Why is  " Crippled Inside "  such a  jolly song ? i never understood what John was trying to say with this song, surely this should sound more like Cold Turkey ?
But it skips along and just sounds so happy . Is it like you put on a brave face when your scared type of song ?

This is such a great song! It's sound so good after the brilliant ending of 'Imagine'. I think it fits perfectly on the album.
But, as much as you Dave Ram, I don't understand the lyrics.  

I love the song to wingsman , i always tap my foot to it , but the jollyness of the music against the lyric confuse's me ?

Well, it's an attack on hypocrisy, and religion in particular. So I think the 'jolly' sound is kind of taking the piss out of gospel. It's the way I've always seen it, anyway.

Quoted from DaveRam

I love the song to wingsman , i always tap my foot to it , but the jollyness of the music against the lyric confuse's me ?

Didn't The Smith's build an entire career around this format?

Great song,it lifts the album after imagine

I was thinking about jolly songs about gloomy subjects. I'm sure most of you remember 'Feel Like I'm Fixing To Die Rag (Next Stop Vietnam)' by Country Joe And The Fish? A jollier song about marching to certain death you'd be hard pushed to find.

And it's one, two, three, what are we fighting for
don't ask me I don't give a damn, next stop is Viet Nam
And it's five, six, seven, open up the pearly gates
ain't no time to wonder why, whoopee we're all gonna die

And of course The New Christy Minstrels - Three Wheels On My Wagon'! A chirpy little number about impending hair loss!

No wheels on my wagon,
So I’m not rolling along
The Cherokees captured me
They look mad, things look bad
But I’m singing a happy song

SPOKEN: “C’mon all you Cherokees sing along with me!”

I’m singing a higgity, haggity hoggety, high
Pioneers, they never say die
Half a mile up the road there’s a hidden cave
And we can watch those Cherokees
Go galloping by

They just don't write them like that anymore.

I can think of a few contempories (REM, The Smiths) but struggled with older ones. Some are a bit dodgy.
Stones - Mothers Little Helper.
CCR - Bad Moon Rising
CSNY - Ohio ????

I think  " Rocky Raccoon " and  " Don't Pass Me By " do a similar thing to  " Crippled Inside " they have that foot tapping music with a darker lyric ?

Quoted from DaveRam

I think  " Rocky Raccoon " and  " Don't Pass Me By " do a similar thing to  " Crippled Inside " they have that foot tapping music with a darker lyric ?

I see what you mean, but 'Crippled' and the Country Joe song that I mentioned have a very serious undertone, whereas 'Rocky' is just a funny story, and 'Don't Pass Me By' is Ringo trying to do a tongue in cheek country music style 'woe is me' song. He does it very well though, I love this lyric:

I'm sorry that I doubted you
I was so unfair
You were in a car crash
And you lost your hair

Priceless.

Quoted from DaveRam

Why is  " Crippled Inside "  such a  jolly song ? i never understood what John was trying to say with this song, surely this should sound more like Cold Turkey ?
But it skips along and just sounds so happy . Is it like you put on a brave face when your scared type of song ?

"Dear Paul - This one's for you! Love, John"


(BTW - Love the piano ... Nicky Hopkins?)

Quoted from alexis

"Dear Paul - This one's for you! Love, John"

Hmmm. Despite the company it keeps I've never regarded this as one of John's anti-Paul songs. In fact I've always thought of it more likely to be about himself, though its most likely a swipe at society at general.

Agree Kevin it's more autobiograhpical i think .

Quoted from DaveRam

Agree Kevin it's more autobiograhpical i think .

Because ... ?

Quoted from alexis

Because ... ?

While I can't give anything that proves this song is autobiographical, it's theme of someone happy on the outside but torn apart on the inside fits more with the way he perceieved himself (Help!, I'm Loser etc) than any complaints he had against Paul (which were more about his musical talents and straight laced attitude.)

Quoted from alexis

Because ... ?

Well now you know that your
Cat has nine lives babe
Nine lives to itself
But You only got one
And a dog's life ain't fun
Mamma take a look outside

As John was a cat lover , he makes this observation of his cat and then applies the verse to himself i think ?

Quoted from DaveRam

Well now you know that your
Cat has nine lives babe
Nine lives to itself

..number nine....number nine....number nine...

But seriously, while it may be just an observation of humanity in general, I can't see anything to indicate that it's about Paul.

I think its Arthur Janov psychotherapy gone rockabilly.

I think it's a commentary on hypocracy... but it was most likely spurred by his feelings towards Paul.. just like how do you sleep was later admitted to be about himself... especially lines like "you can comb your hair and look quite cute" he always seemed to attack Paul for being the cute one.

Quoted from Bungalow Bill

I think it's a commentary on hypocracy... but it was most likely spurred by his feelings towards Paul

I think you're right: it began as an attack on Paul before broadening out into a better song about hypocrisy. Too bad something similar didn't happen with "How Do You Sleep:" it remained an anti-Paul diatribe.