John Lennon Insisted This Beatles Song Has Nothing to Do With Cocaine

John Lennon dismissed the idea that a short Beatles song is about cocaine. He also dismissed cocaine, saying caffeine is superior.

One of The Beatles‘ songs feels like it’s about a drug that isn’t generally associated with the band: cocaine. John Lennon dismissed this interpretation. He also dismissed cocaine. John Lennon said this Beatles song was inspired by a real guy.

The book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono features an interview from 1980. In it, John was asked about the song “Mean Mr. Mustard” from Abbey Road. The tune revolves around a man who puts bills up his nose — which could be interpreted as a metaphor for cocaine.

“That’s me, writing a piece of garbage,” he said. “I’d read somewhere in the newspaper about this mean guy who hid five-pound notes, not up his nose but somewhere else. No, it had nothing to do with cocaine.”

Elsewhere in the interview, John was asked about his feelings about cocaine. “I had lots of it in my day, but I don’t like it,” he said. “It’s a dumb drug. Your whole concentration goes on getting the next fix. I find caffeine easier to deal with.”