I remember, in 1980, being excited about Double Fantasy, a new record by John Lennon (1940-1980) and Yoko Ono, after Lennon had pretty much disappeared from the music industry a few years earlier.
Back then, I was a 20-year-old with a few circles of friends, a great job, and several relationships with women that would start and end within the space of a few years. It was a very full time in my life, with lots of excitement.
Looking for a song about hope today, “(Just Like) Starting Over” perfectly fits. It is an incredibly well-written, played, sung and produced piece of music. It carries such an air of positivity and hope, though it does so rather ironically: the album’s release was less than two months before Lennon’s assassination in New York, New York, USA, in December 1980.
“(Just Like) Starting Over” would be the last single released during the former Beatles member’s lifetime. I recall it receiving a lot of radio airplay before and after his death. Afterward, hearing this serenade to love was deeply poignant when thinking of the sudden loss suffered by his wife Yoko and his children, friends, and colleagues.
Our life together is so precious together,
We have grown – we have grown,
Although our love is still special,
Let’s take our chance and fly away somewhere alone,
It’s been so long since we took the time,
No-one’s to blame,
I know time flies so quickly,
But when I see you darling,
It’s like we both are falling in love again,
It’ll be just like starting over – starting over,
Every day we used to make it love,
Why can’t we be making love nice and easy,
It’s time to spread our wings and fly,
Don’t let another day go by my love,
It’ll be just like starting over – starting over,
Why don’t we take off alone,
Take a trip somewhere far, far away,
We’ll be together all alone again,
Like we used to in the early days,
Well, well, darling,
It’s been so long since we took the time,
No-one’s to blame,
I know time flies so quickly,
But when I see you darling,
It’s like we both are falling in love again,
It’ll be just like starting over – starting over,
Our life together is so precious together,
We have grown – we have grown,
Although our love is still special,
Let’s take a chance and fly away somewhere alone.
(“(Just Like) Starting Over,” by John Lennon.
Unofficial lyrics are courtesy of AZLyrics.com.)
The musicianship on the song is fabulous, particularly guitar work by Earl Slick and drumming by Andy Newmark. The two musicians collaborated with Lennon, David Bowie and Strange Advance (plus, Newmark also worked with Roxy Music).
On a day like today, when Manitoba recorded its highest-yet daily count of new cases of COVID-19, it’s essential to focus on positive, hopeful, life-giving moments. We’ll get through and thrive — with music.
Now you know a little about why this is my Song of the Day for Today. Thanks for joining me here, and please enjoy.
Here’s the video for the song from the official John Lennon YouTube channel:
Song of the Day for Today 
I remember the excitement when this album came out. This was back when the new record releases were listed in Saturday’s paper. My friends and I, as we did every Saturday, went to the record store to purchase our chosen record, or sometimes just single, of the week; my choice that week was Double Fantasy. I loved the album but to be honest I wasn’t that fond of (Just Like) Starting Over. I was sixteen at the time and in retrospect I believe I was too young to appreciate it then. Imagine was still my John Lennon song. As I grew older though this song began to resonate with me, and is now one of my favorite Lennon songs.
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Yes, there sure was excitement! My mid-70s record-shopping trips into the downtown were on Wednesdays… maybe that was a new release day, I don’t recall exactly. Most of my friends didn’t really buy records, so those were solo trips. Lonely but satisfying, if I discovered a new record or two. Have a great Friday, Stephen!
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