Strawberry Fields
Posted: Friday, January 08, 2010
by Jack H. Schick
I recently was in Manhattan. As I usually do when I'm in the "Big Apple", I took a pensive stroll in a section of the city near 72nd Street and Central Park West. I had a pretty pebble in my pocket that I'd found somewhere. I took it out and tossed it into the bushes. That part of Central Park has been designated "Strawberry Fields". The area was established, back in 1981,with the approval of NYC Mayor, Ed Koch, and with financial support from Yoko Ono and thousands of citizens of the world. It is a memorial to John Lennon who lived and died at the Dakota Hotel across the busy street.
The most famous Strawberry Fields is, of course, in Liverpool, UK, and was the inspiration for one of the most hauntingly beautiful and innovative Beatles songs of the same name. It was a home for orphans. It consisted of a large brick mansion with grassy lawns and groves of trees. It was surrounded by a red brick, ivy covered wall with ornate iron gates. It was a pastoral, isolated place amid the bustle and soot of the post-war industrial seaport.
John Lennon often felt like an orphan. His father, Freddie, a seaman, abandoned him and his mother, Julia. When he was about six years old his father returned; and, during an intense confrontation with his mother, John was asked to choose between the two. He could go with his father or stay with Julia. At first, John chose Freddie's glamorous sounding life, but when his mother began to leave, John broke into tears and rushed to her side. Julia, in turn, abandoned her son. She gave him to her childless sister, Mimi, so she could continue her 'carefree' lifestyle.
As a boy and young teen, John frequently passed the children's home with the brass plaque announcing, "Strawberry Fields". He came to view the life of the orphans he'd see through the bars of the gate, playing and frolicking on the pastoral grounds, as idyllic. They were safe and secure. Those children were separated from the harsh realities of the 'outside world'. He grew bitter and sad about his own disrupted and lonely life. He envied them.
Young John was considered by most to be very bright and special. However, his resentment, confusion and inner anguish led him to become a frequent trouble-maker at school and on the streets. He caused little trouble at home though, not wanting to jeopardize his only haven. Aunt Mimi believed he would become either a big success at something or a 'lay-about', probably the latter. Fortunately, John was able channel his emotions and resentment, to focus his genius and creative energy to the extent that he has become one of the most familiar and renowned men of the 20th century.
John was always a deep thinker who contemplated and struggled with his inner self. His poetry often exposed his confusion and the emotions accumulated in his younger years. His creations served as a psychological relief valve and a sketch board on which he could work out problems. Much of his adult behavior indicates that he never did completely recover from his childhood trauma.
John's intensity and drive in his quest for inner peace was instrumental in the success of his musical career. But, he still was unsure of himself and his view of reality. In 1964, when asked about The Beatles fame, John said, "You can be big headed and say, 'we're going to last ten years', but then you turn around and say, 'we're lucky if we last six months'". Now, over 42 years after the song was written, and almost 30 years since John's death we are still exposed, almost every day, to the art produced by this troubled genius and have come to believe that we may truly have....
"Strawberry Fields Forever"
Let me take you down 'cause I'm going to,
Strawberry Fields, where nothing is real,
And there's nothing to get hung about.
Strawberry Fields forever.
No one I think is in my tree,
I mean it must be high or low.
That is, you know, you can't tune in, but it's all right.
That is I think it's not too bad.
Let me take you down....Strawberry Fields forever.
Living is easy with eyes closed,
Misunderstanding all you see.
It's getting hard to be some one, but it all works out.
It doesn't matter much to me.
Let me take you down.....Strawberry Fields forever.
Always know, sometimes think it's me,
But you know, I know and it's a dream.
Always know...Ah, yes but it's all wrong.
That is I think I disagree.
Let me take you down 'cause I'm going to,
Strawberry Fields, where nothing is real.
And there's nothing to get hung about.
Strawberry Fields forever...Strawberry Fields forever...Strawberry Fields forever....
(Lennon and McCartney)
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Top-level comments on this article: (8 total)What a captivating article! I really like your writing style and your indepth history of one of my favorite songs. Welcome to SearchWarp, Jack.Thanks for reading
OK so how did you find out so much about John? You took us there with this piece and I remember well - my senior year in high school - Ed Sullivan and the scary part is it was only yesterday....GRIN MarijoI've read at least 4 biographies on him including the one by his wife Cynthia. Many many articles and videos too.
This article makes me feel like visiting this place at the soonest possible.Thanks for reading
thanks for sharing this with us. I've never been to Central Park...though I have been to NYC several times.Thanks for reading!
Enjoyed this a lot, as that is one of my favourite Beatles songs, especially at he end where they play it backwards! Good stuff! (im humming it now)Thanks for reading
Jack,This was so interesting. You opened up my eyes to much I was unfamiliar with. Next trip up to NYC, I'll visit Strawberry Field. Thank you for a good documentary.Thanks for reading, Nancy.
Thanks for the insight into the life of an amazing legend; I really enjoyed it.Thanks for reading.
Hi Jack.Thanks for taking me back to the city that I learned to love. I have been one of the frequent visitors in "Strawberry Fields" when I used to live in Manhattan. Great article and well-written. Thanks for sharing.All the best,NenitaThanks for reading this older one.
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