DYLAN, LENNON, MARX & GOD: Book Discussion with Jon Stewart PhD |

Writer and Musician Jon Stewart PhD discusses his 2022 book Dylan, Lennon, Marx & God. This book takes a close look at the deep faiths found in both Dylan and Lennon's work and how it contrasts with their protest music and more interestingly, John Lennon's socialist period.
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[@newforestpixie5297]

I had a crazy Beatles related coincidence….At my stepdads’ dairy farm on a sunny afternoon in 1974 , I determined to learn to ride a bicycle for the 1st time. I’d always have my brothers’ transistor radio playing bbc radio 1 and at the moment I wobbled across the paddock without falling off , “ Ticket to Ride “ was being played. That’s not it yet - 42 years later by some odd quirks of fate I found myself back at the farm ( we’d left in 1978 ) helping tidy up the pony school surface upon a mini tractor . Having left the farm aged 13 , I’d never learnt or been allowed on the old farm machinery so this was the 1st time I’d ever drove one. I was listening to Desert Island Discs via headphones but took in the info as a guy gave relevant instructions to operate the thing. The episode of Desert Island Discs had Noel Gallagher as its guest . I kid you not , as I’m about to turn the key , the presenter asked Gallagher “ well Noel , which Beatles song are we going to hear ? “ My mind had torn back to the pushbike moment and my prayers were answered when Noel Gallagher replied “ it’s gotta be Ticket To Ride “ . I turned the ignition key with a feeling of absolute belief in something bigger than me - then gingerly moved forwards across the sand and rubber tyre surface with Harrow trailing behind. I have to share this with someone once a year 😄❤️

[@Neal_Schier]

Ah, what a moment to savor when he said that he finds Ian MacDonald's book to be the first among equals. That joins perfectly with your previous video. Great interview 👍👍 I enjoy supporting guests like this so I will order his book this weekend.

[@rEdHoUsE_1969]

Excellent discussion Matt & Jon ... This channel (thankfully) never shies away from showing our 60s rock icons as vulnerable & often flawed human beings ... as indeed we all are ... this rarely detracts from their music ... in fact it often enhances it ...

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you, New Jack - I appreciate the comment.

[@amandagerrish5892]

Fascinating discussion! I think I'm gonna have to read Jon's book. I was in my teens/early-20s during the 60s/early 70s and I remember back in the day attending anti-war protests, reading about mysticism, learning meditation (which I still practice today), learning about politics/philosophy/spirituality, playing in rock bands, etc., so this stuff is right up my alley. Thanks, Matt, for another great video!

[@popgoesthe60s52]

I appreciate you watching, Amanda!

[@denniswood1437]

Fascinating conversation. Both Dylan & Lennon have been vilified & deified by critics/fans for their unparalleled painfully honest, sardonic, & surreal, poetic songwriting. Their songs subject matter (their personal lives as well) embraced political & spiritual concepts that made them prophets of the counterculture. What I like a about Stewart's critical view is that he accepts them as imperfect human beings, but very interesting and talented people.

[@ryan98408]

I could listen to hours more of this!

[@erniericardo8140]

Greetings Matt ✌️, WOW! Dylan,Lennon, Marx, and God a discussion ALL in just an hour and 17 minutes! -Mind Opening and insightful conversation with Jon Stewart, Some Deep fascinating stuff..another must read, cant wait to get my hands on this book.

[@appletongallery]

Dylan and the Beatles are the greatest writers/craftsman in Rock N’ Roll. The Beatles were huge Dylan fans.

[@timsinnott386]

Eloquent man !! I am keen to read this ! Excellent to have a writer exploring Lennon’s ideas rather than lifestyle! Beautiful!

[@BrianFeral1]

Loved Sleeper ❤️

[@stewartcohen-jones2949]

This was a book waiting to be written. So glad someone has finally done it. Shall be getting it.

