Strawberry Fields Forever - Nothing is real

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

The meaning of Strawberry Fields Forever

Gazing through the logs of the few unfortunate people who actually go here, I realized that many of them get here via odd google searches, most commonly: "What is the meaning of Strawberry Fields Forever", and alternately "Video Strawberry Fields Forever". I'd get sued very quickly for posting the latter, though you can mostly get it on the Beatles Anthology DVD/VHS/Laserdisc set (and yes, they should release the Beatles' videos properly!). I can take a stab at answering the former, and indeed, it sort of follows the lines of thought from my prior post about Figure of Eight.

First of all, John Lennon took great amusement at people trying to derive meaning to his lyrics, and reportedly partially wrote I Am The Walrus in reaction to people trying to academically decipher his meanings by writing a song that he felt was incomprehensible simply to confound people from doing what I will attempt right now. (yes, I do find meaning even in I Am The Walrus, but that's for another post)

In its simplest terms, Strawberry Fields is a reference to the small garden John played at when he was a little kid in Liverpool. We know that much for sure. So one could easily see the song as advocating an escape into a childlike existence. (indeed, that's probably not far from the mark) However, the lyrics (to me) imply something a bit darker. If you follow the progression of the verses, each one becomes more and more confused, and each one expresses confusion and a desire to just give up trying to make sense of things and a desire to drop out of the whole mess.

"Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see
It's getting hard to be someone, but it all works out
It doesn't matter much to me"


The first verse really lays out the whole theme of the song. Things are confusing, and it's easier to go through life simply not caring about anything.

"No one I think is in my tree, I mean it must be high or low.
That is you can't you know tune in but it's all right,
that is I think it's not too bad."


Actually, this was the first verse that John wrote for the song, but it in many ways continues the theme of frustration at the world, though clearly the protagonist is even more apathetic about his state. In addition compared to the simple declarative statements of the first verse, this one has much more awkward and confused language. Even if the lyric sheets don't show it, the second line has pauses nearly every 2 words which should read more like "That is you can't, you know, tune in, but it's all right"


"Always, no sometimes, think it's me, but you know I know when it's a dream.
I think ehh no, I mean ehh 'yes', but it's all wrong, that is I think I disagree."


The last verse is even more confused, and ambivalent than the others. The pauses have increased, and the clearest statement he has is that he's pretty sure he understands what is real and what isn't. However, the next line seems to contradict even that statement. In the end he simply says he THINKS he disagrees. With what? Well, we can't be sure. Indeed, part of the beauty of this song is it's abstract enough to apply to a lot of situations.

(note: there are disputes as to the actual lyrics to the 2nd line of the 3rd verse. Above is my interpretation...)

And finally the chorus is pretty direct:

"Let me take you down, 'cause I'm going to
Strawberry Fields, nothing is real
And nothing to get hung about.
Strawberry Fields Forever"


In comparison to the verses, this is a pretty forceful statement. The protagonist is going to reach towards a place of safety, where none of the concerns and confusions apply. In 1967 when it was released, I'm sure most saw that as an advocacy to "drop out" and consume "chemicals" to help escape reality. Whether or not John Lennon intended that meaning is harder to tell. He doesn't really use any code words for drugs (except possibly with the phrase "tune in"), and instead he references his childhood playground. To me this song is just about a person who wants to escape reality to a safe, easy life that doesn't really exist where he doesn't have to care about anything anymore.

Yes, this seems to be a pretty bleak song to be a hit single (though it didn't hit #1 in the UK thanks to Penny Lane counting as a double-A side, and thus halving the sales totals for both). The Beatles are known for being cheerful, but this song is anything but. Then again, people get married and have the bands play Every Breath You Take by the Police at their receptions, so I shouldn't take too much surprise at misconceptions about a song. Yes, I love this song. It's beautiful, and frankly I wouldn't have named this blog after it if I didn't really have an affinity to it. A desire to escape reality isn't necessarily bad, as long as one doesn't take it to the logical extreme.

Of course, this is my opinion, and even moreso than my ill-informed rants on politics, this is entirely up the interpretation of the reader/listener.

