Then, the 'last' Beatles song, was released earlier today. 

The song, like Free As A Bird and Real Love from the Anthology Series in 1995, stems from a John Lennon demo. Back in 1995, the technology didn't exist to isolate John's vocal from the piano. 

That was then, this is now. John, Paul, George and Ringo are united once again, to complete the song, continue The Beatles story and help with yet more Beatles remasters and reissues (of the Red and Blue compilation albums).

Personally, I'll never tire of reading about The Beatles, or listening to their brilliant music that wowed (and changed) the world, or hearing their musings and philosophies on life. Give Peace A Chance, All You Need Is Love, We All Shine On .... important then, more so now.

The Beatles story is wonderful and this is another chapter of the most incredible book that takes in; friendship, music, death, love, travel, children, creative souls, mind-blowing success, mind-bending drugs, break-ups, make-ups, reflection ... and four characters that developed through the years, four people we all fell for. It's been quite the journey ... a long and winding road.

Now, with Paul and Ringo in their 80's, this really is likely to be the last time The Beatles create and release a new song. Their legacy will last forever and I'm sure that someone somewhere is working up an ABBA experience style series of shows  ... but lets focus on the new song.

The piano is haunting, and Lennon's voice hits hard, it gripped me immediately. Paul comes in, subtly at first, then your hear his voice coming in stronger, then Ringo's drums seem harder and Paul's bass is there, the strings are sublime and everything builds quite beautifully.

Paul sounds older, his voice still gelling with Lennon in the 70's. George's slide guitar from the 90's is there, the strings swirl and after the second chorus there is a gorgeous dreamy instrumental with classic Beatle aaahhh's and oooohhh's.

I know it's true

It's all because of you

And if I make it through

It's all because

Of you

There was a surge of optimism in mid-90's Britain when The Beatles last released new music. Britpop was at its 1995 peak and Labour were riding towards government. The Tories were on their way out and the nation was ready to party - things could only get better.

We could sure use a surge of optimism and change right now!

Official audio

Peter Jackson's Now and Then film


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Tuesday, 15 November 2022

Revolution

Trust Me #45

Revolution by The Beatles

When you talk about destruction

Don't you know that you can count me out ... in

I've welcome the recent protests by Just Stop Oil. While I initially questioned them throwing tomato soup over Van Gogh's priceless Sunflowers artwork (minor damage to the frame, painting unharmed), I quickly found myself on their side. 

Activist Phoebe Plummer posed the question "What is worth more, art or life?"  Her friend and fellow activist Anna Holland backed her up. "Is it worth more than food? More than justice? Are you more concerned about the protection of a painting or the protection of our planet and people?"

They are getting out there, making themselves heard, causing disruption ... of course they are pissing some people off. But hopefully some of these people are thinking more about the state of the world as a result.

Recently, the Antonio Gutteres, the UN Chief, warned that earth will be doomed unless there is a historic climate pact. Are politicians listening? Do they care? 

Having marched with my (then) 10-year old daughter at COP26 in Glasgow last year. I don't think they do. I don't feel a sense of urgency. I certainly do not believe politicians are acting like we are on the verge of disaster.

No-one seems to be doing anything.

To start, we should be ring fencing and protecting the Amazon rainforest. I was learning about its destruction back in Modern Studies in 1992. It's now 2022 and nothing has changed. If anything, it sounds like it is worse. Sit down with Brazil, give them some money, put an army round the rainforest and protect it.

In March 2020 the world stopped to come together to fight a life threatening crisis. We need to do this again. To come together as one.

Is that going to happen? I don't see it. If it does, it will be too late. 

Just Stop Oil are acting now. They are creating their own little revolution. They have my support and respect. I'm only surprised that more people are not marching on the streets to demand action to sort out the increasing number of crisis' we face. 

I love this video of Austen Espeut after his own protest, with orange paint on his nose. Go on Austen!

