John Lennon: Between The Lines

complete home recordings 1975–1980


LYRIC TRANSCRIPTIONS FOR DISC 9

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track 1: The Worst Is Over [take 1]

I think the worst is over now
It's all downhill, it's over
Relax and take it easy
*****

I think the worst is over now
It's all downhill, it's over
Relax and take it easy
*****

I think the worst is over now
It's all downhill, it's over
Relax and take it easy
*****
It's over


track 2: The Worst Is Over [take 2]

I think the worst is over now
It's all downhill, it's over
Relax and take it easy
Relax and take it easy
All along, the worst is over
It's over

Everybody's making love
Why can't we make it, take it over
We can't be home inside there
And if we leave ***
Everyday
The worst is over
Hmmm, now that it's over

Why don't they leave us alone
Nothing doing in the monastery
Why don't you leave us, leave us alone
Get back to the home where you belong

I think the worst is over now
It's all downhill, it's over
Relax and take it easy
Take off your clothes and we will meet again
For me, it's over

Why don't they leave us alone
Nothing doing in the monastery
Why don't they leave us, leave us alone
Doo doo doo doo doo

Everybody's doing it
Why can't we be doing it, it's easy
Remember how we used to
Just do and we will lose to do it all
Well now, now it's over
It's over


track 3: Help Me To Help Myself [takes 2-3]

Well I tried so hard just to let along
But I– angel of destruction keeps on hounding me all around
But I know in my heart...

"What's the matter with this thing, it do this sticking on my feets here, that's why do we are having these interruptions — very bad."

Well I tried so hard to stay alive
But the angel of destruction keeps on hounding me all around
But I know in my heart, that we never really parted, oh no

They say the lord helps those who help themselves
So I'm asking this question in the hope that you'll be kind
'Cause I know, deep inside, I was never satisfied, oh no

Lord, help me
Lord, help me now
Please, help me Lord
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Help me to help myself
Help me to help myself

"I say, I say, that's how you are gonna do it, okay."


track 4: My Life [take 1]

"Let's have a little of this then."

My life, take it, it's yours, take it
Let me live with you
My life, take it, it's yours to keep
Do what you will, I dedicate my life to you

Da-dn da-dn da
Da-dn da-dn da
Da da

Da-dn da-dn da
Da da

Da da
Da

My... My life, take it, it's yours
Do what you will, I dedicate my life to you

"Now let's see..."

My Life, take it, it's mine to give, take it
Let me live in you
My life, take it, it's yours
Do what you will, I dedicate my life to you

My life take it, it's yours, take it
Let me live in you
My life, take it, it's yours to do
Do what you will, I dedicate my life to you

Doo-dn doo-dn doo
Doo-dn doo doo doo-hoo
Doo-dn doo-dn doo
Doo-dn doo doo doo-dn
Doo-dn doo-dn doo

"Something, yeah, something."


track 5: My Life [take 2]

"Alternatively, having not had the lyrics, which is somewhere on a tape, I believe, we could do an 'Ann Landers':"

Life is something that happens
While you're making plans
It just happens to you
Life is something that happens to you
While you're making plans a-da-da-da-da
Doo hmm
Hmm


track 6: My Life [take 4]

Life, take it, it's yours, take it
Hmm, to you
My life, take it, it's yours
Do what you will, I dedicate my life to you

And if you go away
Take *****

Life is something that happens to you
While you're making plans
Making plans
Life is something that happens just to you
In spite of yourself
do-do-do-whatever

Da da
Ooh

And we're dancing in the park
Dancing in the dark, reminiscing


track 7: Serve Yourself

Well, I got a story to tell

You say you found Jesus, and he's the only one
You say you found Buddha, sitting in the sun
You say you found Mohammed, bowing to the east
You say you found Krishna, dancing in the street
Well, there's too much cockamamie, too much cock-a-doodle-doo
You know there's something missing in this godalmighty stew and it's your mother
Don't forget your mother, boy

You got to serve yourself, ain't nobody gonna do for you
You got gotta serve yourself, ain't nobody gonna do for you
Well, you may believe in devils, you may believe in lords
But you know you're gonna have to serve yourself, honey
Ain't no room service here

