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Boomer Types: Nowhere Man

“I was just sitting, trying to think, and I thought of myself I was just sitting, trying to think, and I thought of myself sitting there, doing nothing and going nowhere. Once I’d thought of that, it was easy, it all came out. No, I remember now; I’d actually stopped trying to think of something. Nothing would come. I was cheesed off and went for a lie-down, having given up. Then I thought of myself as Nowhere Man—sitting in this Nowhere Land.” — John Lennon

Nobody ever had any notes written down; we just used to sing a tune and it would come out good. Part of the secret collaboration was that we liked each other. We liked singing at each other. He’d sing something and I’d say, ‘Yeah,’ and trade off on that. He’d say, ‘Nowhere land,’ and I’d say, ‘For nobody.’ It was a two-way thing.— Paul McCartney

He’s a real nowhere man
Sitting in his nowhere land
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody

Doesn’t have a point of view
Knows not where he’s going to
Isn’t he a bit like you and me?

Nowhere Man, please listen
You don’t know what you’re missing
Nowhere Man, the world is at your command

He’s as blind as he can be
Just sees what he wants to see
Nowhere Man can you see me at all?

Nowhere Man, don’t worry
Take your time, don’t hurry
Leave it all till somebody else lends you a hand

Doesn’t have a point of view
Knows not where he’s going to
Isn’t he a bit like you and me?

Nowhere Man, please listen
You don’t know what you’re missing
Nowhere Man, the world is at your command

He’s a real Nowhere Man
Sitting in his nowhere land
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • James Raclawski March 28, 2021, 12:48 AM

    oh great…. another kool song from my dim past that today has such new deeper relevance…. sharper more painful meaning…. thanks for presenting it so it can haunt me for the rest of my journey….

  • gwbnyc March 28, 2021, 2:21 AM

    I’ve found it an admonishment from someone not my peer.

    too, he and they could certainly dazzle.

    if I have a favorite it’s “the ballad of john and yoko”. not for lyrical content (it would work if he was reading a phonebook) but for the tune being real R&R- most importantly it swings; it’s pretty, the licks are tasteful, it’s utterly danceable and you won’t know you’re breaking a sweat enjoying it. he&McCartney drug it up from memories that couldn’t be returned to.

  • Tom Hyland March 28, 2021, 11:49 AM

    Hello gwbnyc. For me, music didn’t floor me until the Beatles happened… age 8. Living in Bergen County with my folks, two Manhattanites who were spinning jazz and partying with big enthusiasm, I was totally immersed in Sinatra, Ellington, Sarah Vaughn, Nat King Cole, all of which was totally fine. But when the Beatles hit I was blown away. These were my new big brothers showing by lifestyle how cool the cool can be. The “Ballad of John & Yoko” was recorded alone by John and Paul. They hadn’t been around each other in a spell… getting married and all that bed-in stuff… and they were thoroughly pleased by the camaraderie and how smoothly their machine was tuned. There’s a dude on youtube calling himself breathless345 and he’s created the finest in-depth documentaries of the Beatles and the magnetism of the John & Paul love affair. Excellent research & editing. Watch this.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0mpbX4SaY0

  • EX-Californian Pete March 29, 2021, 8:42 AM

    “Nowhere Man.”

    After reading the lyrics above, I found this song to be a perfect description of Biden.

    And NO- he’s NOT “a bit like you and me.”