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{{Short description|1973 song by John Lennon}}
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{{Infobox song
{{Infobox song
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| studio =
| studio =
| venue =
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| genre = [[Rock music|Rock]]
| genre = [[Soft rock|Soft Rock]]
| length = 4:44
| length = 4:44
| label = [[Apple Records|Apple]]
| label = [[Apple Records|Apple]]
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"'''Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)'''" is a song written by [[John Lennon]] released on his 1973 album ''[[Mind Games (John Lennon album)|Mind Games]]''.<ref name="The_Beatles_Bible">{{cite web|title=John Lennon: Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)|publisher=The Beatles Bible|url=http://www.beatlesbible.com/people/john-lennon/songs/aisumasen-im-sorry/|accessdate=6 September 2011}}</ref> The song is included on the 1990 boxset ''[[Lennon (album)|Lennon]]''.
"'''Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)'''" is a song written by [[John Lennon]] released on his 1973 album ''[[Mind Games (John Lennon album)|Mind Games]]''.<ref name="The_Beatles_Bible">{{cite web|title=John Lennon: Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)|date=10 August 2010 |publisher=The Beatles Bible|url=http://www.beatlesbible.com/people/john-lennon/songs/aisumasen-im-sorry/|accessdate=6 September 2011}}</ref> The song is included on the 1990 box set ''[[Lennon (album)|Lennon]]''.


==Lyrics & music==
==Lyrics and music==
The song's lyrics have [[John Lennon|Lennon]] apologising to wife [[Yoko Ono]].<ref name=complete>{{cite book|title=The Complete Guide to the Music of John Lennon|author=Rogan, J.|author-link=Johnny Rogan|page=79|year=1997|publisher=Omnius Press|isbn=0-7119-5599-9}}</ref><ref name=night>{{cite book|title=John Lennon: Whatever Gets You Through the Night|author=du Noyer, P.|page=74|year=1999|publisher=Thunder's Mouth Press|isbn=1-56025-210-3}}</ref><ref name=words/> Aisumasen is a slightly corrupted version of the formal term ai sumimasen, which means "I'm sorry" in Japanese.<ref name=night/><ref name=words/> The line "It's hard enough I know to feel your own pain" reprises a theme found in a line from Lennon's earlier song "[[I Found Out]]."<ref name=complete/><ref name=words/> After the lyrics run out, a [[guitar solo]] is played.<ref name=words/> Authors Ken Bielen and Ben Urish interpret this solo as a continuation of the plea for forgiveness.<ref name=words/> The solo ends abruptly, which Bielen and Urish suggest that this abrupt ending symbolically means that Lennon's plea has been rejected.<ref name=words/> And in fact, by the time "Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)" was released, Lennon and Ono had separated.<ref name=words/> Author John Blaney agrees that the song implies that Lennon will not get the forgiveness and comfort he needs from Ono, and further states that the song reveals just how much he needed her.<ref name=blaney/>
The song's lyrics have [[John Lennon|Lennon]] apologising to wife [[Yoko Ono]].<ref name=complete>{{cite book|title=The Complete Guide to the Music of John Lennon|author=Rogan, J.|author-link=Johnny Rogan|page=79|year=1997|publisher=Omnius Press|isbn=0-7119-5599-9}}</ref><ref name=night>{{cite book|title=John Lennon: Whatever Gets You Through the Night|author=du Noyer, P.|page=74|year=1999|publisher=Thunder's Mouth Press|isbn=1-56025-210-3}}</ref><ref name=words/> Aisumasen is a slightly corrupted version of the formal term ai sumimasen, which means "I'm sorry" in Japanese.<ref name=night/><ref name=words/> The line "It's hard enough I know to feel your own pain" reprises a theme found in a line from Lennon's earlier song "[[I Found Out]]."<ref name=complete/><ref name=words/> After the lyrics run out, a [[guitar solo]] is played.<ref name=words/> Authors Ken Bielen and Ben Urish interpret this solo as a continuation of the plea for forgiveness.<ref name=words/> The solo ends abruptly, which Bielen and Urish suggest symbolises the rejection of Lennon's plea.<ref name=words/> In fact, by the time "Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)" was released, Lennon and Ono had separated.<ref name=words/> Author John Blaney agrees that the song implies that Lennon will not get the forgiveness and comfort he needs from Ono, and further states that the song reveals just how much he needed her.<ref name=blaney/>


"Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)" has some similarities to the [[Beatles]] song "[[I Want You (She's So Heavy)]]," which was also written by Lennon and inspired by Ono.<ref name=words/> Bielen and Urish claim that "Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)" has a similar rhythm to "a slowed down, semi-[[acoustic guitar|acoustic]] version" of "I Want You (She's So Heavy)."<ref name=words/> "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" also ends abruptly.<ref name=words/>
"Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)" has some similarities to [[the Beatles]] song "[[I Want You (She's So Heavy)]]," which was also written by Lennon and inspired by Ono.<ref name=words/> Bielen and Urish claim that "Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)" has a similar rhythm to "a slowed down, semi-[[acoustic guitar|acoustic]] version" of "I Want You (She's So Heavy)."<ref name=words/> "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" also ends abruptly.<ref name=words/>


Lennon had been working on the [[melody]] to "Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)" since at least 1971.<ref name=complete/><ref name=night/><ref name=blaney>{{cite book|title=Lennon and McCartney: together alone : a critical discography of their solo work|author=Blaney, J.|pages=81, 83|year=2007|publisher=Jawbone Press|isbn=978-1-906002-02-2}}</ref> A demo of the song was recorded during sessions for Lennon's ''[[Imagine (John Lennon album)|Imagine]]''.<ref name=Diary>{{cite book|editor1=Miles, Barry |editor2=Badman, Keith |title=The Beatles Diary After the Break-Up: 1970–2001 |year=2001 |publisher=Music Sales Group |location=London |isbn=978-0-7119-8307-6 |edition=reprint}}</ref> Originally, the melody belonged to song whose working title was "Call My Name.",<ref name=complete/><ref name=night/><ref name=JPGR>{{cite web|last=Calkin |first=Graham |url=http://www.jpgr.co.uk/pcs7165.html |title=Mind Games |publisher=Jpgr.co.uk |date= |accessdate=27 January 2013}}</ref> dating from a demo recorded in December 1971.<ref name=Diary/> In "Call My Name," Lennon was offering to comfort someone, but in the final version of the song Lennon is the one asking for forgiveness.<ref name=night/><ref name=blaney/> In "Call My Name," the melodic line that became "Aisumasen" was sung to the words "I'll ease your pain."<ref name=words>{{cite book|title=The Words and Music of John Lennon|author=Urish, B.|author2=Bielen, K.|name-list-style=amp|pages=49, 116|year=2007|publisher=Praeger|isbn=978-0-275-99180-7}}</ref>
Lennon had been working on the [[melody]] to "Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)" since at least 1971.<ref name=complete/><ref name=night/><ref name=blaney>{{cite book|title=Lennon and McCartney: together alone : a critical discography of their solo work|author=Blaney, J.|pages=81, 83|year=2007|publisher=Jawbone Press|isbn=978-1-906002-02-2}}</ref> A demo of the song was recorded during sessions for Lennon's ''[[Imagine (John Lennon album)|Imagine]]''.<ref name=Diary>{{cite book|editor1=Miles, Barry |editor2=Badman, Keith |title=The Beatles Diary After the Break-Up: 1970–2001 |year=2001 |publisher=Music Sales Group |location=London |isbn=978-0-7119-8307-6 |edition=reprint}}</ref> Originally, the melody belonged to a song whose working title was "Call My Name.",<ref name=complete/><ref name=night/><ref name=JPGR>{{cite web|last=Calkin |first=Graham |url=http://www.jpgr.co.uk/pcs7165.html |title=Mind Games |publisher=Jpgr.co.uk |accessdate=27 January 2013}}</ref> dating from a demo recorded in December 1971.<ref name=Diary/> In "Call My Name," Lennon was offering to comfort someone, but in the final version of the song Lennon is the one asking for forgiveness.<ref name=night/><ref name=blaney/> In "Call My Name," the melodic line that became "Aisumasen" was sung to the words "I'll ease your pain."<ref name=words>{{cite book|title=The Words and Music of John Lennon|author=Urish, B.|author2=Bielen, K.|name-list-style=amp|pages=49, 116|year=2007|publisher=Praeger|isbn=978-0-275-99180-7}}</ref>


