Julia

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

(from Julia, The White Album, Lennon and McCartney, 1968)
From his early teens John Lennon grew increasingly close to his mother. Julia visited Mimi's house in Menlove Avenue most days. John also began to spend more time at Julia's house.

Like her son, Julia was full of energy and fun. She was also very musical. She taught John piano and banjo played Elvis Presley records. Mother and son sometimes danced around the kitchen. Julia even bought John his first guitar.

In 1955 George Smith died. John was sad and always spoke of his adopted father with affection. The following year he failed his exams and a year after that he met Paul. Then came the most traumatic event in his life.

Julia Dies


On the evening of 15 July 1958, Julia was returning from Mimi’s house. A drunk driver did not see her crossing the road. The force of the crash threw Julia into the air. She died immediately.

John never fully recovered from the death of his mother. It brought him closer to Paul, who had lost his own mother a few years earlier.

Later he said that he felt angry that he had ‘lost her twice’. He believed that many of his emotional problems came from this loss.

In memory of his mother Lennon, named his first son, Julian. Ten years after her death he recorded one of his most personal songs, Julia.


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