John Lennon Help Me To Help Myself

[musicisforeverr]

beautiful song is beautiful. I love you John Lennon!

[ChickaFerdyParasol]

I especially love this acoustic version....it is so sensitive and pure-- although there's a little 'disharmony' at the end. What an enormous musical heritage--thank you John. miss you--rest in peace precious angel ♥ & ☮!

[sleepwalking117]

1 person has no soul.

[kikio43]

john le pidio ayuda a dios se ve que estaaba arrepentido .. dios lo tenga en su santa gloria

[MrMang88]

Happy Birthday John!

You are the greatest!

[TheImpersonator100]

You know... It's funny when you look back of the life of John Lennon and The Beatles. I mean it was like a really great book that ended with one of those endings that kept you wanting more and more. John's, George's, Paul's and Ringo's music as Solo Artists contributed to the story like the pages of the book. This song to me even though it may be a demo it makes it more emotional everytime it starts for me because he says I tried so hard to stay alive. For me it's like he sent it from the dead.

[morsimaniman]

Before he was shot down,I believe he was on the brink of something new..

[otisthecat1]

ask and you shall recieve~john cried out lord help me. RIP;

[ravenrene68]

@scarvesonguitars  very well put... god isnt religion, christ isnt religion.... man created religion. thats so hard for some people to comprehend :-/

[Beatlemaniac1960]

Wonderful song...

[drrobertoboogie97]

@scarvesonguitars You're right. But "God is a concept by which we measure our pain" shows all.

[milescrowley909]

Cant stop playin dis

[Malinishna]

Awesome song. I see John. I feel him. <3

[cvzxcbcvbcxvbn]

He knew his time was coming

[lunalaska]

Why does this sound so good? It's amazing how good the sound quality is.

[ChumpyD]

RIP bro

[shanehenning26]

great song

[Lulie98]

this proves lennon was not an atheist. rip, we love you man<3.

[TheNicholas0202]

@Lulie98 I totally agree

[drrobertoboogie97]

@Lulie98 And his songs God, Imagine, Serve Yourself, etc. prove otherwise.

[guitmartiman]

@drrobertoboogie97 Those songs (God, Imagine, Serve Yourself) were snapshots in time, and not necessarily definitive of what John always believed. There are several other statements and song lyrics that could be quoted that would indicate he also harbored a belief in a supreme being whom he hoped was benevolent. We should not be too quick to judge anyone on the basis of what they may have said or written at one time or another. I'm glad God is our judge, and not just man.

[drrobertoboogie97]

@guitmartiman So is this song. This was a snapshot in time, and not necessarily definitive of what John always believed.

[guitmartiman]

@drrobertoboogie97 Correct. I cannot say whether or not he was a believer, but there's evidence on both sides of the question. Only God knows His heart. Clearly John himself seemed conflicted on the subject. Taking all the apparent evidence into consideration, though, it seems quite possible that John had more faith in God than some of his songs made it appear. He obviously had no confidence in organized religion and those who claimed to be Jesus' followers. "Jesus was all right, but His ..etc."

[millathekilla]

@lennonchic Maybe. But Ilike to think it is law... leben geht

[Ajitasha]

This is my favourite song too.

[Logicallyrare]

This was really soon before his death. I think he was on a good path and is in a better place now.

[TheNicholas0202]

@Logicallyrare Yeah definately, it's good to hear that he was spiritual before he died

[Logicallyrare]

@TheNicholas0202 No doubt.

[Keruaran]

Beautiful song John. RIP.

[ArthurRyeTits]

FANTASTIC !!

[k0stil]

chorus kinda remind me of "strawberry fields forever"

[3insideout]

masterpiece.. i mean listening to that voice is very haunting and he was such a great singer and his vocals have been underminded because his words spoke so loud.

[snoogans999]

maybe I've been conditioned this way but comments like marvy1118 and Natashahoneypot's kind of creep me out, scare me almost. I am a very spiritual person (thanks to growing up with the Beatles(not when together),Hare Krishna and all that), but they just always seem to come off sounding like looneys

[millathekilla]

you have the words wrong btw. it's "they say the LAW" and "they are STICKING on my feets here" the latter was in refrencee to piano peddals i believe

[nicfamousperson91]

I am' crying

[marvy1118]

I think this song is about how he strayed from his boyhood Christian faith but was never satisfied afterwards. He's praying to the Lord in this song, saying he knows they never REALLY parted, that God was with him throughout, but that John was being rebellious. Now he's coming back to Christ, because he sees that the 'angel of destruction' (Satan) has been after him.

