Thread: Reference To Lucid Dreaming In Beatles Song?

Hi,
The other day I was listening to Strawberry Fields Forever by The Beatles, and one line of the lyrics struck me as possibly refering to LDing. Here's the section of the song, with the line I'm talking about in bold:

No one I think is in my tree, I mean it must be high or low.
That is you can't you know tune in but it's all right, that is I think it's not too bad.
Let me take you down, 'cos I'm going to Strawberry Fields.
Nothing is real and nothing to get hungabout.
Strawberry Fields forever.

Always, no sometimes, think it's me, but you know I know when it's a dream.
I think I know I mean a 'Yes' but it's all wrong, that is I think I disagree.
Let me take you down, 'cos I'm going to Strawberry Fields.
Nothing is real and nothing to get hungabout.
Strawberry Fields forever.
Strawberry Fields forever.

"But you know I know when it's a dream" sounds like a lucid reference to me. Plus they keep saying 'Nothing is real and nothing to get hungabout'. Kind of describes the lucid experience. Could they be talking about LDing? I heard LDing was quite popular back in the 60's, but then again so was LSD, so they could just be talking about an acid trip or something. What's your take on it?


Adam

In 1969 when that song was written there was not yet anything called lucid dreaming.

My guess is that John Lennon was referring to his drug experiences.

Well there may or may not have been anything called "lucid dreaming". But let us assume for a second that there is no longer a term for what is commonly known as an apple. Just because it doesn't have a common name doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Also this is from Wikipedia:

"The first book on lucid dreams to recognize their uniqueness and scientific potential was Celia Green's 1968 study Lucid Dreams"

While I cannot vouch for the accuracy of that statement, if it is true it would seem the term came about before 1969. In the end though, Leo's explanation is equally plausible.

Originally Posted by Leo

In 1969 when that song was written there was not yet anything called lucid dreaming.

My guess is that John Lennon was referring to his drug experiences.
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Not? The term itself was invented before then, by some dutchman. Ok maybe not a single normal person knew about it. But even then, there can be LD naturals without even knowing what it is called.

However, it could indeed have been drugs.

Well still a nice song.

I though I heard a reference to Lucid Dreaming in a song by Led Zeppelin too. I just forgot what song and what they said =)

Totally agree with Leo about the drugs.

But

Agree with Leixor said too. Lucid dreaming was named just that 'recently'. Just because it wasn't classified prior to that doesn't mean that it didn't exist or that people weren't experiencing it.