The Young John Lennon

The Young John Lennon ‘I lost my mother twice’ John Lennon was born in 1940, early in the Second World War. When he was a baby his father, Freddie Lennon, went away to sea. He never really came back.

A new biography of Lennon argues that Freddie always tried to do his best for his son. But Lennon remained angry at his father all his life After a few years John's mother, Julia, began living with another man.

Julia’s sister, John’s Aunt Mimi, did not approve. ‘You’re a married woman,’ she said. ‘It’s bad for the boy. He must come and live with me,’ she said.

Comfortable Aunt Mimi lived in a middle class suburb of Liverpool with her husband, George Smith. Their home was comfortable but strict. Aunt Mimi had many rules and high expectations.

In many ways George and Mimi good parents. George was always very kind to his adopted son. Mimi encouraged his artistic talent and bought him musical instruments.Mimi once said, ‘I never wanted children but I always wanted John.’

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In 1955 George Smith died. John was sad and always spoke of his adopted father with affection.

John loved and respected Mimi but he feared her, too.

At Julia's house From his early teens John Lennon grew increasingly close to his mother. Julia visited Mimi's house in Menlove Avenue most days. John also began to spend more time at Julia's house.

Like her son, Julia was full of energy and fun. She was also very musical. She taught John piano and banjo played Elvis Presley records. Mother and son sometimes danced around the kitchen.

Julia even bought John his first guitar.

The following year he failed his exams and a year after that he met Paul. Then came the most traumatic event in his life.

On the evening of 15 July 1958, Julia was returning from Mimi’s house. A drunk driver did not see her crossing the road.

The force of the crash threw Julia into the air. She died immediately.

Influence John never fully recovered from the death of his mother. It brought him closer to Paul, who had lost his own mother a few years earlier.

Later he said that he felt angry that he had ‘lost her twice’. He believed that many of his emotional problems came from this loss.

In memory of his mother Lennon, named his first son, Julian. Ten years after her death he recorded one of his most personal songs, Julia. © 2010 Kieran McGovern Reading/learning activities for this text here: More Beatles materials & activities here:

http://www.beatles.esllistening.org/

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