The Beatles Bible - Topic: 'John' by Cynthia Lennon

LongHairedLady on 'John' by Cynthia Lennon

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 05:55:08 +0000

unknown said

She could be lying because it's embarrassing or blocked it from her memory or something, but she says in her book that was the only time he hit her.

So, although he was still verbally cutting and unkind, he was never again physically violent to me.

True, the brain can do that with traumatic memories.

unknown on 'John' by Cynthia Lennon

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 04:18:24 +0000

LongHairedLady said

unknown said

John was only physically violent towards Cynthia once, and she does talk about it in her book. They separated for three months because of it.

Just because she didn't talk about it in her book, doesn't mean it didn't happen. It's difficult to take the "truth" from only one source.

She could be lying because it's embarrassing or blocked it from her memory or something, but she says in her book that was the only time he hit her.

So, although he was still verbally cutting and unkind, he was never again physically violent ...

DrBeatle on 'John' by Cynthia Lennon

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 20:19:51 +0000

Funny Paper said
Thelma Pickles! What a name! That name could be a great Beatles song, one of those whimsical references!

I know, I remember when I first read that name years and years ago, I thought it was either a joke or a typo

Funny Paper on 'John' by Cynthia Lennon

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 19:52:48 +0000

Thelma Pickles! What a name! That name could be a great Beatles song, one of those whimsical references!

parlance on 'John' by Cynthia Lennon

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:24:46 +0000

DrBeatle said
Exactly. John's image has been whitewashed a lot by Yoko, especially since his death, and I'm sure Cynthia and Julian don't want to open a lot of old wounds. But chances are if he did it once, he did it more than once.

That's also my take on it.

Didn't Thelma Pickles (his girlfriend before Cynthia) claim he hit her, too?

Yes, she did.

parlance

DrBeatle on 'John' by Cynthia Lennon

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:17:37 +0000

Exactly. John's image has been whitewashed a lot by Yoko, especially since his death, and I'm sure Cynthia and Julian don't want to open a lot of old wounds. But chances are if he did it once, he did it more than once. Didn't Thelma Pickles (his girlfriend before Cynthia) claim he hit her, too?

LongHairedLady on 'John' by Cynthia Lennon

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:03:46 +0000

unknown said

John was only physically violent towards Cynthia once, and she does talk about it in her book. They separated for three months because of it.

I take from what John has said in interviews that there was most likely more than one occasion. Just because she didn't talk about it in her book, doesn't mean it didn't happen. It's difficult to take the "truth" from only one source.

DrBeatle on 'John' by Cynthia Lennon

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 23:41:47 +0000

the one mentioned in her book took place in the basement of the art building outside the ladies room.

parlance on 'John' by Cynthia Lennon

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 21:58:38 +0000

I wonder if there are more incidents than Cynthia admitted to. Hunter Davies' book notes an incident where a cleaning woman at the college caught John hitting Cynthia (it's refernced in the Wikipedia entry on Cynthia).

Edit: I found it - it's a quote from Cynthia in the Davies book (p. 53 of the 2009 edition). "Molly, the cleaning woman, once caught John hitting me, really clouting me. She said I was a silly girl to get mixed up with someone like that."

I suppose it could have been the same incident as the one in John? But she doesn't mention in ...

unknown on 'John' by Cynthia Lennon

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 20:09:43 +0000

Funny Paper said
Sorry, back on track: Someone in another thread said that John physically abused Cynthia. Is this true? And does Cynthia discuss this in her book(s)?

John was only physically violent towards Cynthia once, and she does talk about it in her book. They separated for three months because of it.

meanmistermustard on 'John' by Cynthia Lennon

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 19:40:33 +0000

Apologies for the misquote, got from an online transcript of the interview, the link is in my last post. And thanks to mja for correcting it.

mja6758 on 'John' by Cynthia Lennon

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 19:00:39 +0000

Funny Paper said

meanmistermustard said
During the Playboy interviews John was asked about the song Getting Better and replied

LENNON: It is a diary form of writing. All that "I used to be cruel to my woman, I beat her and kept her apart from the things that she loved" was me. I used to be cruel to my woman, and physically -- any woman. I was a hitter. I couldn't express myself and I hit. I fought men and I hit women. That is why I am always on about peace, you see. It is the most ...

Funny Paper on 'John' by Cynthia Lennon

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 17:54:45 +0000

meanmistermustard said
During the Playboy interviews John was asked about the song Getting Better and replied

LENNON: It is a diary form of writing. All that "I used to be cruel to my woman, I beat her and kept her apart from the things that she loved" was me. I used to be cruel to my woman, and physically -- any woman. I was a hitter. I couldn't express myself and I hit. I fought men and I hit women. That is why I am always on about peace, you see. It is the most violent people who go ...

meanmistermustard on 'John' by Cynthia Lennon

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 17:47:02 +0000

During the Playboy interviews John was asked about the song Getting Better and replied

LENNON: It is a diary form of writing. All that "I used to be cruel to my woman, I beat her and kept her apart from the things that she loved" was me. I used to be cruel to my woman, and physically -- any woman. I was a hitter. I couldn't express myself and I hit. I fought men and I hit women. That is why I am always on about peace, you see. It is the most violent people who go for love and ...

Funny Paper on 'John' by Cynthia Lennon

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 17:37:45 +0000

Sorry, back on track: Someone in another thread said that John physically abused Cynthia. Is this true? And does Cynthia discuss this in her book(s)?