[@strose2002]

Great job Matt and Jon! A ton of information to digest. I never even thought of Lennon and Dylan at the same time. Nice to know another perspective on "Tomorrow Never Knows". My little pea brain is in overload. Love this channel!

[@popgoesthe60s52]

I appreciate the comment st.rose!

[@evanshear5378]

Wonderful discussion. I learned a lot that I never knew about. So quite fascinating. These guests are very enlightening. So thank-you!

[@ptrgreeny]

Loved the interview! The video's title did make think of an album cover....and an odd request... The Firesign Theatre.

[@skiphill9]

I discovered your channel today and hope you continue to provide great insight into our music history! I've learned about the groups I followed in the 60's .

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Welcome, Skip! More to come!

[@antoniodalfonso]

This video was one of the finest. The range of topics raised was exhaustive and well explored. Terrific. Can't find the right adjective to qualify this brilliant moment. Thank you, Matt, thank you, Jon. Off to buy your book!

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Jon Stewart and I thank you, Antonio!

[@markwestervelt9708]

Wow fascinating conversation. I gotta listen again at least 2 more times. You dropped a lot of into in rapid fire. Lol. Great show. 👍

[@TheEeliciousOne]

I really enjoy these book reviews. Keep up the good work. Each one of these provides new information that is eye opening and interesting. Thank you!

[@maryasbury7814]

Great job Matt. I love how you let Jon talk without interrupting like some host tend to do. I watch all your videos you are so articulate.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you so much, Mary. I really appreciate the feedback.

[@MrDanJF]

Loved this and look forward to hearing more! Thanks

[@trueman4590]

I find it interesting that the main protagonist in the narratives of Jesus and John Lennon have their role cut short. This allowed others to become the gate keepers of that narrative.

[@robertpennington1019]

Can’t wait for this one.. Stewart is my favorite Green Lantern, and I had no idea he’d finished his Doctorate. Cheers!

[@misternewoutlook5437]

What an interesting topic! A lot of information about Lennon's family background I never knew before. Judging from this discussion, and I could be completely wrong, but I think Lennon probably liked the Moody Blues approach quite a lot, but at the same time would not want to be in a band like that. It almost makes sense that John would explore everything across the political and religious spectrum. As for Dylan, ehh, I was never a big fan. Not just because of that Woody Guthrie or Pete Seeger type lineage - I just don't like his singing very much. I could say so much more about this video. So glad I suscribed to your channel. I might have missed this engaging discussion.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thanks for watching!

[@jackybluj]

Hi Matt! I'm about 2 videos behind but I'm saving some for a day soon. Something that struck me was your comment about hearing that record when you were 9. My childhood was hearing the Beatles all my childhood. When I was 9 it was 1966. I was deep into Beatles music by then. My parents hated it so all I had was my transistor radio and friends with albums. When I was in 5th grade I found a Herman's Hermits album in a drawer in the classroom. Teacher played it for us at times. It just felt a little mirrored from your experience.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Hey Vicki, good to hear from you. Yes all those Beatles albums take me back to my childhood as well.

[@false_binary]

What a refreshing take, especially from a trained academic and successful artist. Love how he threaded that consciousness, which both natural and social science fail to explain (polisci grad here ✋), not necessarily contemporary political theory are better descriptors of cultural giants like Lennon and Dylan.

[@lyndarosborough869]

Wonderful episode ! Thanks again !

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you for watching Lynda!

[@gailg2327]

Excellent topic and very enjoyable, thank you.

[@ernierichardson444]

Yeah this book will soon be ordered. Can't wait.

[@TheSilverBeagle]

Fascinating interview! I really appreciate this. If you get Jon on again I would love to hear his take on Dylan's famous 60 Minutes statement where he said he made "a bargain with destiny with the chief commander of this earth and the world we can't see." I guess Jon would say he's talking about Christ or God, but he doesn't state this in the interview. It's always puzzled me. I'm not sure if Dylan believes he actually made this pact w/ "God" before he got famous, during his career, after he converted...or if this is just a throwaway allegory or something.

