What is the Elton John song "Lucy in the sky with Diamonds" about?!
Question: The song was NOT about LSD, that is an urban legend.
According to an article in the Daily Mail on June 15, 2005, the "Lucy" who inspired this song was Lucy Richardson, who grew up to become a successful movie art director on films such as 2000's Chocolat and 2004's The Life And Death Of Peter Sellers. She died in June 2005 at the age of 47 of breast cancer. From the story:
"Lucy was a few years older than Julian Lennon when he enrolled at the private Heath House School, in Weybridge, Surrey. But because John Lennon and the other Beatles used to visit the Richardson family's antique and jewelry shop, she knew the little boy. So when he became homesick and unsettled she would be called out of class to sit with him while he drew pictures. One of these pictures was of Lucy.
Lucy's sister, Mary remembers 'One day John Lennon came into the shop and said, "Hello, Lucy in the sky with diamonds." We thought it was just John being John.' When a song with that name appeared on Sgt. Pepper, the Richardson family began to wonder. And when Lennon announced he had been inspired by his son's picture of a girl called Lucy, the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle came together.
It was in a 1975 interview that Lennon said 'Julian came in one day with a picture about a school friend of his named Lucy. He had sketched in some stars in the sky and called it Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds. Mary, who still runs the antiques shop recalls, 'It was then we realized why he had been calling our Lucy, Lucy in the sky.'
Lucy remembered the times when she would sit with Julian as he drew pictures. She was rather chuffed to realize she had inspired the song title, but was very modest about it: 'There was another girl called Lucy who thought the song was about her, but we always knew it was our Lucy.' Julian Lennon, has recollected his drawing in interviews: 'I obviously had an affection for Lucy at that age'" (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England
Answers: The song was NOT about LSD, that is an urban legend.
According to an article in the Daily Mail on June 15, 2005, the "Lucy" who inspired this song was Lucy Richardson, who grew up to become a successful movie art director on films such as 2000's Chocolat and 2004's The Life And Death Of Peter Sellers. She died in June 2005 at the age of 47 of breast cancer. From the story:
"Lucy was a few years older than Julian Lennon when he enrolled at the private Heath House School, in Weybridge, Surrey. But because John Lennon and the other Beatles used to visit the Richardson family's antique and jewelry shop, she knew the little boy. So when he became homesick and unsettled she would be called out of class to sit with him while he drew pictures. One of these pictures was of Lucy.
Lucy's sister, Mary remembers 'One day John Lennon came into the shop and said, "Hello, Lucy in the sky with diamonds." We thought it was just John being John.' When a song with that name appeared on Sgt. Pepper, the Richardson family began to wonder. And when Lennon announced he had been inspired by his son's picture of a girl called Lucy, the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle came together.
It was in a 1975 interview that Lennon said 'Julian came in one day with a picture about a school friend of his named Lucy. He had sketched in some stars in the sky and called it Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds. Mary, who still runs the antiques shop recalls, 'It was then we realized why he had been calling our Lucy, Lucy in the sky.'
Lucy remembered the times when she would sit with Julian as he drew pictures. She was rather chuffed to realize she had inspired the song title, but was very modest about it: 'There was another girl called Lucy who thought the song was about her, but we always knew it was our Lucy.' Julian Lennon, has recollected his drawing in interviews: 'I obviously had an affection for Lucy at that age'" (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England
Probably the same thing that "lucy in the sky with diamonds" is about that is done by the Beatles.
Beatles song you mean...it's about drugs and hallucinations
it's in the song title L.S.D
John Lennon is rolling in his grave, LOL!
He wrote it while in The Beatles, not Elton John, whose version came out in the 70s (the original is from 1967.)
There is Lennon's own story about what it means:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_in_the...
(There really was such a drawing, apparently - Ringo Starr claimed to have seen it.)
And a theory that it's about drugs:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_in_the...
"We never noticed the L.S.D. initials until it was pointed out later, by which point people didn't believe us." - Paul McCartney
Make up your own mind.
My own theory, knowing Lennon's sense of humour, is that the song is not quite as innocent as it appears : )
It's a well-covered song:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_in_the...
The William Shatner version once made it to a list of worst cover versions of all time!
OH NO! It's a Beatles song. There were those who said the title came down to LSD, but that was the late 60s when the only thing scarier than a communist was a hippie.
Apparently his son drew a picture of a girl named lucy and put diamonds in the sky. As simple as that apparently.
Its the Beatles love not Elton John!!! Some have said its about what happens when you hallucinate on drugs!
i dont know what either was thinking but the story is that John wrote it after seeing a picture Julian drew in grade school and was told by Julian that it was called Lucy in the Sky w/ Diamonds
Grrrr! Beatles song, not elton john!
It is in the title LSD, tripping!
As many people have pointed out, it was originally a Beatles song, as Lennon and McCartney did inded write it. However, Elton's version is (GASP!) better than the original. One of the very few times a cover is superior to the original.
I've heard stories and read articles supporting both. Elton has said that it is about LSD.
"Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" was written by John Lennon & Paul McCartney. Was recorded by The Beatles in 1967.
Elton did a cover version, a non-album single (MCA 40344) in which John Lennon did guitar and backing vocals on (credited as "featuring the Reggae guitars of Dr. Winston O'Boogie")
Elton's version can be found on Elton John's Greatest Hits Volume II (MCA 3027), To Be Continued... (MCA 4-10110) and Rocket Man - Number Ones (Mercury / Island / Rocket B0008661-02).
The live performance with Elton John & John Lennon took place on Thanksgiving 1974. This would be John Lennon's final stage appearance. This performance is available on Elton's Here And There (remastered, Rocket B000001EGG).