Meta Description: Discover the inspiration behind John Lennon’s “Across the Universe.” Explore how frustration, meditation, and a quest for higher consciousness shaped one of The Beatles’ most iconic songs.
As you drift off to sleep, your muscles relax, your breathing slows, and your mind begins to unwind from the day’s activities. While most people surrender to sleep, waking hours later refreshed by the morning light, creative minds like John Lennon often find that sleep is interrupted by bursts of inspiration. This restless creativity was the driving force behind one of The Beatles’ most iconic songs, “Across the Universe.”
Unlike many other Beatles tracks, “Across the Universe” emerged from a moment of frustration rather than a peaceful state of mind. The song’s genesis can be traced back to an evening when Lennon found himself irritated by something unrelated to music. As his first wife, Cynthia, voiced her thoughts, a series of words began to form in Lennon’s mind, almost like a prophecy. These words would later become the foundation of “Across the Universe,” a song that reflected not just the frustrations of the moment but a more profound connection to the universe’s symmetry and purpose.
The emotional spectrum Lennon navigated is as natural as drifting into sleep or feeling hunger. Frustration often gives way to grandeur, as evident in Lennon’s ability to transform his irritation into a cosmic composition. The opening lyrics capture this transformation: “Words are flowing out like / Endless rain into a paper cup / They slither wildly as they slip / Away across the universe.” These lines symbolize Lennon’s attempt to reconnect with the natural world, perhaps as a reaction to the turbulence he faced growing up and during his time at the peak of fame.
Lennon’s search for peace and higher consciousness was a recurring theme in his life, reflected in his study of Transcendental Meditation under Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. This spiritual journey is echoed in the refrain of “Across the Universe” with the hypnotic chant, “Jai Guru Deva Om.” For Lennon, these words were not just a mantra but a bridge between the physical world and a higher state of being. The phrase anchors the song’s meaning and underscores Lennon’s battle to break free from the constraints of the material world.
The potency of the lyrics and their reliance on abstract imagery give “Across the Universe” a weight that resonates with those on a quest for higher consciousness. The mantra, “Jai Guru Deva Om,” serves as both a grounding force and a reminder of the power of nature to guide one’s journey. This natural flow of lyrics, combined with the imagery of sleep and the visceral experience, is what Lennon described as “like being possessed; like a psychic or a medium.”
The song’s creation, occurring “in the middle of the bloody night,” also reflects Lennon’s approach to inspiration. “Across the Universe” may have emerged from an unsuspecting state, but its energy drew from Lennon’s creative subconscious, supported by his musical adeptness and personal experiences with trauma, meditation, psychedelics, and the search for otherworldly power.