[@denniswinters3096]

Really enjoyed this talk. The mention of Revolution No.9 in the conversation made me wonder if you've ever seen the visualisation of it by Jaap Drupsteen for the Dutch band, The Analogues' cover version of The White Album ? I think it's an astonishing piece of work. Look forward to the next one.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

I have not seen that, but thank you for recommending it. Sounds right up my alley.

[@lilmelvin11]

A most interesting interview/conversation! A nice example of the "intellectual" (being genuinely curious) as opposed to the "academic" ( dogmatic rigidity). I have to admit when I saw "phd" in the video title I remembered how my high school friends and I referred to it as "Piled High and Dry" 😎...Yes, an excellent interview. I was thinking of Christopher Hitchens and his brother Peter's debates and then Hitchens was mentioned. Thanks! "Appreciate cha!"

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Hey Terry, thank you for the comments!

[@PhilJS67]

Great video Matt, will be getting the book. Keep up the great work.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you! Im sure Jon will appreciate it!

[@jackilyncaraballo6586]

Hi Matt! That was a GREAT podcast talk! Thank you!

[@popgoesthe60s52]

I'm glad you liked it, Jackilyn!

[@laurie2508]

Such an excellent discussion!

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you, Laurie!

[@jconwell84]

Very interesting to think how John made "Pepper" possible. I don't think he is wrong it is just ironic. I was happy to hear someone mention John's capitalism side. I eventually tired of "Imagine" because I think it is a hypocritical song as a writer or listener. I rather listen to "Cold Turkey" or "Yer Blues". I don't think Dylan and Lennon like each other.

[@jonvought700]

I love the way in part of My Sweet Lord the chorus goes Hare Krishna, but in another part it goes Hallelujah. I played this song for my mother, who hated my music, and she liked this song. Works for anyone who loves God, whether it be Krishnas, Christians, or anyone else, right? Beautiful song. Great discussion!

[@stefanredelsteinerexperien5957]

what a fantastic discussion, I'll have to get that book, very interesting subjects... and by the way: "What Do I Do Now" by Sleeper has always been one of my favourite 90s-era britpop songs. Great Band!

[@ChordtoChord]

"As I Went Out One Morning" is a coded Dylan song about America.

[@Gardosunron]

Wow what a conversation. Jon Stewart's use of Marxist theory is an interesting framing device. Interesting how Dylan became such a devout Christian? I don't hear it in most of his music post Slow Train Coming.

[@mikey3528]

The song ‘help me to help myself’ may be the closest Lennon got to God, I would love you to talk about that. Contrasting with that is ‘you saved my soul’ where Lennon arguably ‘sees through’ it again like Jon was talking about? Lovely podcast. Also love the link to Jordan Peterson and ‘God is not great’ horseman debate, I tend to agree with Jon. A side note - have you ever explored the Seaman book about Lennon? Do you find him a reliable source? Would also love to hear you talk about Pang’s view on John too. I am a massive Dylan and Lennon fan so this episode has been golden.I am aware that they were both likely more right leaning by the end of the 70’s, which was interesting too. Just a bit of rambling on my part here. Thanks! Will be getting the book by the way!

[@popgoesthe60s52]

I have the Seaman book and the first Pang book - both of which I still have to read, so I hope to give those reviews as well.

[@mikey3528]

@@popgoesthe60s52 I haven’t read pang’s books yet but seaman’s is a great read. It is very negative of Yoko though and pretty much says that their relationship was over and she was in a relationship with another man. He says that the whole double fantasy love vibe was a facade. What’s also interesting is the astrology /fate influence Yoko had on John - e.g. Fred Seaman was chosen as assistant because of his first name he shared with Fred Lennon and his surname relating to john’s family ties to men at sea. I’ll keep my eye out for the videos!

[@melissa007ish]

Seaman isn’t reliable. He stole John’ s diaries and documents from their office afterJohn died. Yoko successfully sued him. He was picked as an assistant because his aunt and uncle worked for the Lennons.

