Half of what I say is meaningless
But I say it just to reach you, Julia
[Verse 1]
Julia, Julia
Ocean child calls me
So I sing a song of love, Julia
[Verse 2]
Julia, seashell eyes
Windy smile calls me
So I sing a song of love, Julia
[Bridge]
Her hair of floating sky is shimmering
Glimmering in the sun
[Verse 3]
Julia, Julia
Morning moon, touch me
So I sing a song of love, Julia
[Intro Variant]
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
[Verse 5]
Hmm hmm hmm
Calls me
So I sing a song of love for Julia
[Outro]
Julia, Julia
About
A Lennon-penned love song that speaks simultaneously to his deceased mother and to his new love Yoko Ono.
Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters picked this song out as being one of his favourite Beatles songs.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
According to Donovan, he helped Lennon write the song when they were in India: “[Lennon] told me he wanted to write a song about his mother. He said, ‘Donovan, you’re the king of children’s songs. Can you help me? … I want to write a song about the childhood that I never really had with my mother.’ He asked me to help him with the images that he could use in lyrics for a song about this subject. So I said, ‘Well, when you think of the song, where do you imagine yourself?’ And John said, ‘I’m at a beach and I’m holding hands with my mother and we’re walking together.’ And I helped him with a couple of lines, ‘Seashell eyes / windy smile’ — for the Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland feel that John loved so much.”
- 3.Glass Onion
- 10.I’m So Tired
- 11.Blackbird
- 12.Piggies
- 13.Rocky Raccoon
- 14.Don’t Pass Me By
- 16.I Will
- 17.Julia
- 18.Birthday
- 19.Yer Blues
- 22.Sexy Sadie
- 23.Helter Skelter
- 24.Long, Long, Long
- 25.Revolution 1
- 26.Honey Pie
- 27.Savoy Truffle
- 28.Cry Baby Cry
- 29.Revolution 9
- 30.Good Night