While I'm not quite ready to douse the headquarters and offices of suspect companies in orange paint, I'd happily buy a few cans of paint for someone up for it. It feels like me and my generation didn't heed the warnings from our Modern Studies classes. We were too busy partying through the 90's and into the 00's. 

But we must support our children to campaign. We must sit them down and let them know things HAVE to change. Because the world is changing. It's warmer, a lot warmer. There are going to be devastating consequences for everyone. 

Thankfully, although it is still relatively quiet at present, revolution does feel like it is in the air. The generation above my daughters are ready for the fight. I hope my daughters generation will be right behind them to go over the wall.

I might not be on the frontline throwing paint about. I certainly won't be violent. But today I joined the Scottish Green Party for only £3 a month. Less than a cup of coffee these days. And I'm all in for independence for Scotland. I'm a Green Yes. It's good to see the SNP and The Greens working together. I'm in for the green revolution. The world needs it, Scotland needs it. Although I'm in, Lennon's line about out/in comes to mind again. I've never been a member of a political party before ... so I'll see how it goes!

Maybe don't count me out of the paint throwing just yet! 

Which brings me back to this months Trust Me song; Revolution by The Beatles. That line by Lennon, don't you know that you can count me out/in. He was famously unsure about whether he was in or our when it came to violent/destructive revolution.

Lennon also sings the hook don't you know it's gonna be, alright?

At present, in November 2022, it really doesn't feel like it is gonna be alright. For multiple reasons! And that is why we need a revolution.

Lennon wrote the song in India on acoustic guitar and the version recorded for The White Album has an acoustic laid back bluesy groove. The burst of electric guitar at the start might have inspired the rerecorded version for the single.

Revolution 1, on the album, has shoo-be-doo-wop backing vocals, that sugar coat Lennon's trademark bite and cut to the bone/point lyrics.

You say you got a real solution

Well, you know

We'd all love to see the plan

The urgency of the song really comes out on the single though, the real Revolution for me. Lennon's primal scream, distorted and then fuzzed up guitar, Starr's crack beat, McCartney's bass groove ... 

With added pace and menace, the song is cut from 4-minutes 14 seconds to 3-minutes 24 seconds. It sounds like The Beatles do want a revolution. Although Lennon is definitely out when it comes to violence/destruction. 

Have Lennon & Harrison's guitars ever collided so deliciously? They are turned up and the sound is incredible. Nicky Hopkins plays electric piano. Everything builds towards a frantic conclusion with Lennon yelling alright, alright, alright, alright into his mic, vocals distorted like the guitars. It all sounds gloriously vital. Rock n roll. 

The Beatles recorded an incredible video for the song with live vocals. Lennon goes back to count me out ... in. McCartney, as ever, revels in playing live, injecting real urgency into his own backing vocals and then sharing a mnic with George for shoo-bee-doo-wop sections lifted from the album verison. McCartney looks incredible as he sings the don't you know it's gonna be sections. He is loving it. Lennon improvises with primal grunts during the instrumental section, just adding to the urgency and pace.

Of course, I imagine that most of you reading this will know that The Beatles, or at least Lennon & Ono, recorded a sound collage entitled Revolution 9. Lennon said that he wanted to create the sound of revolution. I think I have listened to this once and although I attempted to listen again for the purposes of this blog ... I didn't make it very far before turning it off.

Revoltion 1 (White Album version)

Revolution + promotional video

Revolution 9 

A list of all previous songs I've blogged about in my Trust Me feature are listed below, along with links to each blog. Sister Rena joins them.