[@melissa007ish]

Dylan shows some conservative leanings for sure, but I don’t see that as much with Lennon. Yoko has never seemed to move in a particularly conservative direction, so John might not have either. Not sure he had an opinion on Thatcher and Reagan. Hopefully, he was not a fan.

[@triplejazzmusicisall1883]

Key to life - don't waste time searching for meaning.

[@1rwjwith]

Very interesting book and conversation….I think you are spot on regarding trying to pigeon hole Dylan or Lennon spiritually or Politically especially ! I would not be that surprised if Lennon was still around , well he may have been a lot more conservative than folks surmise. Dylan, well it speaks for itself if you pay attention. Check out “ NEIGHBORHOOD BULLY”…!

[@deantraino3189]

Really enjoyed your discussion with a great depth of knowledge on the characters' lives and oeuvres. Imagine if John and Bob were friends! They certainly had a lot of similar experiences to discuss. I think Bob kept John on the outer.

[@DrustIV]

Compare and contrast: 1967, the "Summer of Love" The Beatles release Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Dylan, at Woodstock, recovering from his accident is reading The Hank Williams Songbook and the Bible. He describes Sgt. Pepper's as "a very indulgent album ... though the songs on it were real good, I didn't think all that production was necessary." He then records John Wesley Harding in 9 hours with just bass and drums backing. Buttrey, the drummer, said that on listening back to the takes, Dylan "would hear a mistake and laugh a little bit to himself as if to say, Great man, just great! That's what I'm looking for." JWH, with all its flaws hasn't got a duff song on it and even though it sounds like it was recorded in a toilet, it's my fav Dylan album - shot through with old time religion.

[@appletongallery]

Sergeant Pepper is a perfect album.

[@Imsteppenwolf]

The main difference between John Lennon and Bob Dylan, is Dylan's darker side and his ties with power ...

[@intelligencelimited2708]

24.22 - David Peel, not John Peel.

[@CartersRemasters]

“I’ve always been politically minded, you know, and against the status quo. It’s pretty basic when you’re brought up, like I was, to hate and fear the police as a natural enemy and to despise the army as something that takes everybody away and leaves them dead somewhere. I mean, it’s just a basic working-class thing.” about Imagine Lennon said its, "anti-religious, anti-nationalistic, anti-conventional, anti-capitalistic, but because it is sugarcoated it is accepted" and that it's "It's virtually the communist manifesto". In Lennon remembers, Lennon also denounces his Mao line in Revolution, saying that he thought "Love would save us all, but now I am wearing a Chairman Mao badge"

[@allanforrester2612]

Lennon was not brought up to hate the police, any more than he was working class. In the 1980 Playboy interviews, and others, he confirms the petit bourgeoise nature of his upbringing by Aunt Mimi. They weren't wealthy, but culturally and socially he had a middle class upbringing.

[@allanforrester2612]

And he later disavowed all his early 70s radicalism as a product of guilt. I doubt he wore a Mao badge in any of the Dakota apartments he owned, or any of his other properties.

[@CartersRemasters]

@@allanforrester2612 I don't think disavowed is the right word, but definitely drifted away from that New Left movement and away from praising Mao, I have no doubt that was still on the left, and still against what he saw as an unfair status quo and systems of powers

[@allanforrester2612]

@@CartersRemasters Well, he did tell one interviewer that they kept all the money they got from Power To The People, he dropped hiscradical friends as soon as it became obvious that they were causing problems for his immigration case, and few of the views expressed in interviews either in the mid 70s or 1980 could be described as "radical left" as opposed to hippyish. I think his infatuation with far-left politics was another passing enthusiasm, like the Mahirishi. He seems always to have been looking for someone and something to believe in, before becoming disillusioned and moving on.

