2025 Competition Lyrics Entry:
The day John Lennon died by Terry Rymer
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Lyrics
Down in the street I heard a bang-bang-bang
Just as my telephone rang
Sitting at home I was watching tv
I couldn’t believe what my eyes see
In the Big-Apple I boarded a plane
London ‘68’ was ahead of the game
He climbed a ladder to the top
It said ‘Yes’ so he didn’t stop
A ‘Day in the life’ made me cry
He needed ‘Help’ and so did I
In Amsterdam they stayed in bed
Together in Vienna with a big-bag-over-their-heads
‘Give Peace a chance’ rings around in my head
The news keeps telling me ‘John Lennon’s dead’
Oh how I cried, I cried and I cried
The day, the day John Lennon Died
Now they’re playing my music on the radio
‘You’ve got a friend’s’ a song you all know
The Troubadour was the place to be
The Beatles and Apple started it all for me
Now I’m on the stage singing for you
I wonder what this World is coming too
If only we could turn back time
I wonder what he’d make of all this violence and crime
The news keeps telling me that ‘John Lennon’s dead’
His songs will stay forever inside my head
Oh how I cried, I cried and I cried
The day, the day John Lennon died
Just as my telephone rang
Sitting at home I was watching tv
I couldn’t believe what my eyes see
In the Big-Apple I boarded a plane
London ‘68’ was ahead of the game
He climbed a ladder to the top
It said ‘Yes’ so he didn’t stop
A ‘Day in the life’ made me cry
He needed ‘Help’ and so did I
In Amsterdam they stayed in bed
Together in Vienna with a big-bag-over-their-heads
‘Give Peace a chance’ rings around in my head
The news keeps telling me ‘John Lennon’s dead’
Oh how I cried, I cried and I cried
The day, the day John Lennon Died
Now they’re playing my music on the radio
‘You’ve got a friend’s’ a song you all know
The Troubadour was the place to be
The Beatles and Apple started it all for me
Now I’m on the stage singing for you
I wonder what this World is coming too
If only we could turn back time
I wonder what he’d make of all this violence and crime
The news keeps telling me that ‘John Lennon’s dead’
His songs will stay forever inside my head
Oh how I cried, I cried and I cried
The day, the day John Lennon died
Lyrics Competition Results
Emotional Impact:
17/ 20
Technical Skill:
11/ 20
Memorability:
7/ 20
Storytelling:
15/ 20
Imagery:
8/ 20
Total Score:
58/ 100
Comments:
The idea is fantastic and most people will remember where they were when they heard the news.
I love the part about you singing for John.
I think using some more imagery rather than the gimmick of Beatles lyrics and things John and Yoko did would make the song even better.
The couplet
Give Peace a chance’ rings around in my head
The news keeps telling me ‘John Lennon’s dead’
Is stunning, as is “he needed help and so did I” but somehow those lines have less impact because of the other lines quoting his songs surrounding it.
I love the part about you singing for John.
I think using some more imagery rather than the gimmick of Beatles lyrics and things John and Yoko did would make the song even better.
The couplet
Give Peace a chance’ rings around in my head
The news keeps telling me ‘John Lennon’s dead’
Is stunning, as is “he needed help and so did I” but somehow those lines have less impact because of the other lines quoting his songs surrounding it.
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Thanks for the insight as I don’t often have Lyrics I haven’t put a melody too – looking at it now I can see that the couplet
‘ Give peace a chance’ rings around in my head
‘The news keeps telling me ‘John Lennon dead’
could be inserted maybe between verses or used as a refrain sung over different sections of the Song 🤔
Also, looking at the Lyric now I might write it –
‘A day in the life made me cry
The winds of change keep blowing by
He needed help and so did I
The rivers of blood still make me cry
Oh I cried, I cried and I cried
The day, the day John Lennon died
Hopefully the Lyric will find a suitable Melody and become a complete Song 👍