'Jealous Guy,' John Lennon: I Freakin' Love This Song

Posted on Oct 8th 2010 6:00PM by Mike Spinella
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Central Press, Getty Images

Jealous Guy,' John Lennon
From 1971's 'Imagine'

"I was dreaming of the past/And my heart was beating fast" are John Lennon's timeless opening lyrics. The emotion and regret that Lennon conveys in this song show a human side of an icon who fronted a band that he once claimed to be "bigger than Jesus." The raw sincerity complemented by the epic production of Phil Spector peel back the layers of all things that might be a distraction from what a song is meant to express. To me, 'Jealous Guy' is a defining work in the golden Lennon discography; it's still moving after hundreds of listens, it's as triumphant as is it depressing, it's real and is built to strike a chord on first listen.

The endless amount of tribute versions of 'Jealous Guy,' most famously by Roxy Music, marks its cultural impact as undeniable. Whether it's a version by the late Elliott Smith or by the Faces, the emotion rings true. As the world celebrates the life and music of John Lennon on what would have been his 70th birthday on Oct. 9th, I'll remember this song with a good listen off the old LP copy of 'Imagine' that was handed down to me. I plan to keep that traditional for the next generation. Long live the contributions and spirit of John Lennon.