On December 8, 1980 at around 10:50 p.m., John Lennon was shot outside his New York City apartment building, The Dakota. After being rushed to the hospital, he was pronounced dead on his arrival. In a world where everything is a commodity, the album Lennon had signed earlier in the day for his killer went up for sale in 2012.
In the last few months of his life, Lennon was making a comeback with his Double Fantasy album and had songs in constant rotation on the radio and MTV. My favorite single from the album was released as a single not long after his death: “Watching the Wheels.”
Unfortunately, the song also makes me think of his death, but his death also gives deeper meaning to this song. Lennon wrote “Watching the Wheels” about his years of retirement from music before returning to it.
Through my years of watching shadows on the wall since then, I have missed the music he would have continued making, but I appreciate the joy in the music he did give us.
Every year, there are various events remembering Lennon. For example, The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool remembers the anniversary by holding their annual John Lennon peace vigil.
What is your favorite John Lennon song or performance? Leave your two cents in the comments.
(Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)