"Love Is A Warm Gun" by Agosbeatle via DeviantArt
We’ve recently decided to cover The Beatles classic “Happiness is a warm gun” for the upcoming show at Dana Hills High school [flyer] This is by far my favorite Beatles song of all time. I would like to take a moment to explain why. There are several ways one can interpret the meaning of this song. Personally, I connect with this song on the following three:
1. Happiness is a warm gun, wherein the gun is your escape
John Lennon struggled with a severe heroin addiction for many years. We all have our vices, demons and skeletons. We all have unhealthy habits or addictions that we cling to in times of darkness. On Monday morning, how many people would you shoot if you didn’t get your coffee?
In a non-substance related angle, I can identify many instances in which I have resorted to ‘old’ thinking. By ‘old thinking’ I mean, operating in a mindset that correlates to your own consciousness at an earlier period in time. When we fall victim to this cognitive regression, we sink even deeper into the quagmire that is the catalyst for our current burden.
2. Happiness is a warm gun, wherein happiness is something you must work hard for (or, more figuratively: kill for)
John Lennon was cited as being inspired to write “Happiness…” after seeing the cover of a gun magazine that read specifically… “Happiness is a warm gun.” The following quote (via Wikipedia) will elaborate:
According to Lennon, the title came from the cover of a gun magazine that producer George Martin showed him: “I think he showed me a cover of a magazine that said ‘Happiness Is a Warm Gun.’ It was a gun magazine. I just thought it was a fantastic, insane thing to say. A warm gun means you just shot something.”[1]
Further analysis of the song’s lyrics within the context of this quote would imply that John was in fact stating that you must go to great length to attain ‘happiness’. However that may manifest is entirely up to you.
3. Happiness is a warn gun, as in John Lennon wants to bone Yoko Ono.
Well. Not much to say on that… you get the picture.
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Benny, this is a great post! Your thoughts on ‘old thinking’ were exactly what I needed to hear today. I have loved this song since I was a kid & I was surprised that this song has to many ways it can be interpreted. I always thought it meant that John Lennon wanted to bang the brakes off of Yoko.. LOL!
lol CLASSIC post, benny. Happiness is a Warm Gun has probably 10 more meanings as well.. but those are great.
I agree… gun is a euphemism and it being ‘warm’ reminds me of a special place men go when granted access… home plate.
also is for sure about drugs and heroine. as benny has stated. lol
but really though who doesn’t wanna bone yoko ono. (back then, not now)
i rest my case.
LMAO! A special place men go when granted access? Hahaha! Happiness is a Warm Vagina that Requires security clearance….