What happened on Saturday December 8th?

Ever since I began blogging I have done a December 8th post. Not because of Pearl Habour (though this is a event that changed the course of western democracy, allowing the creation of the super power to the south of Canada, but because of the death of a single man. Stupid right, how could one person (who is not a member of your family) be important enough to write about every year.

The morning of Dec 9th 1980 was a normal school day for me, I woke to the radio (Q107) and the announcer saying the John Lennon was dead, shot as he entered the building he lived in. Sounds odd, but the world stopped, and I walked around in a daze for the rest of the day. Here I was 17, and I was upset by the death of some guy I had never met. A great uncle had died that summer, I wasn't as upset about his death as I was by Lennon's. Why? I liked his music, I had grown up with it. Though we never had Beatles albums in my parents house (or at least until I had brougth home my copy of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band a few summers before), when a Beatles song came on the radio (which is always on) the volume would go up. Mom was only 26 when she had me, I always thought that she really wanted to be a Beatles fan, but would never admit it.

John Lennon was a really good musician, a great lyricst, a member of a band that changed . But why did it upset me. I think it was the realization that everything was not hunky dory, that you could go out your door and not return. That just because something beautiful existed didn't mean that it couldn't be destroied. That the dreams you have might not come true and you do have to except reality.

Anyway here are a couple of John Lennon songs for you to remember him by. As I said about Norvel, celebrate his life. Buy his albums, share his ideas and dreams. They just might make the world a better place.


*The Beatles - Help! - Help!.mp3
*John Lennon - John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band-Working Class Hero.mp3
*John Lennon - Live in New York City -Instant Karma.mp3

What happened on December 8th?

This is the start of one of the best seasons of the year. Christmas. I know, I know, not all of you celebrate this holiday, but for me it's a time of happiness, great memories and a time when my kids eyes shine. Let's avoid the religious celebration, the crass commercialism and let's just work with the idea of what this time is supposed to represent. Rememberance, Peace on earth and good will to men.

But when you think about it, this season contains some of the worst tragedies that affect all of us. Maybe not directly, but we are continuously reminded of them.

1) The bombing of Pearl Harbour, Dec. 7/41
2) the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Nov. 22/63
3) the murder of John Lennon Dec, 8/81
4) Ecole Polytechnic Massacre, Dec. 6/89
5) the Indian Ocean earthquake and resulting Tsunami Dec. 26/04

Why am I pointing these out, instead of starting to celebrate. Well, I think these events need to be remembered so that the people who suffered won't be forgotten. When I was scanning the Wiki list of disasters, I saw events where thousands of people died. Is it right that these people are written off and forgotten, I don't feel that they should be. I think this time of year is the most important time to remember them, this is when we should think of the simple lines of "but for (insert god, fate, karma, etc) grace that could be me and mine" Be thankful for what you get.



Lyrics for: Starting Over By: John Lennon

Our life together
Is so precious together,
We have grown
We have grown

Although our love
Is still special,
Let's take our chance
And fly away
Somewhere alone

It's been so long
Since we took the time,
No one's to blame
I know time flies
So quickly
But when
I see you
Darling
It's like we both are
Falling in love again

It'll be just like
Starting over
Starting over

Everyday
We used to make it love
Why can't we be
Making love nice and easy

It's time to spread
Our wings and fly
Don't let another
Day go by
My love

It'll be just like
Starting over
Starting over

Why don't we
Take off alone,
Take a trip somewhere
Far, far away

We'll be together
On our own again
Like we used to
In the early days

Well
Well
Well
Darling

It's been so long
Since we took the time,
No one's to blame
I know time flies
So quikly
But when
I see you
Darling
It's like we both are
Falling in love again

It'll be just like
Starting over
Starting over,

Everyday
We used to make it love
Why can't we be
Making love nice and easy

It's time to spread
Our wings and fly
Don't let another
Day go by
My love

It'll be just like
Starting over
Starting over

Our life together
Is so precious together,
We have grown
We have grown
Although our love
Is still special,
Let's take our chance
And fly away
Somewhere
Alone.

December 8 th.

Imagine

Imagine there's no heaven,
It's easy if you try,
No hell below us,
Above us only sky,
Imagine all the people
living for today...

Imagine there's no countries,
It isn’t hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for,
No religion too,
Imagine all the people
living life in peace...

Imagine no possessions,
I wonder if you can,
No need for greed or hunger,
A brotherhood of man,
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say I’m a dreamer,
but I’m not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.


Written by: John Lennon
© Bag productions inc.

On the morning of December 9th, 25 years ago I awoke to Q107, on my clock radio, announcing that John Lennon was dead. He had been shot down in front of the Dakota Hotel in New York City. At that time in my life (I had lived all of 17 years) it was the most traumatic thing that had ever happened to me (lucky aren’t I). No one important in my life had died before and John Lennon ((or at least at that time I believed) was apart of my life.

I listened to his music, I heard the poetry of his words, and I tried to understand and live his message of fellowship and openness. (I was never very successful). I idolized John Lennon, that day I promised myself that I would never mention or name the person who killed him. In my mind I might think the name, but it will never flow out past my lips. The killer will get no remembrance from me.

I know some very important anniversaries have occurred over the last two days. Pearl Harbour Dec. 7th 1942, the Montreal Massacre Dec. 6th 1989, and I know these two horrible tragedies should rank higher in my opinion then the death of a musician, but John’s assassination affected me directly. It was like a punch in the face for me. It was the end of my childhood. In believing in the complete good of the world. In believing that everyone had a core of goodness and you just had to dig for it to find it. I learned that day that there are truly evil people (like I said I was innocent) in the world.

John Lennon and the Beatles not only defined a “generation” but they defined how people could and should behave towards each other. I’m not saying that they are saints, they were human and made very human mistakes. For the most part they tried to show us the good in people.

This was my little piece in tribute to a life. Thanks John and I miss you.

Instant Karma

Instant Karma's gonna get you
Gonna knock you right on the head
You better get yourself together
Pretty soon you're gonna be dead
What in the world you thinking of
Laughing in the face of love
What on earth you tryin' to do
It's up to you, yeah you

Instant Karma's gonna get you
Gonna look you right in the face
Better get yourself together darlin'
Join the human race
How in the world you gonna see
Laughin' at fools like me
Who in the hell d'you think you are
A super star
Well, right you are

Well we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Well we all shine on
Ev'ryone come on

Instant Karma's gonna get you
Gonna knock you off your feet
Better recognize your brothers
Ev'ryone you meet
Why in the world are we here
Surely not to live in pain and fear
Why on earth are you there
When you're ev'rywhere
Come and get your share

Well we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Yeah we all shine on
Come on and on and on on on
Yeah yeah, alright, uh huh, ah

Well we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Yeah we all shine on
On and on and on on and on

Well we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Well we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Well we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Yeah we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun

Written by: John Lennon