You say you came from monkeys, or something weird like that
You say the Garden of Eden is really where it's at
You say we came in spaceships, maybe ran out of gas
You say we came from nowhere, and this too will pass
Well, wherever we all came from, we sure as hell are here
And who the hell you cry for when the bogeyman is near — and it's your mother
Too much monkey business around here, honey
Don't forget your mama

Got to serve yourself, ain't nobody gonna do for you
You got to serve yourself, ain't nobody gonna do for you
Well, you may believe in Mickey Mouse or even Donald Duck
But who the hell you turn to when you really need a... who-hoo!
That's right honey, it's your mother, you can't do it by yourself
You go blind doing that

Serve yourself, ain't nobody gonna do it for you
You got to serve yourself, ain't nobody gonna do it for you
Well, you may believe in devils, you may believe in lords
But you know you're gonna have to serve yourself, honey
Ain't no room service here

You know that two is company, and three's a family
Beneath the tree of knowledge, a holy trinity
You can't have the one without the other, as sure as night follows day
That's the law of nature, can't be any other way
Well, you may believe in devils and you may believe in lords
But God, you you're gonna have to serve yourself, honey
It's not nice to fool with Mother Nature

"Too loud!"

Well, I got a story to tell
Who-hoo, I got a story to tell

You say you found Jesus, and he's the only one
You say you found Buddha, sitting in the sun
You say you found Mohammed, bowing to the east
You say you found Krishna, dancing in the street
Well, you, something cockamamie, too much cock-a-doodle-doo
You know there's something missing in this godalmighty stew and it's your mother
Don't forget your mother, boy

You got to serve yourself, ain't nobody gonna do for you
You got to serve yourself, ain't nobody gonna do for you
Well, you may believe in devils, you may believe in lords
But, you know, you're gonna have to serve yourself, honey
Ain't no room service here, this ain't no hotel

You say we came from monkeys, or something weird like that You say the Garden of Eden is really where it's at
You say we came in spaceships, and maybe ran out of gas
You say we came from nowhere, and this too will pass
Well, wherever we all came from, we sure as hell are here
And who on earth d'you cry for when the bogeyman is near — well, it's your mother
You can't do that by yourself, honey, it's too much monkey business

You got to serve yourself, ain't nobody gonna do it for you
You got to serve yourself, ain't nobody gonna do for you
Well, you may believe in Mickey Mouse or even Donald Duck
But who the hell d'you turn to when you really need a ... who-hoo!
Yeah yeah, that's your mother, son, can't do it by yourself
When'd you last call your momma?

You got to serve yourself, ain't nobody gonna do it for you
You got to serve yourself, ain't nobody gonna do it for you
Well, there's too much cockamamie — ***
And who the hell d'you turn to when you *** — yeah, it's your mother
Yes, that's right, honey, what are you gonna get for your mother, dear
She's waiting on your hand and foot, darling, she's been waiting there, slaving all her life

You know that two is company, and three's a family
Beneath the tree of knowledge, a holy trinity
You can't have one without the other, as sure as night follows day
That's a law of nature, you can't be any other way, honey
Well, there's too much cock-a-mamie, too much cock-a-doodle-doo
Too much monkey's in this godalmighty stew and it's your mother
Don't forget your poor old mother, boy

You got to serve yourself, ain't nobody gonna do for you
You got to serve yourself, ain't nobody gonna do for you
Well, you may believe in devils, you may believe in lords
But you know you're gonna...


track 8: Cleanup Time

Moonlight on the water, sunlight on my face
You and me together, we are in our place
Gods are in the heavens, angels treat us well
Oracle has spoken, cast the perfect spell

Now it begins, let it begin
Cleanup time, show those mothers how to do it
Cleanup time, show those mothers how to do it
Cleanup time, show those mothers how to do it

Queen is in the counting house, counting out the money
King is in the kitchen, making bread and honey
No friends and yet no enemies, absolutely free
No rats aboard the magic ship, perfect harmony