[@kevinericsongs]

very interesting discussion! i see john differently now than i did when i was younger and i just saw his talent and success,now i can see he was a deeply damaged individual and i don't think he did find the peace of mind he was looking for

[@timsinnott386]

Dylan came from a folk tradition Lennon from skiffle/rock and roll, which initially highlights the early content of lyrics? As The Beatles gained fame, Lennon’s intelligence moved him towards an awareness of the possibilities he had to influence? Dylan rejected this as his early cultural experiences guarded against it perhaps? Lennon was released by Epstein’s death aswell i think. Mimi brought him up in that typical conservative British way, get exams a job etc etc That is the meaning of Working Class hero, dont get trapped into what society expects or accepts of you ? Lennon like many has a curiosity in life God etc and how these things direct lives, fame etc gave him the possibilities to think yet the media bombarded him with questions, perhaps his fans like that he answers as he felt at that moment from what meant most to him at the time, books read etc ? I feel ultimately there is a later snobbish dismissal of Imagine etc but look at the reaction to the hard Revolution/ Cold Turkey the bed ins ? Lennon loved TV 📺 and slogans i think Imagine is that an awakening consciousness to hang on what if we didn’t aspire to the established idea of get a job/ family savings investments ? He did have money but does that make the ideas less valid ? Think why people reject his solo stuff ? Some pieces are uncomfortable, he famously tells a reporter in 69 he’s doesn’t want to be a lovable moptop forever, looking at many developed countries the rich tend to lead, i don’t know of a truly working class leader by the time they gained power ? Lennon came from rock and roll the blues etc which was urban, Dylan folk which tended to be liberal middle class ? Dylan was a dynamic fresh shake up to the story telling in music he rejected his political possibilities Lennon once free tried to embrace yet he’s seen as a hypocrite? A fascinating video which like a pint 🍺 inspired conversation, this is what Lennon loved, yet he’s often labelled as a contradiction, conversation is essential in sharing ideas but also does make us say one thing one day another on another!

[@patrickcosgrove886]

Very strange to find out that Dylan's conversion to Christianity came after reading Hal Lindsey's Late Great Planet Earth.

[@jonvought700]

I can't tell you how upset I was with Dylan when he went into his Christian phase. But now I think I was so wrong. Then I thought Dylan songs were full of esoteric wisdom. Now I think they're just good songs. Then I thought Dylan knew exactly what he was saying, and it was up to us to figure it out. Now I think (and take Dylan himself at his word on this) that HE didn't know what his songs meant. Whatever they mean to us is what they mean. Then, when he entered his Christian phase I took it as a colossal betrayal. Now, Slow Train Coming is a favorite album of mine. I went back to Dylan, but now I don't think there's a secret message for us to decipher. I just think they're good songs.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

That is well put, Jon. Thank you for commenting.

[@senorbb2150]

I have always been a major fan of both (Dylan & Lennon, that is, I'm more ambivalent with respect to Marx & God) and I have long understood them to be complicated and self contradictory characters - but I learned a lot about them in this discussion- thanx for sharing it with us.

[@hazelwray4184]

Perhaps you could claim all four of them to be complicated and contradictionary characters.

[@paulandrew6457]

Highly intelligent discussion. I learnt a few things from it. Thank you! You put out quality content that's for sure. I nearly didn't watch this because of "Marx" interesting that Bob and John's fans have more problems with "God". Bob and John had questioning minds that changed as they grew Don't we all question what life is about and where conscious thought comes from don't we all learn new things along the way? I find political zealots are as bad as religious zealots. Just look what has been done to humanity in the name of Marx. I am left on most issues but when I read up on Marxism I realised that's not the answer to anything and nor is the song ' Imagine' but there's nothing wrong with being a dreamer and wishing for a better world filled with love over hate.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Hey Paul, thanks for weighing in. I too find it strange that many Lennon worshipers have an issue with his Christian phase. I guess they want their heroes to be like them. I appreciate the comments, Paul.

