7. John Lennon’s Mad Libs, Part 2
In the returned fan mail, Lennon filled out all twelve-word association exercises as well as responding to the question “Is there any advise that you can give the teenagers of today?” with an extremely cheeky “grow up!” His word association answers contain some pretty humorous and insightful commentary:
New York: great
Elvis: fat
Ringo: friend
Yoko: love
Howard Cosell: ham
George: lost
Bootlegs: good
Elton: nice
Paul: extraordinary
Bowie: thin
M.B.E.: shit
JOHN: great
Lennon’s reference to Elvis as fat and Howard Cosell as a ham are both quite funny. Referring to M.B.E., which is the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, an order of chivalry afforded to distinguished British citizens, says a great deal about his political views.
It is his commentary on the other members of The Beatles that is most poignant. Given the rancorous history of the break up of the band, it’s quite touching to see him refer to Paul McCartney as extraordinary and Ringo Starr as a friend. On the other hand, it’s sad to see him call George Harrison lost, which shows their feud, rumored to stem from jealousy, must have continued long after the break-up of the band.