Talk:Happiness Is a Warm Gun
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Suicide?
I always thought this song was about suicide. John Lennon said that if he wanted to right a song about drugs it would be about drugs. The fix they are referring to is the an escape from the life or "abyss" they were talking about during the first verse. Toward the end of the song when the author sings, "When I hold you in my arms/And I feel my finger on your trigger/I know nobody can do me no harm/Because happiness is a warm gun, momma" the author is obviously personifying the gun that he or she is considering shooting himself or herself with.
Where is the information about the song's meaning one the page now from? It seams to me like it is an individuals opinion. This seems like individual research. -Thomas
If it is, it's fairly common. We were just talking about this song at the bar, and someone brought up the Yoko component; I had always assumed it was part of it too. 24.89.213.42 22:46, 12 September 2006 (UTC)
If a body listens to the "out takes" and "demos" John clearly sings about Yoko: Yoko Ono/ oh no? oh yes. So the song is in part about Yoko and the possible break up of the band. It was clearly documented at the time and recently shown on History Channel's Beatles Special that reporters were asking if "this was the last Beatles' album?" which the band denied. Considering the mental state of the band, drugs and suicide as an escape from the bickering and stress of public life, is acceptable, but without any real intention to do so. Remember, John just wanted it all to be over by that point, and Paul was already thinking of what he was going to do next. All of this is clearly documented in the Beatles books written by or about them.
Things I'd like to know are: "Mother Superior" because of the length of her habit? and the National Trust as slang for a toilet? Anyone have any information on that? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.113.49.126 (talk) 18:02, 20 December 2009 (UTC)
Disputed Inspiration
The section on the song's inspirations seems to be totally based on the writer's interpretation and speculation, not on actual fact. The Beatles Anthology has John saying that the title comes from a magazine cover that read "Happiness is a warm gun." I remember nothing about pacifism or American culture.
Web address store
I have moved this here as it was not working.
Then it started again, so I put it back! (RJP 20:52, 27 September 2005 (UTC))
Vocals
Does Lennon sing the entire song? I always assumed the screaming at the end was McCartney, but wasn't sure. Wanted to make sure before i changed anything.
This song had a long-standing record for being my least favourite Beatles song, but I recently decided I love it! This song rocks! --Ian911299
No, John sings the entire song. Paul sings with John towards the middle of the song, but Paul never does a solo. The 'screaming' at the end is John again by himself.
And I agree, this song rocks. I think its the best song on the album.-12/30/06
Capitals
Could someone owning the album please check whether they use capitals or not? Thanks. --217.235.229.14
- On my version, the "is" is not capitalized (Happiness is a Warm Gun). The information from WMP capitalizes it, though (as in the current artcile title). - LeaHazel 12:46, 30 August 2006 (UTC)
Yoko Oh No Section
Should the "Yoko Oh No" Section from Anthology 3 perhaps be mentioned here? It might help display further proof as to the songs relationship to Yoko.
Paul's Favourite Song?
When did Paul say that this is his favourite song on the album? -Vladimir Lenin 17:04, 18 August 2006 (UTC)
- Check The Love You Make: An Insider's Story of The Beatles by Peter Brown; my edition has it on page 315, but check the index on the edition you have for "The White Album". According to that, it's his favorite song on the album due to the fact that all four of them collaborated on it just like old times. agahnim 21:33, 22 January 2009 (UTC)
Heroin Use?
If you ask me this song is about Heroin and John's use of it.
Then it's a good thing your opinion can't be written into the article.
