Jesus and John Lennon

Jesus and John Lennon.mp3

Couple quick things about this song. First, see the post before this for a few short remarks about the actual process of writing it. Second, I see this as an important song for me. Partly for reasons listed in the previous post, and partly because I think it's just a pretty good song (not that I expect everyone to like it). I found myself worrying a little about what listeners might think about this one. Perhaps this song will help me to let go of that feeling a bit and just let the songs come to life and breathe on their own.

Listeners may hear lots of different things and/or draw different meanings from it when they listen to this one. I'll let them sort that out in their own minds as they do. I'm sure you may find a meaning in this song that is completely unrelated to the one(s) I felt as I wrote and performed it. Regardless, I hope you enjoy Jesus and John Lennon. It comes from a good place, I think.

Thanks for taking the time,
J

Jesus and John Lennon
words and music by John Natiw

VERSE 1
Nineteen seventy three
On the way to the high school dance
Someone shouted to me
"All I'm sayin' is give peace a chance"

Saw an old man on a bench
His clothes were all covered in dirt
He smiled at me and looked away
Then he stood up and said "have you heard...

CHORUS 1
I saw Jesus and John Lennon spend the day
Hangin' out and talking 'bout that better way

Can you Imagine..."

VERSE 2
Word came through the telephone
A man killed a man with a gun
In a moment the dreamer was gone
But he wasn't the only one

Sad man on the radio
Said the world has just lost a great light
Closed the shades and then my eyes
And drifted off into the night

CHORUS 2
I saw Jesus and John Lennon take a walk
Through times square, strawberry fields and central park

Can you Imagine...

BRIDGE
Can you imagine, Standing side by side
Imagine, it's high time that we tried
Can you imagine, A brotherhood of man
Imagine, please tell me that you can...

[instrumental verse - harp]

CHORUS 3
I saw Jesus and John Lennon spend the day
Hangin' out and talking 'bout that better way

Can you Imagine...

Jesus and John Lennon.mp3

The Mississippi Saxophone

Recently I've been thinking about getting a harmonica. After the Folk Festival I just HAD to get one. Seemed like many of the performers there had the ability to play one. Plus, being able to play guitar or piano, sing and play a harmonica is the very definition of cool IMHO. So, off to the music shop I went.

Turns out there are lots and lots of options when it comes to getting one of these buggers. After perusing the various harps, I settled on a Hohner Blues Harp (key of G). At the risk of overdoing my "cool", I also picked up a harmonica harness (gotta play my six string too, yo). I have no delusions of becoming an expert player, but I'd like to perform various "solos" over some of my songs when playing by myself. I think it'd add an interesting layer to the music. I love it when a performer breaks out with the harness and lays into their harmonica during a song.

I've come across a few helpful web sites thus far and will be posting them to this site as I have opportunity. In the meantime, I'm off to practice my new toy. Oh, and write a couple songs this month.

Maybe a harmonica will turn up in my next offering here on the site. If it does, just humor me, 'k?

THE OFFICIAL LIST OF HARMONICA LINKS
HarmonicaLessons.com
Hohner USA
Harmonica.com
The Diatonic Harmonica Reference