I've also collated them all into a playlist on Spotify that you can find by searching for Everything Flows - Trust Me , or you can CLICK HERE

Previous Trust Me blogs

1. Something On Your Mind by Karen Dalton
1A. Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells
2. I Am, I Said  by Neil Diamond
3. Where's The Playground Susie?   by Glen Campbell
4. If You Could Read My Mind by Gordon Lighfoot
5. Gimme Some Truth by John Lennon
6. Gone With The Wind Is My Love by Rita and the Tiaras
7. In The Year 2525 by Zager and Evans
8. The Music Box by Ruth Copeland
9. The Ship Song by Nick Cave
10. Sometimes by James
11. I Walk The Earth by King Biscuit Time
12. Didn't Know What I Was In For by Better Oblivion Community Centre
13. When My Boy Walks Down The Street by The Magnetic Fields
14. The Man Don't Give A F**k by Super Furry Animals
15. All Flowers In Time Bend Towards The Sun by Jeff Buckley and Liz Fraser
16. Are You Lookin' by The Tymes
17. A Real Hero by College & Electric Youth
18. Feelings Gone by Callum Easter
19. Sunday Morning by The Velvet Underground
20. Did I Say by Teenage Fanclub
21. Don't Look Back by Teenage Fanclub
23. Belfast by Orbital
24. Clouds by The Jayhawks
25. Dreaming Of You by The Coral
26. Everlasting Love by Love Affair
27. Walk Away Renee by The Left Banke
28. Teenage Kicks by The Undertones
29. Shaky Ground by Sneeze
29. Rill Rill by Sleigh Bells
30. I Can Feel Your Love by Felice Taylor
31. The State We're In by The Chemical Brothers w/ Beth Orton
32. Sunshine After The Rain by Ellie Greenwich
33. Losing My Edge by LCD Soundsystem
34. Mondo 77 by Looper
35. Les Fleurs by Minnie Riperton
36. Rat Trap by The Boomtown Rats
37. How High by The Charlatans
38. I Can't Let Go by Evie Sands
39. Pop Song 89 by R.E.M.
40. Summertime Clothes by Animal Collective
41. There She Goes by The Las
42. We're Going To Be Friends by White Stripes
43. Autumn Sweater by Yo La Tengo
44. Sister Rena by Lomond Campbell


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Monday, 11 April 2022

In My Life

Cover version of the month #75 - Johnny Cash covers The Beatles. 

Rubber Soul was the album where everything started to really change for The Beatles. 

Help! had hinted at what was coming. Songs with the depth of Yesterday and Lennon's gut wrenching title song highlighted that the band were ready (if not beginning) to step away from Beatlemania. Rubber Soul was that first stride, then they broke into a run with Revolver and a sprint with Sgt Peppers. 

The influence of pot had well and truly kicked in and The Beatles had also begun to experiment with LSD. The band were spending more time in the studio, money was no object and they were beginning to push and break boundaries with production, different instruments and sounds. 

It's sometimes hard to fathom that Rubber Soul was released only 2.5 years after debut album Please Please Me which (other than the previously released singles) was famously recorded in one day on 11th February 1963.

The Beatles had a 'leisurely' month to record Rubber Soul and were in such a rich vein of form that they could release AA sided single Day Tripper & We Can Work It Out on the same day.

No wonder people constantly look back at The Beatles career. It was astonishing on so many levels!

Anyway, the purpose of this blog is to look at Lennon's In My Life from Rubber Soul.

John & Paul by David Bailey in 1965

Lennon turned 25 in October 65, meaning he was only 24 when he wrote this truly brilliant song. The whole feel of In My Life benefits from George Martin playing piano that is made to sound like a harpsichord due to some production work with tape speeds. George Harrison's melodic and slow chiming guitar riff is instantly identifiable, McCartney's harmonies and oooohhhhh backing vocals are delightful, but the song is all about the lyrics.

In only 2-minutes 26 seconds Lennon goes deep; looking forward to his last day when he'll reflect, on places, lovers, friends and the special one. His Mum? Stuart Sutcliffe? Paul?

In My Life was definitely a Lennon original, but it became a true Lennon & McCartney co-write. Probably one of the last for a while! Lennon certainly acknowledged his friends help with harmonies and the middle eight, while Paul says that John wrote the lyrics and he wrote the music.