So what does this have to do with Figure of Eight? Strawberry Fields Forever suggests that maybe it's easier to not care about things, and Figure of Eight asks if it's better to care or not to. Even though Figure of Eight came out 22 years after Strawberry Fields Forever, it seems to ask a question that was answered by Strawberry Fields Forever. (even if the answer is not the correct one, or the intended one. Indeed, I'll leave that for the philosophers)

Note: I'm NOT advocating people to become rampant nihilists and quit caring about anyone nor anything.

I am simply wondering.

36 Comments:

  • I'm glad those words touched you, Etheria (sorry to have only now come across this blog and your post). I'm Neil Marr and wrote them for my book with Tim Field, who, sadly died last year. During my research for *Bullycide*, I contacted Julian Lennon when he was recording in Japan to ask what his father might have felt about my using his lyrics as a nose-in (I did get copyright OK, but the snatch was covered by *fair usage* anway). After hearing about the content and intent of the book,Julian said his dad would have been pleased. Best wishes. Neil Marr

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5:06 AM  

  • This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:47 AM  

  • After seeing the movie "Across the Universe". And having discovered there is darkness in every heart.
    Could the interpetation (that i derived) from a scene in the movie, possibly make easy sense????
    Here is what I got : Living in the time of so much political and world tension (Eg: The Us civil rights protests and killings, Us involvement in Vietnam) That he was frustrated with the world he saw (Most all would agree there).But here is where I divert: that Stawberry Fields are actually the Bloodstains left on the soil of battlefields after all the violence of the generations. He wishes you to see this?? Why?? Along with the fact, that once you're eyes are opened to this darkness they cannot be closed and then you must take initiative to be a part or apart from choices that lead us there. Yes for me it was easy living with eyes closed, until through a series of very diificult situations, i find my self at times confused, and frustrated, and longing for the childhood I once had, along with that innocence I once lost. With Regards TODDFMRUSMC@aol.com

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:51 PM  

  • Thanks for the post. Good ideas. I think there is also an element of a dream state of consciousness that is trying to be conveyed. I know myself, I sometimes have dreams where someone is talking and the language is a blend of phrases that wouldn't really make sense if i was listening to the person when I was awake. But in dream world, it does make sense. You don't question it but you intuit some sort of understanding. This is how dreams work. Someone tells you that no one is in there tree but they mean it must be high or low and you understand what they are saying.

    Maybe John was doing his best to articulate dream logic. This song to me was always what the dream he he had when he was only sleeping.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:27 AM  

  • Three years and a half later...

    I really appreciate your insightful review of Strawberry Fields Forever.

    Your view largely corresponds to what I always thought.

    Still, I'm somewhat bewildered by other remarks or observations as to the inside meaning of these lyrics.

    So I want to thank you for proving that I'm still somewhat mentally sane!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:25 AM  

  • the thing about this song is that it helps calm down the people who are going through something hard in their lives.
    being by the beatles, it shows great musical talent.
    thank you for helping me find out the meaning of the song,
    i'll definitely listen to it a lot more now that i know about it more

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:52 PM  

  • Actually heard that the lyrics have a soulful meaning as The Strawberry Fields forever is Pamuela Courson, and Jim Morrison of the "DOORS" with the notations of "living is easy with eyes closed " and that was in reference to the WAR! .Vietnam War ..and in honor of Jim Morrison's love for his red headed girlfriend".
    Strawberry Fields forever. Jim Morrison was only close to one "Beatle" and that was John Lennon.

    By Blogger Unknown, at 4:05 PM  

  • "To me this song is just about a person who wants to escape reality to a safe, easy life that doesn't really exist where he doesn't have to care about anything anymore."

