Why John Lennon’s overly critical nature made him a better songwriter

Posted On September 23, 2024September 23, 2024

Sitting down at a piano to create something new often leads to fantasies of writing a song as iconic as ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ or ‘Imagine,’ but achieving that level of brilliance rarely happens. It can be frustrating to try and write, with the recurring question, “How did John Lennon manage to do it?”

Of course, it wasn’t just Lennon who contributed towards The Beatles’ success; every member played a big part in the phenomenon they became. Paul McCartney and George Harrison were also prolific songwriters, and through percussion, Ringo Starr managed to bring an unbridled energy to the band. That being said, there is no denying that John Lennon was a songwriting force to be reckoned with.

So, genuinely, how did he do it? Well, the first thing is simply a talent for songwriting. While there certainly is a science behind song structure and melody, some creative elements were necessary for The Beatles that were built into them as individuals. John Lennon also had an overly critical nature, which will have certainly helped him become a better songwriter.

This will have assisted in two ways. The first is that he held his work to a high standard. Average was never an option for John Lennon; he wanted to make the best music possible, which meant being honest and recording only the best songs he could come up with.

The second way it will have helped is because it helped him remember things. When John Lennon was talking about some of his favourite solo albums, he mentioned that having an opinion on things helped keep them fresher in your memory. “I prefer the ‘Mother/Working Class Hero’ then ‘Imagine’ album myself…” he said, “Anyway, I suppose anything you do is either better or worse than something or other; I mean, that’s how we seem to categorise things.” 

He continued: “It’s probably the way we remember… It helps us remember… ‘This fish tastes as good as the fish we had in St. Tropez but not as good as the one Arthur caught off Long Island; on the other hand, do you remember that fish and chip shop in Blackpool…” 

While this might seem like a small detail, it’s worth noting that some of John Lennon’s best work comes from when he is remembering previous experiences, such as ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ and ‘Penny Lane’.

When he wrote about his hometown of Liverpool, his relationship with his mother and times when he has been struggling, we are given an authentic version of Lennon, which has led to some of his best work. His memory will help him tap into these songs better, and it seems he engaged with his memory best through criticism. Being critical didn’t just mean he performed to a high standard; it meant he could reach into different moments of his life and drag them front and centre when writing.