This Is Like The Only Song Where ALL FOUR BEATLES SING

John: Uh, this is John Lennon talking to you from the heart of the West Side of New York in an interview exclusive — full interview — with brand new New Yorker Sean Ono Lennon, spelled S-E-A-N. Okay? Now tell me Sean, what’s your first impression of New York? Sean: [Baby noises] John: I see. 

An interview John did with his son, Sean, circa 1976. The Lennon family had just gained permanent residency in New York. Sean had been born October of the year prior. I apologize for the background music - I didn’t add that. My favorite quotes/partial transcript:

John: I was wondering if the fiscal crisis of New York had any — 

Sean: [Baby noises]

John: Uh-huh, that’s the one I was talking about, yes.

Sean: [Baby noises]

John: Exactly!

[…]

John: I see you know which subjects to avoid and which not to. Very sensible. Must be running for office, is that what it is?

Sean: [Baby noises]

John: It is exciting, isn’t it? And such a strain on the - on the old ticker. [Laughs]

[…]

John: Oh, he’s smiling, folks. 

John: [Very softly] Perhaps you’d like to tell me your favorite color?

Sean: [Baby noises]   

John: That’s not good enough, I’m afraid.

Sean: [Baby noises]   

John: [Normal voice] No interesting color.

[…]

John: Will you be doing any concerts while you’re staying - while you’re here?

Sean: [Baby noises] 

John: Yes, I thought so. You haven’t got the group together. I understand completely. 

Sean: [Baby noises] 

John: Uh, I heard you were backstage at the [Bob] Dylan concert, or was that just a rumor?

Sean: [Baby noises] 

John: An outright lie? My goodness.

[…]

John: I was wondering what it’s like being the son of such astoundingly famous, beautiful, and talented parents as John and Yoko? I wonder what it’s like… 

Sean: [Baby noises]

John: Oh, I see. I mean, could you - could you give me — 

Sean: [Slight cry]

John: Ah, mhmm, yes - more full… background into that?

Sean: [Baby noises] 

John: I see you’re very fascinated by this - this black box that I’m interviewing you with - this tape recorder. In fact, it seems to inhibit you a little bit. I mean, are you conscious - or self-conscious about the tape recorder?

Sean: [Baby noises] 

John: Well, he’s turned his head away because he got very paranoid [laugh]. It’s alright, you know. Just think of it as a very dark relative.

[…]

John: Elton! What about Elton [John]? He’s your godfather!

Sean: [Fussy baby noises]

John: Do you want to tell me how it is to have such a famous godfather?

Sean: [Begins to cry]

John: Well, I know you haven’t been able to see him yet. That’s because he can’t come into the country until January!

Sean: [Continues to cry]

John: Well, let’s just get him on the phone. Get his ass over here.

Sean: [Fussy baby noises]

John: Well, I think at that point we’ve left the interviewee because he obviously was getting violent at the thought of not seeing Dean Martin and all those people in their prime, as it were.

THE BEATLES being presented with an award from Radio Caroline Awards while on set filming for HELP!. Twickenham Film Studios, London, England. April 6th 1965.

GEORGE HARRISON and PAUL McCARTNEY in THE BEATLES: GET BACK (2021) dir. Peter Jackson

“At the beginning it was very hard, knowing that we were going in there to do this track with him. It was pretty emotional. He wasn’t there. I loved John. We had to imagine he’d just gone for a cup of tea, that he’s gone on holiday but he’s still here. That’s the only way I could get through it.”

Ringo Starr, The Beatles Anthology

Hey! I was wondering if there is actually any evidence for Paul Mc. actually really liking Two of Us -- everything I found was an Aidan Quinn interview in which he mentioned he met Paul and asked him if he liked it and he said yes. It's just that the way everyone says it, it makes it seem like he loved it, when in reality maybe he was just being nice? Is it a meme I am not aware of? Help.

Hi! :) The answer is yes, Paul does genuinely like Two of Us (2000)! I think he's been asked about it in a few interviews but the one I specifically remember was on the Adam Buxton podcast in 2020 (it's episode 144 around the 50 minute mark if you want to listen to it yourself). Here's what Paul said:

I did see [Two of Us] actually, yeah. And what was OK about that was that at the beginning of the film it said, you know, 'John and Paul met on such and such a date in New York and this is us imagining what might have happened.' It's pure fiction. They did it like a disclaimer at the front. So I thought, well, that's OK. 'Cause I can get into this. And I mean, I must say, I enjoyed it. I thought, 'I wish that had happened.' [Laughs] It didn't happen quite like that.

So yeah, basically Paul is an RPF understander and enjoyer. An open-minded king!

August, 1980: John talks to Playboy writer David Sheff about ‘If I Fell’.

JOHN: That’s my first attempt at a – at a ballad. Proper. That was the precursor to ‘In My Life’. It’s the same chord sequence as ‘In My Life’, but – just about ‘round D, and B minor, and E minor, those kind of – things. And uh, it’s… semi-autobiographical, but not that conscious, you know. It’s really about – it’s not about Cyn, my first wife. If I fell in love with you, would you promise to be true… I used to like intros like they had on forties songs, you know, that have a long intro, and then the song would start. So that’s all mine. The harmony’s Paul’s. […] So that shows that I wrote sentimental love ballads – silly love songs, as you call them – way back when.

Honestly, forget about India. I need to know in detail what occurred on that New York trip if we’re getting headlines from 1968 magazines like this:

the ending of Now and Then is identical to the ending of Wait

I'm going to END MYSELF

John Lennon noticing fans waving at The Beatles during the Rooftop Concert on January 30th, 1969

Brian Epstein watches The Beatles performing at the Washington Coliseum, 11th February 1964