[@joerobxy]

It's interesting to note the Cleave Lennon Jesus piece comes out in the Evening Standard in early April 1966 and Eleanor Rigby is recorded in late April 1966 so Paul as well as John is grappling with Christian faith issues during this period. John was an avid reader via his Uncle George and Aunt Mimi and Paul lived in the culturally rich bubble of the Asher family in 1966. Re John's flirting with Marxism. Apparently, ancestors of John's on his mother's side, the Stanleys, were aristocratic landowners and previously owned much of leafy Woolton, the village like place Lennon grew up in, in Liverpool. Lots of contradictions in John's life from an early age. There is a big thoroughfare in the North of Liverpool called Stanley Road.

[@bobburroughs6241]

Whoever thought of Lennon getting religion?

[@erniericardo8140]

Check out a song from John on You Tube from the Lost Lennon Tapes called:Help Me Help Myself.

[@stevenlennon12]

When Lennon thought he was Jesus he was most likely tripping. A good trip can fill one with much confidence.😊

[@Push-Pull]

A very interesting interview , insightful . I do think there are some topics in here which are not represented quite well . For instance the “i am jesus” Lennon quote , ive read, happened at a business meeting around 68 - and who knows what and how much he was taking at that point . It wasnt a phase of 18 months as Stewart mentioned. Theres a bunch of other stuff he mentioned that is not fully contextualised. For instance i thought that Dylan had fallen in love with one of his backing singers in late 70s , and im pretty sure his religious transition happened at the same time. Wouldnt mind betting she was part if the reason. And Imagine is not a Lennon manifesto, but more inspired from Yoko Onos writing in “ grapefruit “. She is basically a co-writer on that one. One of his assistants later in the 70s needled him about the line “imagine no possessions “ and he retorted something along the lines of “ its only a song” . So yeah, itd be foolish to worship those guys on any moral level, they were all over the place. But geez weren’t they sensational artists !

[@peteradams6574]

Matt i would like YOU TO COVER another ALBUM THAT NEVER HEARD..stills young crosby and furay aka OR AS if the BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD had stayed together... includes tracks from the solo albums of stills, young and furay with poco as well as messina and also crosby if only I could remember my name and the perro sessions...young solo but also everybody nowhere and gold rush harvest while stills with hendrix clapton and csny included partly especially songs each wrote mostly for themselves like HELPLESS....this ALBUM the music for a tour de force outstanding songs,,,,,, cinnamon girl southern man laughing do for the others 4 and 20 song with no words,,,Furay with believe me or better think twice and emperor of wyoming harvest and helplessly hoping or even stills MANASSAS tracks he had written during hiatus from CSN or the super session might be included... A GREAT ALBUM we never heard ,,thanks for doing a show on it....this is hey paneaglesong...800 music videos and counting....your among my favorite subscriptions...keep on truckin....

[@rainmanjr2007]

I don't tend to think George would have allowed John to sing My Sweet Lord. It was very personal to George.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Aren't all of George's songs personal? He had about 50 people singing on My Sweet Lord!

[@rainmanjr2007]

@@popgoesthe60s52 I'm saying as lead singer. He certainly allowed supporting vocals. While they're all personal this was something of an ah-ha expression.

[@Gardosunron]

There's no instance in the Beatles recording career where Harrison told Lennon not to sing on his song. So why would he do it on My Sweet Lord?

[@rainmanjr2007]

@@Gardosunron Because George thought it divinely personal. Look, it's just a thought. George and John are dead and nobody really cares. The thought seemed worth expressing but, in the end, I don't care.

[@bjornerikroth]

@@popgoesthe60s52 While I don't disagree with the general message about George (who for all that matter had Paul and Ringo magnificently accompany him, instruments and vocals, on the equally personal and spiritual Long, Long, Long), wasn't all the voices on My Sweet Lord the George O'Hara singers (as he called it)?

