Happy Mother’s Day, to all you mothers out there!

“Julia” was written and performed by John Lennon (although credited to Lennon-McCartney) on their 1968 album The Beatles, also known as the “white album.” If you’re familiar with the vinyl version of the album, you know it was the last song on side 2 of record 1. It was a song to his mother Julia, who was hit by a car and killed in 1958 when John was 17. There’s a very good video that explains the song in some detail, so I don’t feel the need to explain it beyond that. I will say, though, that John learned to fingerpick from Donovan and this is the first time he used it on a Beatles album. In turn, it was the song I learned to fingerpick from. Paul, who played fingerstyle earlier on the album for “Blackbird,” was impressed by John’s ability, saying that his friend had learned to do it properly.

The lyrics via AZLyrics

Half of what I say is meaningless
But I say it just to reach you, Julia

Julia, Julia, oceanchild, calls me
So I sing a song of love, Julia
Julia, seashell eyes, windy smile, calls me
So I sing a song of love, Julia

Her hair of floating sky is shimmering, glimmering
In the sun

Julia, Julia, morning moon, touch me
So I sing a song of love, Julia

When I cannot sing my heart
I can only speak my mind, Julia

Julia, sleeping sand, silent cloud, touch me
So I sing a song of love, Julia
Hum hum hum hum… calls me
So I sing a song of love for Julia, Julia, Julia

And that’s Song Lyrics Sunday for Mother’s Day, May 12, 2019.