43 years ago this week, on Dec 8th, 1980, John Lennon was fatally shot outside the Dakota Apartments where he lived in New York City.
There have been many well-known musical tributes to his life and legacy - most notably from George Harrison with "All This Years Ago"in 1981, and Elton John's "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" in 1982.
One this anniversary of his death, I'd like to highlight a couple lesser known songs which are personal favourites of mine.
The first tribute comes from Bob Dylan, from his album "Tempest", recorded in 2012. It's a beautiful, slow moving ballad, that includes lines at the end from a poem by William Blake.
Lyrics...
The second tribute comes from Paul Simon, off his "Hearts and Bones" album, recorded in 1983. The title begins with a reference to a 1950's rhythm and blues singer Johnny Ace, but includes a verse honouring John Lennon at the end.
Point of interest - the first time the song was performed live was during the Simon and Garfunkel reunion Concert in Central Park in 1981, where at around the 3 and a half minute mark, a distressed fan rushes onto the stage towards Paul Simon yelling "I gotta talk to you, I gotta talk to you." You can tell he was shaken by the unexpected intrusion, but goes on to finish the song like a true professional.
Lyrics...
There have been many well-known musical tributes to his life and legacy - most notably from George Harrison with "All This Years Ago"in 1981, and Elton John's "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" in 1982.
One this anniversary of his death, I'd like to highlight a couple lesser known songs which are personal favourites of mine.
The first tribute comes from Bob Dylan, from his album "Tempest", recorded in 2012. It's a beautiful, slow moving ballad, that includes lines at the end from a poem by William Blake.
Lyrics...
Doctor, doctor tell me the time of day
Another bottle's empty, another penny spent
He turned around and he slowly walked away
They shot him in the back and down he went
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
From the Liverpool docks to the red-light Hamburg streets
Down in the quarry with the Quarry men
Playing to the big crowds, playing to the cheap seats
Another day in the life on your way to your journey's end
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
Sailin' through the trade winds bound for the south
Rags on your back just like any other slave
They tied your hands and they clamped your mouth
Wasn't no way out of that deep dark cave
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
I heard the news today, oh boy
They hauled your ship up on the shore
Now the city gone dark, there is no more joy
They tore the heart right out and cut him to the core
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
Put on your bags and get 'em packed
Leave right now, you won't be far from wrong
The sooner you go the quicker you'll be back
You've been cooped up on an island far too long
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
Slow down you're moving way too fast
Come together right now over me
Your bones are weary, you're about to breathe your last
Lord, you know how hard that it can be
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
Roll on, John, roll through the rain and snow
Take the right-hand road and go where the buffalo roam
They'll trap you in an ambush before you know
Too late now to sail back home
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
Tyger, tyger burning bright
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
In the forests of the night
Cover 'em over and let him sleep
Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
The second tribute comes from Paul Simon, off his "Hearts and Bones" album, recorded in 1983. The title begins with a reference to a 1950's rhythm and blues singer Johnny Ace, but includes a verse honouring John Lennon at the end.
Point of interest - the first time the song was performed live was during the Simon and Garfunkel reunion Concert in Central Park in 1981, where at around the 3 and a half minute mark, a distressed fan rushes onto the stage towards Paul Simon yelling "I gotta talk to you, I gotta talk to you." You can tell he was shaken by the unexpected intrusion, but goes on to finish the song like a true professional.
Lyrics...
I was reading a magazine
And thinking of a rock and roll song
The year was 1954
And I hadn't been playing that long
When a man came on the radio
And this is what he said
He said, "I hate to break it to his fans
But Johnny Ace is dead"
Well, I really wasn't
Such a Johnny Ace fan
But I felt bad all the same
So I sent away for his photograph
And I waited 'til it came
It came all the way from Texas
With a sad and simple face
And they signed it on the bottom
From the late great Johnny Ace
It was the year of the Beatles
It was the year of the Stones
It was 1964
I was living in London
With the girl from the summer before
It was the year of the Beatles
It was the year of the Stones
A year after J.F.K.
We were staying up all night
And giving the days away
And the music was flowing amazing
And blowing my way
On a cold December evening
I was walking through the Christmastide
When a stranger came up and asked me
If I'd heard John Lennon died
And the two of us went to this bar
And we stayed to close the place
And every song we played was
For the late great Johnny Ace