[@intelligencelimited2708]

What is the thesis of the book? I can't tell. 44 minutes in-Mr Kite is 'John Lennon's connection to Empire'-what a hoot! Surely most English songwriters of the mid sixties are obliquely aware of the passing of Empire, it's the water they swam in. Ray Davies, Townshend, Marriot / Lane, Jagger / Richard, it's nothing specific, or indeed particularly conspicuous about Lennon's 60s output. More true of Ray Davies, i.e. End of The Season. But he's less marketable a name to sell a book with, especially Stateside. And anyone that talks about 'The Book of Revelations' should probably be debarred from speculating about Christianity. You'd think God would get first billing over Marx and Lennon, but that's showbiz.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you for the substantive comment! Much appreciated.

[@intelligencelimited2708]

@@popgoesthe60s52 Thank you for your substantive comment on my substantive comment. It means the world.

[@jaroko1967]

When he says Vedic tradition, he is referring to Astrology i believe? I always thought that was more of a Yoko thing that John went along with, but i could be wrong. I forget how pervasive Astrology was in the 80's, even Nancy Reagan had an astrologist that some say affected how they lived to some extent... As with John, if yoko told him to go to south africa (because of astrological signs), he went like a good boy right away... Regarding "Lucy and Vedic Tradition", I'm pretty sure john didn't have a good understanding of evolution from the "monkey" quotes im seeing from 1980. It's odd to me jon stewart singles that song to represent Dylan's politics. When i think of Dylan in the 1980's, i recall "Jokerman" which seems pretty anti Reagan to me, especially with the video..

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Yes, seemed merely to follow Yoko's orders (suggestions?) into the astrological/occult world. He couldn't sign the Beatles dissolution papers in late 1974 due to Yoko saying the stars weren't right. There are many examples of Lennon simply sleepwalking through life in those last 5 years. As far as Dylan's politics, I think Jon was pointing out the examples of what people wouldn't expect of their politics. We could have covered many other points... perhaps in a follow up video. Thank for your substantive comments, James.

[@jaroko1967]

​@@popgoesthe60s52 Great point about the 1974 papers...also in '75 when Paul invited John to the New Orleans studio session. But John never showed up because Yoko claimed astrological conflicts. More than likely she saw Paul as another threat and did all she could to stop them from getting back together. I just reread Peter Brown's "the love you make" and totally forgot about the incident in 1969 when John went to visit Julian at Cynthia's house, not two hours go by before Yoko calls john and threatens to take her own life if john didn't get back to her side immediately. Hate to judge someone i don't know, but this all sounds like a Master's level thesis in manipulation. After the lost weekend, John sure seemed whipped on many levels.

[@Monkofmagnesia]

I hope you are okay. You look like you lost a lot of weight. I hope you are not starving yourself so you will be in shape wedding day :) Seriously, I hope you are okay.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

On the contrary - I’ve put on 8 pounds! I’m doing well, thanks for asking.

[@91dodgespiritrt]

Sounds like a fiction book trying to cash-in with an atheist book loaded with fake opinions about a confused Beatle. I'll pass. Looking forward to your NEXT video.

[@rainmanjr2007]

Rock N Roll has always been a very Christian based music. Jesus is just alright with me and knockin' on Heaven's door stuff. That has long been a souring aspect of it, for me, and I can't listen to many of such nonsense (almost any CCR song) without feeling uncomfy (at best).

[@henryrogers5500]

Neil, none of those songs you mentioned were truly Christian-based, neither by the Doobie Brothers or by Bob Dylan. Not at all. Although, Dylan claimed to be a Christian in the early 1980s and cut an album as such. Just because a secular (non-Christian) band happens to make a song with some lyrics about Jesus Christ does not necessarily make that song a Scripturally based “Christian” song. And if you dismiss Christianity as “nonsense” then that’s very unfortunate for you.

[@rainmanjr2007]

@@henryrogers5500 Whatever you say, Homie. You obviously haven't listened to the podcast.

[@henryrogers5500]

@@rainmanjr2007 I responded to your rather ignorant and uniformed post, silly goose.