Either way, In My Life is a startlingly mature and reflective song and those qualities take on a whole new meaning when you hear Johnny Cash singing it in 2002 on his American IV - The Man Comes Around album. Cash would die the following year. The album was the last to be released in his lifetime.

The opening riff is slower and then oh my, Cash's rich, soulful and aged voice comes in. It's a stop you in your tracks moment. You're hooked, it's like Cash is talking directly to you. Really directly. It's f**king beautiful.

Slowing the song down adds an extra 30-seconds on to it and every single millisecond aches with love, hurt, reflection and regret. The instrumental is dreamy and melancholic, then Cash is back in, sounding incredible. 

This is the second time Cash has featured in my cover version of the month series of blogs (his famed version of Nine Inch Nails Hurt was cover of the month #13 back in June 2016) and it probably won't be the last. 

Get your headphones on, pour a cuppa, a beer or a nice glass of red wine and listen to this. Stunning.

The Beatles 

Johnny Cash version

 All previous cover version of the month blogs are listed below. To listen, search for Everything Flows Cool Cover Versions playlist on Spotify or CLICK HERE

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

Written by Lennon & McCartney


Previous covers of the month

13. Hurt


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Saturday, 18 December 2021

Listen The Snow Is Falling

Cover version of the month #72

Galaxie 500 cover Yoko Ono & The Plastic Ono Band

Released as the b-side to John Lennon's Happy Xmas (War Is Over), Yoko Ono's Listen, The Snow Is Falling, a gentle lullaby, with Lennon's Plastic Ono Band backing. 

Beginning with Ono singing childlike, gently, almost like a lullaby, the song then develops with Yoko singing beautifully over music that wouldn't be out of place on The Beatles Abbey Road or Lennon's Imagine album.

Yoko allegendly criticised keyboard/organ player Nicky Hopkins by saying something classically Ono-esque - "Play as if the snow is melting from your fingertips, not that banging."

Ono has also said of the song - "The first pop song I ever wrote was Listen, the Snow Is Falling. I did that before John and I got together. Then, when we got together, I made it into a real pop song. When you hear the original, you couldn't pick out why it was a pop song."

Galazie 500, no strangers to my cover version of the month blog having previously featured with their stunning versions of New Order's Ceremony and George Harrison's Isn't It A Pity?, covered Ono on their 1990 album This Is Our Music with Naomi Yang on lead vocals.

Yang's vocals are very Ono-like, but at 2-minutes 40 seconds the song receives the unmistakable stamp of Galaxie 500. The guitars are raw and soulful, like a cross between Neil Young and Crazy Horse and The Velvet Underground. For a full glorious 5-minutes! Raw and soulful, I love the guitar sounds Galaxie 500 create. 

Things slow down to a couple of chords and Misunderstood style feedback going on, then things build and become beautifully crazy and hazy again, music to get lost in. A sublime choice of cover, Galaxie 500 have such great taste.

Yoko Ono - Listen The Snow Is Falling

Galaxie 500 - Listen The Snow Is Falling

I've added the song to my cover versions playlist or search for Everything Flows Cool Cover Versions on Spotify. 

You'll find a list of all previous songs to feature on the blog and links to them below the lyrics to Yoko's Listen, The Snow Is Falling.

Snow is falling everywhere

Snow is falling all the time

All the time


Listen, the snow is falling all the time

Listen, the snow is falling everywhere

Between Empire State Building

And between Trafalgur Square

Listen, the snow is falling all the time


Listen, the snow is falling all the time

Listen, the snow is falling everywhere

Between your bed and mine

Between your head an my mind

Listen, the snow is falling all the time

Between Tokyo and Paris

Between London and Dallas

Between your love and mine

Listen, the snow is falling everywhere


Snow drift, snow fall, snow fluff

Listen, listen, listen baby, listen

Previous covers of the month

13. Hurt
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