Julia

~*Julia*~

By Christopher Chase 2004

Julia is a wonderful song of love, written in 1969 by John Lennon for the Beatles White album. John Lennon wrote this ballad in memory of his mother Julia, as well as for his newest love at that time, Yoko.

John was an only child, and Julia Lennon left him when he was young. His father was a merchant seaman, so he was mostly raised by his Aunt. His mother did not return for many years. She came back into John's life when he was a teenager. He was so happy then! Julia taught him about music, and I think she even taught him how to play the guitar.

When she came back it was like he had a second chance to get to know his mother. But then a terrible thing happened. She was killed! John's mother was run over by an off-duty policeman who was drunk and driving after work. This tragedy devastated John and brought a deep sadness to his heart.

Actually, I have always loved the song "Julia" so much, and until recently I thought it was only about John's mother. But then my friend Patrick told me that John is actually singing about Yoko and Julia. In the first lines he is singing to his mother who is not there. "Half of what I say is meaningless. But I say it just to reach you, Julia" are words to his mother who has died.

John next sings about "ocean child" which would be an English translation of the name Yoko. "Ocean child calls me, so I sing a song of love, Julia, Julia. Seashell eyes, windy smile calls me, so I sing a song of love, Julia." Since John's mother is no longer alive it sounds like he is singing to his mother as he looks at Yoko, and the beautiful world around him. "Morning moon touches me," he sings.

Its like he wants to introduce Yoko to his mother, wants to show her how he has found love again. Although his mother is gone, a great love like her's has come back into his life. Isnt that beautiful?

At the end of the song it sounds like John's attention turns back to his mother's spirit in nature. "Sleeping sand, silent cloud touch me" could mean his mother, his mother's love in Nature. Her love is all around him in the sand and clouds, it "calls me" he says, "so I sing a song of love for Julia, Julia, Julia."

I have always loved this song, so much. Now that I understand it better I love it even more. Its one of the most tender of John Lennon's love songs. "Julia" is a delicate tribute to a kind of universal feminine love, a planetary love, that we can find in our mother's and our lovers. It gives us some understanding of how John felt about the world, and about the women who loved him.

Julia

Half of what I say is meaningless
But I say it just to reach you
Julia,

Julia, Julia
ocean child calls me
So I sing a song of love
Julia

Julia
Seashell eyes, windy smile calls me
So I sing a song of love
Julia

Her hair of floating sky is shimmering
Glimmering in the sun

Julia, Julia
Morning moon touch me
So I sing a song of love
Julia

When I cannot sing my heart
I can only speak my mind
Julia

Julia
Sleeping sand, silent cloud touch me
So I sing a song of love
Julia

Hum, calls me
So I sing a song of love for
Julia, Julia, Julia

~*~

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