Now it begins, now it begins
Cleanup time
Cleanup time, show those mothers how to do it
Cleanup time, show those mothers how to do it
Those mothers how to do it, there's really nothing to it


track 9: Cleanup Time

Moonlight on the water, sunlight on my face
You and me together, we are in our place
Gods are in the heavens, angels treat us well
The oracle has spoken, cast the perfect spell

Now it begins, let it begin
Cleanup time, show those mothers how to do it
Cleanup time, show those mothers how to do it
Cleanup time, show those mothers how to do it
There's really nothing to it, show those mothers how to do it

Queen is in the counting house, counting out the money
King is in the kitchen, making bread and honey
No friends and yet no enemies, absolutely free
No rats aboard this magic ship of perfect harmony

Now it begins, let it begin
Cleanup time, show those mothers how to do it
Cleanup time, show those mothers how to do it
Cleanup time, show those mothers how to do it
There's really nothing to it, baby, all you gotta do is, baby...

However far we travel, wherever we may roam
The centre of the circle will always be our home
The gods are in the heavens, the angels treat us well
The oracle has spoken, we cast the magic spell

Now it begins, let it begin
La-la-laa-laa, laa-laa
Cleanup time, show those mothers how to do it
Cleanup time, show those mothers
Cleanup time, show those mothers how to do it
There's really nothing to it


track 10: (Just Like) Starting Over [take 1]

Our life together is so precious together
We have grown, we have grown
Although our love is special
Let's take a chance and go away somewhere alone

It's been too long since we took the time
No one's to blame, I know time flies so quickly
But when I see you, darling
It's like we both are falling in love again
Just like starting over, starting over

Every day we used to make it, love
Why can't we be making love, it's easy
The time has come the walrus said
For you and me to stay in bed again
It'll be just like starting over, starting over
Starting over

Why don't we fly off alone
Spend a weekend in some old hotel
A little place without a phone
A second honey moon would do us well
Well well, oh well well

It's been too long since we took the time
No one's to blame, I know time flies, it's so quickly
But when I see you, darling
It's like we both are falling in love again
It'll be just like starting over, starting over

Why don't we fly off alone
Spend a weekend in some old hotel
A little place without a phone
A second honey moon would do us well
Well well

Every day we used to make it, love
So Why can't we be making love, it's easy
The time has come the walrus said
For you and me to stay in bed again
It'll be just like starting over, starting over
Starting over

Let's take a chance and go away, somewhere alone

"Something like that"


track 11: (Just Like) Starting Over [take 2]

Our life together is so precious together
We have grown, we have grown
Although our love is special
Let's take a chance and go away somewhere alone

It's been so long since we took the time
No one's to blame, I know time flies so quickly
Hmm when I see you, darling
It's like we both are falling in love again
It'll be just like starting over, starting over

Every day we used to make it, love
Why can't we be making love, it's easy
For time has come the walrus said
For you and me to stay in bed again
It'll be just like starting over, starting over

Why don't we fly off alone
Spend a weekend in some old hotel
A little place, a little place without a phone
A second honey moon would do us well
Well well, well well

It's been too long since we took the time
No one's to blame, I know time flies so quickly
But when I see you, darling
It's like we both are falling in love again
It'll be just like starting over, just like starting over

Let's...
Let's take a chance and go away, somewhere alone

Our life together is so precious together
We have grown, we have grown
Although our love is special
Let's take a chance and go away somewhere alone


track 12: (Just Like) Starting Over [take 3]

"Take 3."

Our life together is so precious together
We have grown, we have grown
Although our love is still special
Let's take a chance and go away somewhere alone

It's been too long since we took the time
No one's to blame, I know time flies so quickly
But when I see you, darling
It's like we both are falling in love again
It'll be just like starting over, starting over

Every day we used to make it love
So why can't we be making love, it's easy
The time has come the walrus said
For you and me to stay in bed again
It'll be just like starting over, starting over

Why don't we fly off alone
Spend a weekend in some old hotel
A little place without a phone
A second honey moon would do us well
Well well, well well well

It's been too long since we took the time
No one's to blame, I know time flies so quickly
But when I see you, darling
It's like we both are falling in love again
It'll be just like starting over, starting over

Our life together is so precious together
We have grown, we have grown
Although our love is still special
Let's take a chance and go away somewhere alone

