How Do You Sleep?
John Lennon · Lennon - Signature Box [2010]
You better thru that mother's eyes,
Those freaks was right when they said you was dead,
The one mistake you made was in your head,
How do you sleep?
Ah how do you sleep at night?
You live with straights who tell you you was king,
Jump when your mamma tell you any thing,
The only thing you did was yesterday,
And since your gone you're just another day,
How do you sleep?
Ah how do you sleep at night?
A pretty face may last a year or two,
But pretty soon they'll see what you can do,
The sound you make is muzak to my ears,
You must have learnt something all thos years,
How do you Sleep?
Ah how do you sleep at night?
How Do You Sleep?
Released on 1971's Imagine, How Do You Sleep? stands as one of John Lennon's most biting and confrontational solo recordings. Written during a period of intense personal and professional friction, the track serves as a sharp critique of his former bandmate, Paul McCartney. The song is characterized by its aggressive tempo and Lennon's distinctive, often abrasive vocal delivery, which underscores the lyrical tension without relying on direct quotation. Musically, the recording features a driving rhythm section and prominent piano work that reflects the raw energy of Lennon's post-Beatles output. As a key song in his extensive solo discography, the song captures a pivotal moment in rock history where personal relationships directly influenced artistic expression, cementing its status as a definitive work within the Lennon catalogue.