    That's exactly why people think it's about drugs. You just described a high. ;)

    By Anonymous Tchitt, at 5:50 AM  

  • just thought I should mention, Strawberry Fields is not a garden, it is actually an orphanage, which John, and my mother actually, used to pass by

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:47 PM  

  • I wanted to take a stab at my opinion on this as well. The song sounds like he's singing to a female that wants to be a part of his world but he himself does not understand, life is complex and it's easy to just live like a dream. Things seem too high or too low to be on his tree (understand and follow him) but he'll take her down to his level, where not is real or complicated... they can be together forever in a dream world beyond his doubts and confusions towards life. He'll take her along. ms. photographer@ live.ca

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:40 PM  

  • I AM A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER FOR K-12 AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHT I AM USING SOME OF YOUR INFORMATION AND MUCH MORE TO TEACH A LESSON ON BULLYSIDE TO MY 4TH, 5TH, AND 6TH GRADE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. (FEB 2010)

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:09 AM  

  • Great thank you very much. It is a beautiful song and your comments are well received cheers Ted Mason mi5 Recordings.

    By Blogger mishami5, at 6:55 AM  

  • At the funeral of a longtime friend and teacher today they played Strawberry Fields as the recessional at the request of the deceased. When I asked why I was reminded that he was a Vietnam Vet from the time when men volunteered for that war. The only time he cried in public was when, in the mid-eighties, he marched in a 4th of July parade in his small home-town and for the first time the crowds stood up and cheered the Vietnam Vets. His Strawberry Fields truly were the surreal blood-stained fields in Southeast Asia, forever. Isn't it wonderful how Beatles songs have meaning across such a diversity of lives.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:26 PM  

  • The "across..." movie scene was very interesting but i thinkthat , as most of the movie, it ignores the true meaning of the song as written. What most of us oldsters (age 45-56) thought at its release was, it is a comment on the working-class families in England who are so poor, that they spend their mandatory 3-4 week -long vacations in large farms picking berries for extra money, and that much of the "eyes closed" part was of ignorant acceptance or forced acceptance of their poverty and (to U.S. eyes) picking berries is not that uncomfortable. And I don't think this came from a high and mighty academic. But the personal aspect also seems to make a lot of sense as it didn't fit in as well the "let me take you" aspect, and we all know abut his childhood garden and climbing across the tree to look at his neighbor's yard... I had thought of the yes and no as "know" and maybe it was about ignorance or drug-induced confusion. Anyway the modern movie, while it is extremely interesting in that scene, really misses the intended meanings of most all the Beatle songs that it uses.

    By Blogger loria, at 9:19 AM  

  • I had always thought the song was about about a suicidal man that was high on something. I thought Strawberry Fields was his "happy place" that he would go while high and that there was nothing to get hung about while there. However upon reading your review I agree that there could be many meanings and that it was left ambiguous on purpose.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:19 AM  

  • my opinion is this song is about lsd his lyrics with pauses is alot like acid talking just my opinion

    By Blogger Unknown, at 7:41 PM  

  • The Reality he was talking about was about Vietnam. I saw his interview where he said. "I mean the whole Vietnam thing makes you want to drop out". So if you connect his childhood experence with the place of Strawberry Field. With nothing to get hung about. That was later used to refure to anything, that you can't do much about.
    The fact that the song was a hit at the hight of the war, in 1967 worked for John. So he used it.
    How for a personal note: Iam a vietnam vet"Thanks John" When you said "Nothing to get hung about", it worked for me, I came home December 31 1968. Discharged January 2 1969.

    By Blogger Unknown, at 9:23 AM  

  • "To me this song is just about a person who wants to escape reality to a safe, easy life that doesn't really exist where he doesn't have to care about anything anymore.

    That's exactly why people think it's about drugs. You just described a high. ;)"

    No... actually what I believe he is describing is death. The safe easy life he so yearns for he knows doesnt exist and so the choice is life or death. Death would be a release (from pain and suffering).