Why don't we fly off alone
A dirty weekend in some low motel
A little place, a little place without a phone
A second honey moon would suit us well
Well well, well well, darling

Every day we used to make it, love
So why can't we be making love, it's easy
The time has come the walrus said
For you and me to stay in bed again
It'll be just like starting over, starting over

Let's take a chance and go away somewhere alone


track 13: Gone From This Place [take 1]

Well I won't be satisfied till I'm gone from this place
Till I'm gone from this place
Well my momma always told me don't go from this place
Don't be gone from this place

Well my momma always told me don't go from this place
Don't be gone from this place
Well I won't be satisfied till I'm gone from this place
Till I'm gone from this place

Well I won't be satisfied till I'm gone from this place
Till I'm gone from this place
Yes my momma always told me don't go from this place
Don't be gone from this place

Well my momma always told me don't go from this place
Don't be gone from this place
Yes I won't be satisfied till I'm gone from this place
Till I'm gone from this place

Well I made up my mind, well my mind is made up
Yes my mind is made up


track 14: Gone From This Place [take 4]

Momma poppa told me don't go from this place
Don't be gone from this place
Well I won't be satisfied till I'm gone from this place
Till I'm gone from this place

Ah, I don't wanna die

Momma poppa told me don't go from this place
Don't be gone from this place
Well momma poppa told me don't go from this place
Don't be gone from this place

Ah, I don't wanna die

Oh, how she weaves the spell around them
Oh, how she weaves the magic circle

Momma poppa told me don't go from this place
Don't be gone from this place
Well my momma poppa told me don't go from this place
Don't be gone from this place

Ah, I don't wanna die
I don't wanna die

Oh, how she weaves the spell around them
Oh, how she weaves the magic circle

Well Momma poppa told me don't go from this place
Don't be gone from this place
Momma poppa told me don't go from this place
Don't be gone from this place

Ah, I don't wanna die
Oh no, I don't wanna die

Ah, I don't wanna die

Oh, how she weaves the spell around them
Oh, how she weaves the spell around them

Momma poppa told me don't go from this place


track 16: Dear John

Dear John
Don't be hard on yourself
Give yourself a break
Life wasn't meant to be run
The race is over
You've won

Dear John
Don't be hard on yourself
Give yourself a break
Life wasn't meant to be run
The race is over
You've won

September, November

Dear John
Don't be hard on yourself
Give yourself a break
Life wasn't meant to be run
The race is over

Dear John
Don't be hard on yourself
Give yourself a break
Life wasn't meant to be run
The race is over

And dear John
Don't be hard on yourself
Give yourself a break
Life wasn't meant to be run
The race is over
You've grown

And dear John
Don't be hard on yourself
Give yourself a break
Life wasn't meant to be run
The race is over

And dear John
Put the TV on
Have a snack
Wash your mother's back
The race is over


track 17: You Saved My Soul

When I was lonely and scared
I nearly fell for a TV preacher
In a hotel room in Tokyo
Only your true love saved me from that suicide
Because of all the things, I die along with you

Remember the time
I went to jump right out that apartment window
On the west side of town of ol' New York
Oh, only you saved me from that suicide
Because of all my foolish pride
Wanna thank you, thank you, thank you
For saving my soul with your true love

"Something."

"Hello?"

When I was lonely and scared

"Oh. He, he."

When I was lonely and scared

When I was lonely and scared
I nearly fell for a TV preacher
In a hotel room in Tokyo
Oh, only you saved me from that suicide
Because of all the things I die
Wanna thank you, thank you, thank you
For saving my soul with your true love

Remember the time
I went to jump right out the apartment window
On the west side of town of ol' New York
Oh, only you saved me from that suicide
Because of all the things I tried
I have to *** sorrow aside
Thank you, thank you, thank you
For saving my soul with your true love

Pop is the name of the game, bop-a-re-ba
Pop is the name of the game, bop-a-re-ba
Pop is the name of the game, bop-a-re-ba

You gotta serve yourself, nobody gonna do it for you
Serve yourself, nobody gonna do it for you

You said I may believe in Jesus, I may believe in God
That's it for us, do-do-do-doo

Oh, your true love, your true love