John denied that the song was about heroin. He was open about his drug use, so there was no reason for him to lie.-12/30/06
Source? The song is clearly about Heroin to me.... come on, so many other beatles songs are about drug use... fixin a hole, got to get you into my life, Dr. Robert, Glass Onion, and I won't even say Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.159.192.132 (talk) 01:19, 22 January 2009 (UTC)
- It's as much a song about heroin as it is about anything else. There's really no evidence for it being about heroin other than a million conspiracy websites without citations. Read the books about the Beatles; John and the others have always said that it was inspired by a magazine quote—"Happiness is a Warm Gun in Your Hand"—and by most accounts, John was just shocked that someone could be happy from firing a gun. You'll read arguments along the lines of "Yeah, well, that means you just shot something, just like you shoot up heroin!", but if John was ever shooting up it wasn't for years later, post-Beatles, and therefore that theory holds no ground. Even so, he and Yoko both said they never shot up—though Yoko has since contradicted this occasionally. A few other songs being about drugs doesn't mean that this one is about drugs. Now go away. agahnim 21:20, 22 January 2009 (UTC)
- Even if John wasn't shooting up, it's general knowledge that that's how you do it. I've never shot up, but I know that's how it's done. Paul recently came out as saying, "Yes we were on drugs, and yes the songs are about drugs." At his age, and being one of only two Beatles left, richer than hell, and a knight to boot, he doesn't have anything to lose NOW as opposed to admitting the truth THEN. If he'd said, yeah we're on drugs THEN, he'd never be who he is NOW. Remember the FBI was keeping tabs on John up until he was shot mostly because he'd been giving money, aid and support to the IRA who were killing Brits at the time. Think Paul wanted that kind of attention?
Fair use rationale for Image:The White Album.jpg
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Warm gun & female sexual organ
For decades I've believed warm gun in this song meant female sexual organ. Have I been misled? Nurg (talk) 04:33, 18 December 2007 (UTC)
I always thought it was a metaphor for masturbation71.171.46.243 (talk) 12:21, 28 January 2008 (UTC)
Instruments
A tuba can also be heard: [1]
Tambourine and organ also: [2]
Helpsloose 19:12, 29 May 2008 (UTC)
Radiohead trivia
The piece of Radiohead trivia seems slightly out of place in this article. It's a widely-known piece of information, but belongs in the Paranoid Android article not this one. Perhaps a more general comment about the influence on multi-part rock songs. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 87.112.234.78 (talk) 18:33, 24 January 2009 (UTC)
Structure?
Where is the source for this entire paragraph?
One of the most salient musical features of the song is its frequent shifts in meter. Beginning in 2/4 time, the song shifts to 3/4 time on "which he gave and donated to the national trust" and to 6/8 time for the guitar solo in the "I need a fix..." section. This gives way to 6/8, 3/4, and 4/4 measures in the "Mother Superior..." section before returning to 4/4 for the majority of the doo-wop style ending. During Lennon's spoken-word interlude, the song briefly switches into 6/4. The spoken word section has its roots in the song later on the album "I'm So Tired" because, exhibited in the song's home demo, is a spoken word section in 6/4 time that is almost exactly like the one in "Happiness is a Warm Gun."
First of all, the time signatures seem way off, the "national trust" section is not in 3/4 (try and count it out), and the lyric is "which he ate" not "which he gave". Where did this come from?70.91.35.27 (talk) 20:50, 11 February 2009 (UTC)Tim
- Tagged with original research template. If nothing sources can be found for this, it'll have to go. Cycle~ (talk) 21:00, 21 February 2009 (UTC)
Meter gibberish
The third paragraph of the "Structure" section doesn't make much sense. To my ear, the song doesn't begin in 6/4, but rather in 4/4. (She's not... a girl... who misses much...) I'm not a music expert, so just wondering. Turbokoala (talk) 18:21, 23 April 2009 (UTC)
Other Uses
What is this nonsense about the title being spelled "Hapiness" on Rarities Vol. 1? There is no Beatles album entitled Rarities Vol. 1 and "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" wouldn't belong there anyway. There is a version of "Happiness" on Anthology 3 but the title is not misspelled. How about we just delete the whole sentence? Signinstranger (talk) 23:31, 24 September 2009 (UTC)
Infobox - Genre
What is up with the genres linked in the infobox... Hard Rock and Doo Wop?? Am I the only one that thinks that neither of those are particularly appropriate? --Entoaggie09 (talk) 22:37, 1 December 2009 (UTC)