[Natashahoneypot]

if jesus could write a song as beautiful as this and sing it as beautiful as this, then its a shame its not recorded... But since its not recorded by jesus. Thankyou john xxx

[STUDIOCHINCHAN]

Thanks for posting this video

Eric - Studio ChinChan

[king2132000]

@SumHandballPlayer dont tell him the STFU.....why mad cause the truth hurts.

[ScRe3cH]

Can someone play this song backwards so everyone can hear it?

[SumHandballPlayer]

@ ScRe3cH STFU!!!!

[itwontbelongyayaya1]

are YOU high???

[Keruaran]

@ScRe3cH This is a beautiful song. You are an idiot.

[ross39514]

Anyone who knows a little more about the Beatles and their lives can agree that john was clown his whole life, making jokes and comments about anything he wanted.

[mysterymac38]

I heard the show as well but if you hear the end of this song he sound to be in a joking mood and definitly not fearful that his life is almost over. The guy with those theories is just try ing to make a living selling an outragous book thas all.

[JohnLennon100]

Yes, I agree with you on that that the guy is just a loser trying to make money out of a theory that has no real basis. But nonetheless the guy makes a point, that there are very creepy things happening around Lennon and the Beatles that makes you wonder ....but it doesn't go as far as to go and buy this guy this stupid book.

[leahsodyssey123]

How very prophetic of him. Strange.

[JohnLennon100]

What is the matter with this thing? It is STICKING to my feet here, that's why we're having this interruptionS ...very bad.

[JohnLennon100]

This song is very creepy when you listen to it after listening the radio program in which a book writer states the theory thet Lennon cut a deal with the devil and was trying to delay his own death. Why he should write about an angel of destruction and that he wanted to be alive? Why he said he had survived the seventies and it as excitng to open the 80's? Wow ....that's really creepy ... there are other clues in songs like Scared ...there's even a book about it ...only God know the truth

[leahsodyssey123]

I listened to the same show...I tried to tell him in an email that, but you can find things in anything. You can make a scary Romper Room story and how the children's souls were taken while watching the show. You can make things appear scary, wheater they are or not.

[JohnLennon100]

Yes, I emailed him too but who knows if he's really interested in reading what I think about him : / but in reality, I do think it's scary. I've seen and read a lot of things about Lennon and the Beatles as well and I could tell you: I've listen the Beatles Albums at least 1000 TIMES since I was 12, now I'm 40, and for example I only listened to revolution #9 once because I really got scared For me it's the exorcist on tape It's just creepy. I'm talking way before I listened to this guy on c2c.

[Keruaran]

Lennon was a Blues fan even if he didn't do a lot of Blues himself. Phrases like "angel of destruction" are not foreign to Rock nor the Blues.

If you want an example of similar and even darker imagery, just listen to Robert Johnson's Hellhounds On My Trail...

[JohnLennon100]

John Lennon was a Rock'n'Roll fan not exactly a blues fan ....the stones and Eric Clapton, the Animals,etc. they were more into blues. Regarding the angle of destruction line, it really doesnt mean anything out of the context, but if we connect it to other lyrics like Shoot Me! from Come Together ...the song Scared ....and things like what he said during his 80's interviews all could lead to some clues that could be either the cause of chance ...or something else.

[snoogans999]

@JohnLennon100 he said he survived the 70's because of all the alcohol, heroin, cocaine etc. that he consumed during that time

[JohnLennon100]

@snoogans999

Probably ...that's an interpretation. Only John knew why he said that. Probably he thought he finally escaped the devil's pact. Hard to say.

[snoogans999]

@JohnLennon100 WOW......he thought he finally escaped the devil's pact......WOW

[Keruaran]

@JohnLennon100 But it's hard to really know if John Lennon was singing about a general awareness or feeling or something darker. I do believe it is worth pointing out that this is not an uncommon Blues theme and John was not unaware of the material of great Blues artists (Give Peace A Chance for example is a reworking of Leadbelly's 'Julianne Johnson'). And the general feeling in this song is of a plaintive and respectful prayer rather than something darker...

[JohnLennon100]

@Keruaran Well .....I listened to Leadbelly's 'Julianne Johnson' and it has NOTHING to do with Give peace a chance ....at all ....Regarding Lennon and the pact with the devil, again, it's all speculation ...we'll never know .... and again, there are some clues that lead to believe it was actually like that but concrete evidence of that we don't have...

[Keruaran]

@JohnLennon100 I didn't say Give Peace A Chance has anything to do with Julianne Johnson in a lyrical sense... I'm talking about the music: The verse structure and chords are almost identical and John Lennon has laid a different vocal over it and then breaks into 'All we are saying...' when Julianne Johnson has no such break. I don't see why anyone should be offended by this though, its not a criticism, its traditional for Blues songs to get lifted and reworked.