    By Anonymous Chris, at 5:01 AM  

  • SIX years later!! Seems your blog, like the song, has eternal staying power! But, then again, the topic is the Beatles and 40 years after they broke up (almost) we're still discussing them! I recently started studying Lennon/McCartney for my own reasons - and obviously masterworks like this are part of the interest. I like your interpretation. I think that quite possibly some of the thoughts about Lennons meanings have distilled over the years to be maybe even more clear / sharp / meaningful than even he meant them to be at the time.
    I was watching a movie about him - a documentary - and there was a guy living in his garden. The gentleman was young and wild eyed and truly BELIEVED that Lennon and Co. had written the songs to have meaning for HIM - specifically. Lennon assured him they were JUST SONGS.
    A very telling book simply titled "John" by his first wife lends an interesting light to the discussion. John Lennon was just a man. Maybe a man of strong opinions - of much creativity - but also the less talked about things such as a cruel streak and a biting sense of what was funny and/or deplorable.
    But I DID quite enjoy your post - SIX years later!!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:51 PM  

  • i agree with your explination of the song but i believe the over all purpose for listeners is to not worry about the pointless shit in life and to focus on what is important so that they can spend their time on earth the way they feel is right, and not look back on their lives with regrets or with the desire to leave reality because you cant leave reality no matter how hard you try and drugs only provide false help to that problem and john knows that so as much as he would have liked to leave he accepted not being able to

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:35 AM  

  • Shortly after the song came out, I read in some "underground" newspaper that "Strawberry Fields" was the name of a prison in Britain, with a gallows where prisoners sometimes actually did get hung. But I can't confirm (or refute) this -- "It doesn't matter much to me".

    By Anonymous Robert Rotstein, at 9:22 AM  

  • OMG.... I thought strawberry fields forever meant "graves forever", because of the war. If there's war there will always bee strawberry fields forever. You know, strawberry meaning blood, fields graves, and forever well... until there's war.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:12 PM  

  • OMG.... I thought strawberry fields forever meant "graves forever", because of the war. If there's war there will always be strawberry fields forever. You know, strawberry meaning blood, fields graves, and forever well... until there's war.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:14 PM  

  • let me take you down (bring you down) cuz I'm going to, strawberry fields (putting on a uniform), nothing is real (war zone unreality), and nothing to get hung about (war crimes never punished), strawberry fields forever (perpetual warfare).
    living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see (believe exactly what they tell you!) its getting hard to be someone but it all works out, it doesnt matter much to me. (once you're in uniform you just follow orders, induviduality = gone)

    -chorus repeat-

    no one I think is in my tree, I mean it must be high or low (just might be the perspective of a sniper) that is you know you cant tune in but its allright, that is I think its not too bad (back to the reference of "just following orders" with critical opinions being shunned).
    -repeat chorus-
    always, no sometimes, think its me, but you know I know when its a dream. I think I know I mean a "YES" but its all wrong, that is I think I disagree (doubts and questioning self as well as "authority", in the unreal warzone).
    -repeat chorus and end-

    yeah, strawberry fields might have been a real place from his childhood, but at the same time THIS IS the meanings I get from this song, its more about "killing fields", and the inability-futility of wanting such madness to stop.
    "That is you can't you know tune in but it's all right" I'd think is more a reference to Vietnam being allover the TV, and very difficult for people to watch or comprehend the propaganda that was really driving it. I dont think it was a suggestion to do drugs and tune out, but a lot of soldiers sure DID get high on the job, trying to cope with the insanity.

    I might be wrong about this, but it IS what makes sense to me. John was a real thorn in the warmongers side, which grew bigger in time. as a youngin in college there was a paper-flyer circulating that John was sniper-executed by Steven King, who fictionalized and wrote about it, but the crime was hung on a lookalike patsy, mark david chapman.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:43 AM  

  • Everybody who is interested in the making of this beautiful song really has to watch this video, a real masterpiece about this masterpiece! put on youtube in january 2012.

    http://youtu.be/QS6wswlJCB4

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:39 AM  

  • I always thought this song was about lsd. Strawberry fields was one of the best-known 'brands' of acid in these days and Lennon was known for using acid. Moreover, the lyrics, though ambiguous, could well be about using lsd.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:10 PM  

  • Really wonderful comment about this song...sometimes a bit of thinking about life and so on isn't bad at all, and The Beatles have shown it with this song. your appreciation was impeccable as well as your language...Chapeau!!!

    By Blogger EL HOLANDES ERRANTE, at 6:34 AM  

  • I really like your interpretation of the song.

