John Lennon's Beatles songs were 'cries for help' after 'subconscious' admission

Monday, June 30, 2025

The Beatles' rise to global stardom was meteoric, with their fame skyrocketing in under a year and a half following the UK release of 'Love Me Do' in October 1962. By February 1964, an astonishing 73 million viewers in America were glued to their screens watching the Fab Four on the Ed Sullivan Show as 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' swept the nation.

This track not only marked their first chart-topper in the States but also kicked off a period of unrivaled chart success for the Liverpool lads. After a seven-week reign, 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' handed over the number one spot to 'She Loves You', and this was just the beginning—four more hits soared to the top within six months.

Paul McCartney, George Harrison, John Lennon, and Ringo Starr, four young men from Liverpool, had become the most recognizable faces on the planet, and it all happened at breakneck speed. Adjusting to such intense fame wasn't a walk in the park for them.

Lennon, in particular, found the transition challenging, a struggle that influenced his songwriting. Reflecting on those times in a 1980 Playboy interview, he confessed: "The whole Beatles thing was just beyond comprehension. I was subconsciously crying out for help".

His inner turmoil manifested into the classic tune 'Help! which became the lead single for the band's sophomore film and its soundtrack album. The inspiration struck John in the spring of 1965, right after the movie's title was decided, reports the Liverpool Echo.

John's mate Stanley Parkes recalls the moment John had to pivot creatively due to the film's title change: "Came in from the studio one night. 'God,' he said, 'they've changed the title of the film: it's going to be called 'Help!' now. So I've had to write a new song with the title called 'Help!'"

Lennon delved into his own personal battles with fame when writing the hit song. Reflecting in 1980, he revealed: "When 'Help!' came out, I was actually crying out for help. Most people think it's just a fast rock 'n' roll song."

Source: John O'sullivan, Dan Haygarth/irishstar.com