The Words and Songs of John Lennon: #7 / Sexy Sadie
Posted: Monday, May 23, 2011
by Kenny St.pierre
"Sexy Sadie what have you done.
You made a fool of everyone.
You made a fool of everyone.
Sexy Sadie ooh what have you done.
Sexy Sadie you broke the rules.
You laid it down for all to see.
You laid it down for all to see.
Sexy Sadie oooh you broke the rules.
One sunny day the world was waiting for a lover.
She came along to turn on everyone.
Sexy Sadie is the greatest of them all.
The world was waiting just for you.
The world was waiting just for you.
Sexy Sadie oooh how did you know.
Sexy Sadie you'll get yours yet.
However big you think you are.
However big you think you are.
Sexy Sadie oooh you'll get yours yet.
We gave her everything we owned just to sit at her table.
Just a smile would lighten everything.
Sexy Sadie she's the latest and the greatest of them all.
She made a fool of everyone.
Sexy Sadie
However big you think you are.
Sexy Sadie."
Because this song is much less personal for John Lennon and more to do with another, I will not break it down to it's essential parts to critique and interpret. This song needs no literary criticism since it recounts anecdotes rather than a world-wide message.
It is written about the Maharishi and John's apparent displeasure and disappointment with him. It was originally entitled "Maharishi," but George thought it was too straightforward, and suggested the name Sexy Sadie, a title that had been rolling around in George's head some time earlier. Lennon agreed for fear of being sued.
The legend implies that while the Beatles and their entourage, which included Mia Farrow, were doing drugs at the Maharishi's ashram, and when the guru learned of it he got upset and asked the Beatles to leave. But when the Beatles arrived back in the US, John Lennon gave an interview on the Johnny Carson show, accusing Maharishi of being a dirty old man. Lennon suspected the Maharishi of sexual assault on Mia Farrow, and implied the Maharishi had numerous expensive vehicles, money, and woman at his disposal. When The Beatles learned of this, they immediately went to the Maharishi, and Lennon announced they were all leaving. The Maharishi asked why? Lennon said, "If you're so cosmic, you'll know why." Lennon nicknamed the Maharishi "sexy" after his supposed encounter with Mia Farrow. Farrow's sister, Prudence, was also there, and her experience led Lennon to write "Dear Prudence."
In the original draft some of its lyrics were considered obscene, and had to be polished. But Sexy Sadie is the Maharishi, and that was the end of The Beatles / Maharishi relationship.
But many outsiders question the validity of Lennon's allegations. The rumor was that Maharishi had misbehaved with Mia Farrow, but some say Mia was asked about her encounter with him years later at an airport while taking a flight to India, and she said she still adored the Maharishi.
Also, it is written that George Harrison again met with the Maharishi and it was an emotional meeting. As Chopra tells it, Harrison first presented Maharishi a rose. This was followed by a long silence.
Then Maharishi asked, "How have you been?" George replied, "Some good things have happened, some bad things." Then he added, "You must know about John being assassinated." Maharishi replied, "I was very sorry to hear about it."
After some time, Harrison spoke. "I came to apologize."
"For what?" asked Maharishi.
"You know for what," replied Harrison.
"Tell Deepak the real story," said Maharishi.
Harrison said, "I don't know about it 100%, but here's what I know transpired." And he narrated the incident about the Beatles being asked to leave.
Did Maharishi harbor any bitterness towards the Beatles?
Chopra smiled. "Part of the Beatles lore is that when they made their first appearance on American TV, on the Ed Sullivan show, there was no crime in the US for that one hour."
Maharishi told us, 'When I heard this, I knew the Beatles were angels on earth. It doesn't matter what John said or did, I could never be upset with angels'. On hearing that, George broke down and wept.
There was another long silence. Then Harrison told Maharishi, "I love you" and Maharishi responded, "I love you too."
The two left, and Harrison later phoned Chopra and told him, "A huge karmic baggage has been lifted from me, because I didn't want to lie."
So the complexity of the situation is this. Two icons from two different hemispheres met. The Beatles were taking drugs and were asked to leave. John may have believed they were asked to leave because they knew about and disapproved of the Maharishi's actions toward Farrow. Did Mia Farrow's forgiveness and George Harrison's apology mean John was wrong, or were they trying hard not to destroy a symbolic man which many followed and looked up to? Or was Lennon upset at the Maharishi for the Beatles early dismissal?
"The song required 52 takes and a full day-and-a-half of studio time. Lennon spent much of his time cussing his way through the sessions, deeply hurt after coming to the conclusion that the Maharishi was not as holy as he'd hoped."
The song also confirmed Charles Manson's belief that the Beatles were talking directly to him, by virtue of one of his followers, Susan Atkins, who had been nicknamed Sadie Mae Glutz and would later strip to this song. Many of the tracks from The White Album (For example "Piggies") were interpreted by Manson as messages directed to him.
In the Anthology book when The Beatles were talking about Manson, John Lennon was quoted as saying, "All the other fellows had some 'influence' on Manson, but not me I didn't do nothing."
As you can see, during this time the Beatles influence included cult murderers and Gurus.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Wow. How convoluted and involved. Great stuff and I guess, gossip. I am sure the story is valid. Adds to the texture of it all, since I am a fan.
I had no idea. It's very interesting to learn the story behind the lyrics Kenny. Thanks.
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