The story of how John Lennon’s Beatles demo Child of Nature became Jealous Guy

Posted on by Hallgeir Olsen

During the Beatles’ stay in Rishikesh in 1968 studying transcendental meditation under the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the members of the fab four wrote ca. 30 songs. It was a creative boost.

A lot of them ended up on “the white album”.

Lennon wrote “Julia,” “Dear Prudence,” “Sexy Sadie,” and more. McCartney wrote “Rocky Raccoon,” “Why Don’t We Do It in the Road,” and “Back in the U.S.S.R,” among them. Harrison wrote “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” “Sour Milk Sea,”and a few others.

The period was so productive that John Lennon and Paul McCartney each wrote a song following the same lecture by the Maharishi.

Paul wrote Mother’s Nature Son (that ended up on “the white album”), John wrote the song Child of Nature ( or I’m just a child of nature that it was called first). John’s song did not end up on any Beatles albums, but was part of the so called Esher demos:

Maybe one song describing the same connection to nature was enough, as both songs’ lyrics describe individuals experiencing the environment around them, the sensation, the sights and sounds. The titles of the songs are also very similar.

Did you recognise the melody?  Yes, it’s Jealous Guy, exactly the same melody but with completely different lyrics.

From the Get Back sessions, John and George :

Child of Nature (lyrics):

On the road to Rishikesh
I was dreaming more or less
And the dream I had was true
Yes, the dream I had was true

I’m just a child of nature
I don’t need much to set me free
I’m just child of nature
I’m one of nature’s children

Sunlight shining in your eyes
As I face the desert skies
And my thoughts return to home
Yes, my thoughts return to home

I’m just a child of nature
I don’t need much to set me free
I’m just a child of nature
I’m one nature’s children

Underneath the mountain ranges
Where the wind that never changes
Touch the windows of my soul
Touch the windows of my soul

I’m just a child of nature
I don’t need much to set me free
I’m just a child of nature
I’m one of nature’s children

John Lennon – Jealous Guy (Recording of the Imagine album in 1971) a great piece of music history!:

“The lyrics explain themselves clearly: I was a very jealous, possessive guy, a very insecure male. A guy who want to put his woman in a little box, lock her up, and just bring her out when he feels like playing with her.”
– John Lennon, 1980, All We Are Saying by David Sheff

“He used to say, ‘Everyone is on the McCartney bandwagon.’ He wrote ‘I’m Just a Jealous Guy,’ and he said that the song was about me. So I think it was just some kind of jealousy.”
– Paul McCartney, 1985,  to Playgirl Magazine

 

No matter who it is about, it’s a very “dark”, highly confessional and remorseful song with a vey sweet melody. It seems that Yoko Ono “tamed” Lennon and he put all his remorse into the new lyrics and in so making a classic song out of an old unfinished tune.

 

“I used to be cruel to my woman, I beat her and kept her apart from the things that she loved’ was me. I used to be cruel to my woman, and physically… any woman. I was a hitter. I couldn’t express myself and I hit. I fought men and I hit women. That is why I am always on about peace, you see. It is the most violent people who go for love and peace. Everything’s the opposite. But I sincerely believe in love and peace. I am a violent man who has learned not to be violent and regrets his violence. I will have to be a lot older before I can face in public how I treated women as a youngster.”
– John Lennon 1980, Playboy Magazine

 

John Lennon – Jealous Guy (lyrics):

I was dreamin’ of the past
And my heart was beating fast
I began to lose control
I began to lose controlI didn’t mean to hurt you
I’m sorry that I made you cry
Oh no, I didn’t want to hurt you
I’m just a jealous guy

I was feeling insecure
You might not love me anymore
I was shivering inside
I was shivering inside

Oh, I didn’t mean to hurt you
I’m sorry that I made you cry
Oh no, I didn’t want to hurt you
I’m just a jealous guy

I didn’t mean to hurt you
I’m sorry that I made you cry
Oh no, I didn’t want to hurt you
I’m just a jealous guy

I was trying to catch your eyes
Thought that you was trying to hide
I was swallowing my pain
I was swallowing my pain

I didn’t mean to hurt you
I’m sorry that I made you cry
Oh no, I didn’t want to hurt you
I’m just a jealous guy, watch out
I’m just a jealous guy, look out, babe
I’m just a jealous guy

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