[JohnLennon100]

@Keruaran

I was not offended by any means. I just looked for that Leadbelly's song and anyone could tell it has nothing to do with GPAC from Lennon. I avn tell you that the song Happy Xmas from Lennon has a big influence from this song from the everly Brothers I think about a horse. I won't get offended by your opinion, cause you're entitled to it.

[Badfinger1964]

"I tried to stay alive..." It's as if he is speaking from the grave... The song was originally going to be the final track on the Double Fantasy album...

[TheGreatGallbo]

Anyone know when he cut this?

[gorrionalvuelo]

que hermosa cancion

[slowhandguitar1]

"I believe in God, but not as one thing, not as an old man in the sky. I believe that what people call God is something in all of us. I believe that what Jesus and Mohammed and Buddha and all the rest said was right. It's just that the translations have gone wrong." -JohnLennon. i'm useing he quote to say what i think too cause he is right. just out of curiosity, what do u think "God" is?

[FTandBB]

"God is a concept by which we measure our pain." Everyone has an inner desire for something better than ourselves, against which we measure the pain of our existence. That something is "God". But clearly John isn't here simply singing about a "concept", and he certainly isn't singing to himself, he is talking to a person. I believe that God is real, and that he cares for us, and will help us if we ask him, like John is doing here. God is love. And all you need is love.

[slowhandguitar1]

have u heard "serve youself"? God isn't love. love is love. i believe that the only way to go around getting help is getting it ourselves. like lennon said "I believe that what people call God is something in all of us." we all make up a force so powerful we could change the faith of the world. we caused global warming, we cause wars, we cause pain to others. if only people realized that we as people could love and help one another, then there would be no reason to pray. Just Peace!

[FTandBB]

And yet here John is, asking God to help him to help himself. He certainly felt that there was a reason to pray. God help us all.

[slowhandguitar1]

It is all in how you interperet the song, I believe that there IS a "god", but not as an old man in the sky, not in the way everyone imagines it. i think this song is directed towards us. we all need help and we need people to help us to help ourselves. just like the song "Only People."

When i think of "god" i think (like lennon)of something in all of us. not as a "he" or a "man" or a "person." but a concept, a force, a state of mind.

[dormanbenton]

John Lennon said it best in "Instant Karma" However, I'm just speaking from a point of view that is easily interpreted.

I won't know until I die. Gods been there for me where I have my faults.

The old man in the sky thing kind of reminds me of Santa Claus. John Lennon makes a point.

[xyzimagenes]

When he sings "the angel of destruction keeps on houndin me all around".....its like he´s talking about chapman...right?....so its true what his assistant said, about that he thought lennon had premonitions.

[tapeduk]

I though he said it is sticking on my feet--very bad

[AndreaElizabeth100]

This is nice there is also a Beatles song called "Help". I someone could of 'helped' John Lennon. I wish John Lennon was still alive. Well he is in our hearts if that doesn't sound silly. John Lennon was as real as they come.

[jimmypier54]

Lennon may have sold he soul to the Devil, google the lennon prophecy

[slowhandguitar1]

F.Y.I, heaven and hell don't exist, therefore no satan of god, which means how could he have sold his soul to something that is nonexistent? Lennon was awesome, rest in peace forever!

[sacredshakti]

you can't say they don't exist because you have no evidence.

[slowhandguitar1]

u have no evidence they do. logic and common sense are my evidence that they don't..

[sacredshakti]

the interesting thing is i knew u were going to say that. logic and commonsense are immaterial and hypothetical. Science is based on demonstrable facts. Spiritual world can not be measured, look up in the sky and you will see *GOD*

[hwanj]

so sad..

[WiltatKansas]

This makes the modern music looks like rubbish

[BlackieHugeHands]

It actually works in reverse for me. Todays music lets you know how special this guy really was. Not a pop star. A beethoven of our very own.

[WiltatKansas]

He's the Beethoven of popular music aactually.

[ledZeppelin7680]

great song

[EzraW12]

Jon Hamill

[jsilence418]

Flying spaghetti monster??!!! where? where?!!

[vulcanicspice]

So beautiful :')

[JeSuisUnPetitPois]

"well i tried so hard to stay alive" Apparently this was recorded in December 1980, spooky. Lennon is a legend.

[bobbyt65]

I wonder if he wrote this during his "700 Club" phase.

[eti2you]

your 700 Club phase! not his...

[Norty840]

Who cares if he believed in a flying spaghetti monster? Does it really make this demo less or more amazing?

[superman11978]

Amazing. It's like he's singing from Heaven down to us. "I tried so hard to stay alive."

[louisalit]

If you read the Playboy interview from 1980 (Google) you will see he absolutely DID believe in God. It was organized religion he disliked, like other "political" parties or fanatic patriotism and chauvinism that separated and alienated people

[findingusernamesucks]

I don't know about "absolutely DID" but you got the feeling that he believe in some sort of higher power.

