John Lennon - Mind Games

John Lennon - Mind Games

"Mind Games" is a song written by John Lennon, released as a single in 1973 on Apple Records, catalogue Apple 1868 in the US and Apple R5994 in the UK.[2] It peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 26 on the British singles chart.[2] It also peaked at number 10 on the Cashbox Top 100.[3] It was the lead single for the album of the same name in the US, but released the same day as the album in the UK. Single was certificated gold in the United States in 1974.

This song, which was begun in 1969 and can be heard in the Beatles' Let It Be sessions, was originally titled "Make Love, Not War",[2] a popular hippie slogan at that time.[4] Another song, "I Promise", contains the melody that would later be featured on "Mind Games".[2] The original Lennon demos for "Make Love, Not War" and "I Promise", recorded in 1970, are available on the John Lennon Anthology.[2][4] Lennon finished writing the song after reading the book Mind Games: The Guide to Inner Space by Robert Masters and Jean Houston.[5][6] Lennon later encountered Masters in a restaurant and told him, "I am one of your fans. You wrote Mind Games."[5]

Four years later, the lyrics evolved into "Mind Games", which was inspired by the book of the same name by Robert Masters and Jean Houston (1972). In keeping with the original theme, the lyrics advocate unity, love, and a positive outlook. The lyric "YES is the answer" is a nod to his wife Yoko Ono's artpiece that brought them together originally. The song was recorded as Lennon split with her for his 18-month "lost weekend" with May Pang.

Lyrics:

We're playing those mind games together
Pushing the barriers, planting seeds
Playing the mind guerrilla
Chanting the mantra, peace on earth
We all been playing those mind games forever
Some kinda druid dudes lifting the veil
Doing the mind guerrilla
Some call it magic, the search for the grail

Love is the answer and you know that for sure
Love is a flower, you got to let it, you got to let it grow

So keep on playing those mind games together
Faith in the future, outta the now
You just can't beat on those mind guerrillas
Absolute elsewhere in the stones of your mind
Yeah we're playing those mind games forever
Projecting our images in space and in time

Yes is the answer and you know that for sure
Yes is surrender, you got to let it, you got to let it go

So keep on playing those mind games together
Doing the ritual dance in the sun
Millions of mind guerrillas
Putting their soul power to the karmic wheel
Keep on playing those mind games forever
Raising the spirit of peace and love

Love...
(I want you to make love, not war, I know you've heard it before)