35 Years Ago Tonight: Remembering John Lennon

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Tue Dec 08, 2015 at 10:38:31 PM EST
Tags: John Lennon (all tags)

Share This: Digg!

35 years ago tonight, in the middle of Monday Night Football, Howard Cosell announced there had been an "unspeakable tragedy in New York City." John Lennon had been shot twice in the back outside his apartment building in New York City. He was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital. (Video here.)

There are millions of people in this world whose lives were enriched by John Lennon, his persona and his music. He told his truth and it was the truth of an entire generation. His death was a tragedy, but his life was an inspiration. His legacy is timeless. [More...]

This is my 12th annual blog post about John Lennon and that night. Why so many? From my post in 2003:

I was 3 1/2 weeks overdue with my first [and only] child. On Dec. 8, I went to the hospital in the afternoon to be induced. It didn't work, they sent me home. At bedtime, my then-husband and I were in bed-- he was watching Monday Night Football, I was reading a book. All of a sudden, Howard Cosell's huge voice boomed out: "An unspeakable tragedy this evening in New York City. John Lennon has been shot."

The minute I heard that I gasped and felt a pop--the shock of the news had caused my water to break. We went racing to the hospital. We learned John Lennon was dead. Within 2 hours, at 1 am on Dec. 9, our son Nic was born. I have always believed, and told him, that when John Lennon's spirit went out, his came in. So for the past 23 years, this day is not only a celebration of a birthday, but a time to reflect on the nature of the extraordinary soul who has touched my son's soul.

For another version of Imagine check out teen singer Liel & Bill Clinton, singing John Lennon's "Imagine" in 2004 with 40 Arabic and 40 Jewish children.

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

R.I.P. John Lennon, and Happy Birthday Nic, aka the TL kid.

< Tuesday Open Thread | Wednesday Open Thread >

Legal

Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice. TalkLeft does not give legal advice.

TalkLeft is not responsible for and often disagrees with material posted in the comments section. Read at your own risk.

35 Years Ago Tonight: Remembering John Lennon | 11 comments (11 topical)

Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

That's such a beautiful story, Jeralyn. (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Dec 09, 2015 at 02:33:13 AM EST

Tonight, as I celebrate the birth of our first grandchild and mourn the recent passing of someone very dear to me, I pause to reflect upon the circle of life, and how it transcends our own existence as individuals on this earth, rendering each of us part of a greater whole.

The human spirit as bestowed to each of us through the ages is at once indomitable and immortal. Let it fill our soul with love and respect for one another, with hope for a better and brighter tomorrow, and with purpose so that our life may have meaning.

And on this 35th anniversary of your son's birth, may the light of peace be with you both always.

Me ke aloha pumehana.

: My story is not quite as beautiful, but still (5.00 / 2) (#9)
by Peter G on Wed Dec 09, 2015 at 03:21:24 PM EST

meaningful to us. It was 33 years ago that my wife and I went to the hospital where her ob-gyn was affiliated, for the birth of our first child. They had a new "birthing suite," and in fact we were the first couple to have the use of it. The nurses had suggested we bring cassette tapes (it was 33 years ago, did I mention that?) of our favorite music. So I had made some "mix tapes" (as they were known) of about six hours of our favorite songs. The labor, as it turned out, lasted over 18 hours. As "Imagine" came around for what was probably the third time, our daughter finally decided to enter this world. It's still one of her, and our, favorites.
Thirty-five years ago, on the other hand, with hundreds of others, we held candles and sang that song on the steps of the Philadelephia Art Museum, and cried.

Lennon would love that story (5.00 / 1) (#3)
by CaptHowdy on Wed Dec 09, 2015 at 07:16:21 AM EST

I was at work. I lived in Manhattan at the time. In tha Ansonia not far away. At the time I was at work. I was working an evening shift. 4-11. I did it most if the time I lived there because it was perfect for the nightlife which was important to me at the time.
My Lennon story is when I got off work I went back to the neighborhood which was filled with people wandering around sort of silently comforting each other.
I went into a coffee shop and sat down at the counter. Looked over and William Borroughs and Laurie Anderson were sitting next to me. We shared a sad smile.

: You connect the dots, (5.00 / 1) (#6)
by Mr Natural on Wed Dec 09, 2015 at 11:12:22 AM EST

You pick up the pieces...

Watching the Wheels (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by ruffian on Wed Dec 09, 2015 at 08:22:47 AM EST

Maybe not his most iconic song, but my favorite and appropriate for Jeralyn's moving story.

We miss you John.

and Happy Birthday TL Kid!

Interesting, Jeralyn (none / 0) (#1)
by Green26 on Wed Dec 09, 2015 at 01:36:07 AM EST

Wow, I can see why you have vidid memory of this and the date is near and dear to your heart. What an interesting and emotional story. Was this your lawyer son's birth?

I lived in NYC at the time--on the West Side not many blocks away. I liked the Beatles but was not a huge fan. Grew to like them much more over the years. Nevertheless, Lennon's murder affected me too. I was on my first trip to Europe at the time, having coffee at an outdoor place in Florence when I read the news in the Herald Traveler. I was stunned.

Since then, I glance in the entry way at the Dakota, where the shooting occurred, every time I walk by it. I go out of my way to go through/by Strawberry Fields. If I am with my family or younger people, I always point out both. I googled tonight, and read a few things. I looked at the photos of the mosaic that I've walked over 100's of times. Had never noticed that it said "Imagine" in the middle of it. Look forward to looking, stopping and thinking the next time I'm in New York.

I love life, the US and everywhere I've travelled in the world, but thinking of John's death and all of the killings and ugliness in the world we now live in, it makes me a bit sad.

And Jeralyn, thanks for your site and all the good information and analysis on it, especially your detailed and excellent commentary. I always learn a lot. While I am not sure I can explain why, looking at your site is always one of the highlights of my day. Thanks.

George Harrison's tribute song (none / 0) (#5)
by ruffian on Wed Dec 09, 2015 at 08:33:30 AM EST

All Those Years Ago

Who better to say it?

Living with good and bad
I always look up to you
Now we're left cold and sad
By someone the devil's best friend
Someone who offended all.
We're living in a bad dream
They've forgotten all about mankind
And you were the one they backed up to
the wall
All those years ago
You were the one who Imagined it all
All those years ago.

To each (none / 0) (#7)
by Mr Natural on Wed Dec 09, 2015 at 11:19:28 AM EST

His own Lennon.

I was staying in a flea bag hotel (none / 0) (#8)
by jondee on Wed Dec 09, 2015 at 12:13:27 PM EST

called (no lie) the Morrison Hotel on a night of freezing rain in Seattle and was watching that game when I heard Howard's shocking announcement.
Those words "an unspeakable tragedy" are burned into my brain..

The next morning, it seemed as though everyone was at the Pike Place Market, and overall vibe there was both deeply sad, and at the same time deeply kind and loving. You had the feeling most of the vendors would've just given their wares away if they could have..

And all street musicians played and played and played and, as Paul Simon says, every song they played was for The Late Great Johnny Ace..


Ironically (5.00 / 1) (#10)
by FlJoe on Wed Dec 09, 2015 at 03:36:02 PM EST

John died on Jim Morrison's birthday.


: Another synchronicity.. (none / 0) (#11)
by jondee on Wed Dec 09, 2015 at 03:44:05 PM EST

I've had a few crazy ones over the years..