McLennon

Source: interview with John Lennon from Hit Parader (1975).

"I've only heard that lately about Paul" - ok, so we have the proof that McLennon fandom existed even in the 70s <3

Also: I wonder if John was joking or not.

Mclennon flower shop au

Inspired by @javelinbk 's fic Double Fantasy

Eeek! I can’t believe it. How amazing is this Double Fantasy art? It’s so quiet and cozy, as if the shop has just shut and they’re both still finding excuses for Paul to stay and help out 🥰

Thank you @plummetingplume, I love it!

Once upon a time, ‘someone’ said they’d like to work in a flower shop. And then I said, “wouldn’t it be great to have a fic where John worked in a flower shop and Paul kept making up excuses to shop there”. And then that person said “please write it…”

… and so I did…

Double Fantasy

Happy Thanksgiving, @dumbcloud!

🌻🌼🌸🌺🌹💐

Second and final part is up!

… and now with a playlist!

Anyone else can’t now listen to House of the Rising Sun without adding this part?

Spin it on, Eddie Cochran and another lot of love for you (whatever you are)

Many pictures instead of many words.

John talking about Julian in 1975

So I call him and say, “Have you seen Sparks? Hitler on the piano?” and he says, “No. They are alright. But have you seen Queen?” and I say “What’s Queen?” and then he tells me. His age group is hipper to music … at 11 I was aware of music, but not too much.

Ron Mael (hitler on the piano) and Paul dressed as Ron Mael for the Coming Up video

— Paul McCartney, about McCartney II’s (1980) ‘Coming Up’. In The Lyrics (2021).

If you can think of a sexual connotation for something in a Paul song, I can guarantee he thought of it too.

The ONLY lyrical insight Paul provides into the song Coming Up in his book is re the phrase ‘coming up.’ He points out ‘coming’ has a sexual connotation. Then he goes on about how John liked it. And how when he was in New York he would ring John up and say (I quote) “Do you fancy a cup of tea?”

We’ll hear music everywhere 😭

An extract from 2010 podcast “American Masters: LENNONYC" featuring Jack Douglas* talking about plans John and Paul had to work together on Ringo’s “Stop and Smell the Roses”, slated to be recorded in early 1981. John also hoped that George would join them, despite being upset by [George’s] biography. (source) 

“My understanding was that, I mean, John and Paul… Paul was on board with John to do this Ringo record. That was set, according to John. […] They were going to do a Ringo album, it was gonna be the next he kept talking about. ‘It’s gonna be the boys! It’s gonna be the boys! That’s what we’re doing. Get ready to do this. It’s gonna be the boys!’ It was gonna be a Ringo album. Paul and John were writing material, a lot of it that John had written already. A lot of the material that ended on ‘Milk and Honey’. Some of it was slated to be going to Ringo**.” 

*Jack Douglas is an American producer who first worked with John in 1971 on “Imagine”. He also worked on “Double Fantasy” and was working on “Milk and Honey” before Lennon was murdered in 1980. 

**Ringo allegedly didn’t feel comfortable recording John’s songs after his death. Douglas is also the one who recently made Ringo listen to John’s Bermuda Tapes and the “Grow Old With Me” demo. Ringo covered the song for his new album, “What’s My Name”, with the help of Paul (who played the bass and did some vocals). (source)

would just like to remind everyone this is A Thing

The Beatles, Flowers, and Love

A white sport coat and a pink carnation I'm all dressed up for the dance A white sport coat and a pink carnation I'm all alone in romance

Once you told me long ago To the prom with me you'd go Now you've changed your mind it seems Someone else will hold my dreams

—A White Sports Coat (and A Pink Carnation)* (1957)

I send you flowers but you don't care You never seem to see me standing there I often wonder what you're thinking of I hope it's me and love love love

—Hello Little Girl (1957)

Follow her down to a bridge by a fountain Where rocking horse people eat marshmallow pies Everyone smiles as you drift past the flowers That grow so incredibly high

—Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds (1967)

Find me in my field of grass Mother Nature's son Swaying daisies, sing a lazy song Beneath the sun

—Mother Nature's Son (1968)

Songs that lingered on my lips excite me now And linger on my mind Leave your flowers at my door I'll leave them for the one who waits behind

—Goodbye (1968)

Some call it magic The search for the grail Love is the answer And you know that for sure Love is a flower You got to let it grow

—Mind Games (1970, 1973)

Sweep through the heather like deer in the glen Carry me back to the days I knew then Nights when we sang like a heavenly choir Of the life and the times of the Mull of Kintyre

—Mull of Kintyre (1977)

All through the summer, I have followed you around Bringing a rose for the winter that's coming Now the snow is on the ground... Love awake to the day When we can make our love awake

—Winter Rose/Love Awake (1978)

You want a love to last forever One that will never fade away I want to help you with your problem Stick around, I say Coming up, coming up, yeah Coming up like a flower Coming up, I say

—Coming Up (1979)

If you'll forgive me my little flower princess Never too late unless you can't forgive

Time is on our side Let's not waste another minute 'Cause I love you my little friend I really love you

Give me just one more chance And I'll show you, take up the dance Where we left off

—Forgive Me (My Little Flower Princess)** (1980)

After hours  Late in the bar  By a darkened corner seat  Faded flowers wait in the jar  Till the evening is complete 

—Take It Away (1981)

She sprinkles flowers in the dirt That's when a thrill becomes a hurt I know I'll never see her face She walks away from my resting place

That day is done, that day is done You know where I've gone I won't be coming back That day is done

—That Day Is Done (1988)

‘(Forgive Me) My Little Flower Princess’ was written during John Lennon’s stay in Bermuda, from June to July 1980, and recorded upon his return to the studio, on 14 August 1980. It wouldn’t be heard by the general public until 23 January 1984, on the posthumous album Milk And Honey.

The lyrics go as follows:

Overall, the song seems to strike the same apologetic tone previously expressed in ‘Jealous Guy’ (1971) and ‘I Know (I Know)’ (1973).

“The rest of my life I will thank you” gives a sense of gratitude for the other’s love and presence in his life, further explored in ‘Now And Then’ (1978). 

“Take up the dance where we left off” shows hope in a reconciliation that they have “the rest of our life” to experience, as found in ‘(Just Like) Starting Over’ (1980) and ‘Grow Old Along With Me’ (1980).

Nevertheless, this feeling that “time is on our side”  doesn’t take from the urgency to get together and “not waste another minute”, similarly dealt with in ‘Borrowed Time’ (1980) and ‘(Just Like) Starting Over’ (1980).

Regarding the endearments used during the song, we find the classical ‘little friend’, famously used by aunt Mimi in reference to Paul. (It is also worth noting that, tongue-in-cheek or not, in French ‘petit-ami’ means boyfriend). 

Also, the song is called ‘My Little Flower Princess’. It is known that Yoko Ono has reported hearing Paul being called ‘John’s princess’ around Apple.

But it’s John’s thing with flowers as a metaphor for love that fascinates me the most. 

Keep reading