[colmanaucoin]

of course he believed in God. to quote one of his songs

"I just believe in me"

:D

[davidioanfan]

@louisalit I'm the same way. I'm very spiritual and I know there's a God, but I hate organized religion. Most of it is mind control, in my opinion, and I agree with his quote that eventually organized religion will go the way of the dinosaur.

[alexmovies]

@louisalit "God is a concept by which we can measure our pain" -John Lennon

[louisalit]

@alexmovies Hi, so nice to get a response to a 2 year old comment, thank you :-) Yes, I agree with the quote, but God is much more ...

I now also see davidioanfan's reply, we are many who think the same way.

[thinedoor2]

@louisalit "Imagine there's no heaven, / It's easy if you try."

If those qualities and phenomena that are used to define "God" can be explained without having to invoke & empower vestigial misconceptions about our existence, then let them be so understood.

[lasticos]

@alexmovies Lord help me now

Please help me Lord, yeah yeah yeah

Help me to help myself

-john lennon-

[PennyLanePrincess]

This is my favorite song of all time. His voice is so beautiful. I love you John w/ all my heart. I feel your pain I relate to you so much. Wherever you are you are loved for sure.

Peace out brother

[miniheli]

I dont think he believes in god. this song doesnt prove that at all

[GreatestDane92]

So he did beleive in God? I knew he was a spiritual person, but I wasn't too sure on his full beleifs. I'm not a christian or nothing, but I still believe in something, I don't confuse God with religion.

[miniheli]

It will be covered soon. Most people just found out lennon had songs other than imagine lol. No really they just found out, look at the ratings on women and working class hero. It wasnt like that a few months ago. All these years they had know idea he wrote any other masterpieces. I heard them play women on the radio, and they have a new instant karma album, this must be the reason for the spike in view count. Dont worry someone will defiantly do a cover on this eventually.

[beatleboybob]

i cant believe no one has covered this [if i was a recording artist i would]

[rrongzhang]

thanks for posting the song. GREAT song. love it so much

[Daycron66]

I liked his George Martin imitation at the end. He did it a few times in some of the Let It Be film outtakes.

He was the same up until the end. His mimicry is what got him kicked out of school.

[soundofstone92]

dodgetheeruff has a point about the gospel parody, since he made satire songs about a lot of stuff. Oh, and stunning song!

[miniheli]

I love this song. Cant believe they don't play his other songs besides imagine on the radio. Thanks for posting.

[StewartSummers]

around 1996 I purchased a bootleg cd called "dakota days"...there were some great songs...i loved "help me" and "india" to name a couple. "help me to help myself" would have been a nice tune for paul, george and ringo to have worked on for the "anthology" project.

[rosalvamacias]

is a great song

[boland44]

If he didn't feel like making records in 1977, he should have offered it to Elton John. They were friends and Elton would have made a great recording of this song.

[rosskstar]

Bonus tracks on 2000 re-release

"Help Me to Help Myself" (John Lennon) -- 2:37

"Walking on Thin Ice" (Ono) -- 6:00

"Central Park Stroll" (dialogue) -- 0:17

[plazmikguitar]

good imitation...but some words are not his voice

[fuckoffucunt]

Well actually its not an imitation. it is john Lennon. There is a bootleg cd outthere with this song and others including the reunion songs and 'Now & Then'. All John's Dakota demos.

[bobbydylanio]

This is Lennon, its on the Double Fantasy re-issue.

[sparklerofalbion]

Absolutely stunning! Another beautiful song from the greatest singer and songwriter ever.

[metisnyx]

Beautiful. :)

[GRUNTMAMA]

Doesn't sound like him at all.

[CNotePDX]

sounds exactly like him actually

[Norty840]

are you stupid?

[thefamilycat]

"Help me to stay alive"-words that seem rather unfortunate after what we know happenned

[spiffysqueak]

What do you know? That he was shot? Were you there? If not, then you're believing here-say. When you get around to dealing with things on a factual basis, come back & we'll talk.

[malpakoza]

ha it sounds kinda like an elton john song

[dodgetheeruff]

This seems like a parody Gospel from Lennon. You know when you are in a new age church singing hyms that no one cares about or really believes in. They don't believe in you and shoot rabbits without mercy.

[rafab138]

great song...greatest songritest ever, greatest musician ever

[DAGPGPH]

You hit it on the head, man!

[pedronps]

This demo shows how John Lennon was a great songwriterand how he was inspired all the time, not trying to be comercial, he was great.

[LoneBassist]

someone finally uploaded this one huh?

:)

[LukyItalion74]

I'm surprised no one has commented...