John Lennon Across The Universe
Across the Universe ~ Written by John Lennon (Credited to Lennon-McCartney)
Across the Universe was written by John Lennon, recorded in February 1968, and released on December 12, 1969 on the album Let It Be, their last album released, though the last album The Beatles recorded was Abbey Road.
“It's one of the best lyrics I've written. In fact, it could be the best. It's good poetry, or whatever you call it, without chewin' it. See, the ones I like are the ones that stand as words, without melody. They don't have to have any melody, like a poem, you can read them.” ~ John Lennon, Rolling Stone, 1970
In Across the Universe, there is a pattern among each verse. The first line of the song, “Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup” is a simile representing John Lennon and how (these) words came very easy to him. Almost every verse in the song starts with either a simile or a metaphor. “They slither while they pass, they slip their way across the universe” is an example of a catachresis as words don’t literally slither. Lennon meant that these words are spreading throughout the world as people listen to their meaning and spread them across the universe, since The Beatles were “everywhere” at the time. …show more content…
After the first two verses, the chorus begins with the words, “Jai Guru Deva” which means, “I give thanks to Guru Deva.” Guru Deva, a metonymy, represents a spiritual leader. At the time the song was written, The Beatles were steeped in Indian spiritualism and mysticism which was prominent in many of their songs from that period, lyrically and instrumentally. The Beatles retreated to India to meditate and find some balance, and a respite from the unprecedented Beatlemania that had swept much of the
Across the Universe was written by John Lennon, recorded in February 1968, and released on December 12, 1969 on the album Let It Be, their last album released, though the last album The Beatles recorded was Abbey Road.
“It's one of the best lyrics I've written. In fact, it could be the best. It's good poetry, or whatever you call it, without chewin' it. See, the ones I like are the ones that stand as words, without melody. They don't have to have any melody, like a poem, you can read them.” ~ John Lennon, Rolling Stone, 1970
In Across the Universe, there is a pattern among each verse. The first line of the song, “Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup” is a simile representing John Lennon and how (these) words came very easy to him. Almost every verse in the song starts with either a simile or a metaphor. “They slither while they pass, they slip their way across the universe” is an example of a catachresis as words don’t literally slither. Lennon meant that these words are spreading throughout the world as people listen to their meaning and spread them across the universe, since The Beatles were “everywhere” at the time. …show more content…
After the first two verses, the chorus begins with the words, “Jai Guru Deva” which means, “I give thanks to Guru Deva.” Guru Deva, a metonymy, represents a spiritual leader. At the time the song was written, The Beatles were steeped in Indian spiritualism and mysticism which was prominent in many of their songs from that period, lyrically and instrumentally. The Beatles retreated to India to meditate and find some balance, and a respite from the unprecedented Beatlemania that had swept much of the