    I always thought that it was about being high. "I'm going to strawberry fields" being him comparing being high to that magical place in childhood. "Nothing is real" being the mindset people have when on some drugs.

    The more "abstract" parts like "Always, no sometimes, think it's me, but you know I know when it's a dream. I think ehh no, I mean ehh 'yes', but it's all wrong, that is I think I disagree" is just how your brain works sometimes on drugs. It's very abstract but makes alll the sense in the world to you.

    By Anonymous Haley, at 8:07 AM  

  • I always thought it was about war. 'Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding everything'

    By Blogger Unknown, at 7:52 AM  

  • I have always believed (since I first heard the song at its release in the 60s) that Strawberry Fields was one of the most depressing, yet beautiful, songs ever recorded by the Beatles. I believe the song is about Lennon and his depression. In my understanding, Strawberry Fields is a continuation of a cry for help from Lennon which first appeared in 'Help', however, this time, he has given up any thoughts of being helped choosing to just 'disappear' He doesn't care anymore. To Lennon, his life is easier by closing his eyes. Lennon had severe problems with depression, often it was difficult to get him out of his bed - thus "Living is easy with eyes closed". "Misunderstanding all you see" refers to his words being misunderstood (in particular the Christ comment)- "It's getting hard to be someone" - refers most likely to his fame - he is no longer John Lennon normal person, but John Lennon, celebrity - public commodity - hounded by fans and press. John said on the documentary "Imagine" that his songs were all about him - though he did think it was wonderful if fans thought the messages were for them or had particular meaning for them.

    By Blogger Unknown, at 8:07 AM  

  • I would like to add my thoughts about the meaning to 'Strawberry Fields' - from the first time I heard it in the 60s when it was released - I felt it was very depressing - the opening notes are discordant - and was about John's mental and emotional state. While 'Help' was Lennon's cry for help - Strawberry Fields was a resignation that the help he needed was not coming and his depression at the time was such that it was easier to live his life with eyes closed - in other words - sleeping. Lennon suffered from severe depression and it was often difficult to get him out of his bed - like most depressed people sleeping was much easier than facing life. "It's getting hard to be someone" I would interpret as meaning for Lennon it was difficult being a public commodity - he was not just 'John' anymore but a celebrity hounded by both fans and media - his words misunderstood (misunderstanding all you see) - Lennon said in the documentary 'Imagine' that his songs were all about him, but it was all right for fans to find meaning for their lives. Taking this into account, 'Strawberry Fields' is all about Lennon's mental and emotional state at time it was written

    By Blogger Unknown, at 8:32 AM  

  • Jim, i had to leave a comment. i did arrive here just by googling "strawberry fields forever meaning" (as i often do with songs), and i did not expect to get such a great 1st hit. i absolutely enjoyed reading it, extremely insightful, and thats all i have to say. 10/10!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:24 PM  

  • I walked past Strawberry Fields in New York's Central Park in the early morning mist yesterday morning.
    This is my interpretation:

    http://mystmodmus.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/afternoon-all-i-hope-all-is-well-with.html

    By Blogger Loudzoo, at 6:36 AM  

  • I think strawberry fields forever is a statement about the world. When I was about 9 years old I started to wonder about the truth and what the government is hiding from me. Ever since then I've been sort of depressed about never really knowing the truth, and I realized that living was definitely easier with eyes closed.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:17 PM  

  • Part of this song is about TREE CLIMBING as a young lad in Liverpool!. Last year, I took my kids on a wonderful "National Trust Offical" guide to Paul and John's childhood home. It was amazing! The really commited guide at John's house pointed out the trees that grow in what was orphanage, that you can see from the back garden. He then told us about one of John's favourite past-time of actuallly sneeking out from his strict Aunt's control and climbing the trees (if there was no one in them -hence the lyrics) and when his Aunt (Mimi?) got hold of him - he said it wasn't that big a deal Aunty -certainly nothing to get hung about.

    By Anonymous Alan Leeds, at 4:07 PM  

  • Did you also know that Strawberry Fields is the name of a high grade of cocaine?

    By Blogger Unknown, at 6:10 PM  

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