Bear in mind that the first line came from the song Baby Let's Play House. So that was not originally written by John. But he must have liked the line enough to start his song with and used it as an inspiration.

^ *points up at all the comments defending these lyrics* See what I mean? (Not arguing, just pointing out what I meant when I said that I will never get people to agree with me on this.)

I did not know John copped the line from Baby Let's Play House. I'm not sure if that makes me more or less comfortable! It is clearly a sentiment that is still out there. Yes, writing does reflect the values of a culture.

Oh, but I don't disagree with you!

Thanks. I just think people don't appreciate how powerful language is. Reading history often sets the perspective for me. We're all people of our time, but to read about Abraham Lincoln earnestly telling a black delegation to the White House that they really must return to Africa, because he can't imagine a world where black people and white people can sit at the same table... it really drives in for me how much we are all people of our time, with our societally acceptable prejudices and remarks. I think (hope) that over time the notion of killing your girlfriend for doing the same thing you do will be looked at as so appallingly behind-the-times as Honest Abe being unable to imagine peaceful co-existance between people of different races. I also happen to think that if Abe could be transported through time to see Colin Powell serving as the US Secretary of State, he would be delighted.

Quoted from harihead

I have never liked "Run For Your Life" due to its misogynist lyrics. When I brought it up in this forum a while ago, no one else seemed particularly bothered. I am pleased it came in as a tie for last place in our Song Survivor contest.

You know, everyone has fantasies. If Lennon wanted to fantasize about blowing away his unfaithful girlfriend, well, lots of people have that one. I do think that people who promulgate their views should take extra care in the kind of public influence they are setting. Yes, I understand that is self-censorship. I would call it "responsibility".

Yeah, always thought the lyrics to this great Rubber Soul song was a bit rough--even when I first heard it at age 12, the month the album came out in Dec. '65. As the years went by, I really got used to John's sardonic sense if humour. I certainly don't take it seriously--and would never call John of ALL  people a misogynist (and I know you're not either, hari) John's humour was biting (to say the least) but his bark was worse than his bite. "Norwegian Wood" is certainly a good example of this: "So I lit the fire isn't it good, Norwergian Wood?"-- the fictional "bird" brushes him off so he sets her house ablaze!!...that's more amusing than alarming. Poetic justice in the Lennon sense--no more than that.  Perhaps a now impossible in-depth psychological study on John might reveal some latent love/hate issues with mum Julia (maybe for being the absentee matriarchal figure--and then dying so tragically on him). It's possible John still had some residual resentment for females during The Fab's middle period, but I really believe all that certainly died out by the time "Julia" came out in '68 on TWA (this was one of his most loving songs..to a female obviously--the most important one before he met Yoko..his mother) Of course this is all merely guesswork on my part, but I don't think John Lennon was a true misogynist. At least I feel the advent of Yoko in his life brought real change and self-reflection (case in point, no one could claim John wasn't pro-woman by the 70's with such songs as "Woman Is The N***** Of The World"--or even later in all his deeply poignant songs to Yoko culminating in the more personal Double Fantasy tracks..
No, John was not a hater...but he was simply much better than most, certainly in the artistic sense, of expressing his past hurt w/ unrestrained abandon, if you will. It was merely his fear of being abandoned by women which possibly might've been the driving force behind some of his darker stuff: "hide your face in the sand little girl, catch u w/another man, that's the end..little girl" --TOUGH WORDS, I agree w/ you, but let's be real..what man (or for that matter what person hasnt felt this way at least once in his life ? (I know I have ...even recently !) John the Beatle had the ability and opportunity to merely express personal frustration in a global spotlight. Misogynist? No. Human. Yes. Remember...this is the SAME man who wrote "All You Need Is Love" two years after "Run For Your Life".

I once wrote a song about killing someone because he wouldn't be with me. Would I actually do that? No. I am 100% pacifist all the way. I think we have to be able to distinguish fiction from reality when it comes to these things.

Quoted from Andy Smith

and Lennon admitted himself that Run For Your Life was
a throwaway lyric & didn't mean anything.

Exacly, people take things too seriously. Ofcourse John wouldn't really do that. It's just a song, a very good song. I might be the only one but I actualy like it even though the lyrics are a bit hard to listen to but I think it makes the song better. the world isn't all butterflies and rainbows.

In this PC world we now live in you forget that all mannor of language was used to describe situations not so long ago , i remember Till Death As Do Part and Alf Garnet ranting his racist abuse on primetime TV in the 60's and early 70's  . Lennon probably did'nt give it a second thought at the time of writing as such views re race and women were commonly held then ?

DaveRam

Quoted from The walrus

the world isn't all butterflies and rainbows.

true, very true! i don't go around every day feeling wonderful &
loving everybody! i can be a right a** at times i admit but
isn't that everybody!