The Beatles, Don’t Let Me Down
Part 8 of my favorite youtube video series continues with my favorite Beatles song, “Don’t Let Me Down.” Now, for most people who love the Beatles, its not easy maintaining a favorite song, or album, or group member. They change with age, the seasons, and experience. But I can say, that at least for the past five years, “Don’t Let Me Down” has never left my top 3 of favorite Beatle tunes, and lately has been perched untouched as #1. Why? Because its pure unadulterated naked soul from Mr. Lennon at a time when he was just beginning to open up his heart and vulnerability in a way he had never allowed before. It was made a year before the Beatles split, and a year, before John released his seminal solo debut, the gut wrenchingly introspective Plastic Ono Band. The song is presumably a plea to Yoko Ono, one in which he exclaims his undying love for her. At the same time, he is having a dialog with himself in which he expresses how the possibility of losing his new and total love is causing him fear and anxiety. Its just a beautiful real message with no easy answers sung with the utmost level of soul and passion. When the Beatles started, they exclusively wrote love songs, but slowly branched out to more introspective material. As they got older, they developed a mastery of combining all of these elements, and wrote the greatest love songs ever. This is one of them. Enjoy.
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