==Reception==
==Reception==
Music critic [[Johnny Rogan]] finds the song to be "occasionally powerful" and feels it "brings some depth" to the ''Mind Games'' album.<ref name=complete/> Keith Spore of ''[[The Milwaukee Sentinel]]'' called the song "a lovely ballad" which serves as a reminder of Lennon's past brilliance.<ref>{{cite news|title=Beatles Reflected in Lennon Genius|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dM0wAAAAIBAJ&pg=5918,1568696&dq=tight-a+lennon&hl=en|author=Spore, K.|newspaper=[[The Milwaukee Sentinel]]|date=7 December 1973|page=25|accessdate=20 December 2012}}</ref> Bielen and Urish consider it to be one of ''Mind Games''{{'}} strongest songs, although they think it may have been even stronger had Lennon stuck to his original lyrical impulses of "Call My Name."<ref name=words/> [[PopMatters]] feels that the song starts out well, "like classic Lennon blues," but that Lennon "never finds the conviction to carry the song across the finish line."<ref>{{cite web|title=John Lennon 101 – Day 4: The Lost Weekend (1972–1973)|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/feature/133545-day-4-the-lost-weekend-1972-1973/P1|publisher=PopMatters.com|accessdate=7 January 2013}}</ref>
Music critic [[Johnny Rogan]] finds the song to be "occasionally powerful" and feels it "brings some depth" to the ''Mind Games'' album.<ref name=complete/> Keith Spore of ''[[The Milwaukee Sentinel]]'' called the song "a lovely ballad" which serves as a reminder of Lennon's past brilliance.<ref>{{cite news|title=Beatles Reflected in Lennon Genius|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dM0wAAAAIBAJ&pg=5918,1568696&dq=tight-a+lennon&hl=en|author=Spore, K.|newspaper=[[The Milwaukee Sentinel]]|date=7 December 1973|page=25|accessdate=20 December 2012}}</ref> Bielen and Urish consider it to be one of ''Mind Games''{{'}} strongest songs, although they think it may have been even stronger had Lennon stuck to his original lyrical impulses of "Call My Name."<ref name=words/> [[PopMatters]] feels that the song starts out well, "like classic Lennon blues," but that Lennon "never finds the conviction to carry the song across the finish line."<ref>{{cite web|title=John Lennon 101 – Day 4: The Lost Weekend (1972–1973)|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/feature/133545-day-4-the-lost-weekend-1972-1973/P1|publisher=PopMatters.com|accessdate=7 January 2013}}</ref>

''Ultimate Classic Rock'' critic Stephen Lewis rated "Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)" as Lennon's 8th greatest solo love song, saying that Lennon's [[falsetto]] singing of the line "All that I know is just what you tell me / All that I know is just what you show me" is a highlight of the song.<ref>{{cite web|title=Top 10 John Lennon Love Songs|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/john-lennon-love-songs/|author=Lewis, Stephen|accessdate=2023-01-08|date=20 March 2013|publisher=Ultimate Classic Rock}}</ref>


==Personnel==
==Personnel==
The musicians who performed on the original recording were as follows:<ref name="The_Beatles_Bible"/>{{better source needed|reason=source is a fan site|date=October 2020}}
The musicians who performed on the original recording were as follows:<ref name="The_Beatles_Bible"/><ref name=blaney/><ref name="MG 2024 bk">Booklet accompanying ''Mind Games'' reissue (Capitol Records, 2024).</ref>


*[[John Lennon]] – vocals, acoustic guitar
*[[John Lennon]] – vocals, acoustic guitar, tambourine
*[[David Spinozza]] – guitar
*[[David Spinozza]] – electric guitars
*[[Pete Kleinow]] – [[pedal steel guitar]]
*[[Pete Kleinow]] – [[pedal steel guitar]]
*[[Ken Ascher]] – keyboards
*[[Ken Ascher]] – pianos, organ
*[[Gordon Edwards (musician)|Gordon Edwards]] – bass guitar
*[[Gordon Edwards (bassist)|Gordon Edwards]] – bass guitar
*[[Jim Keltner]] – drums
*[[Jim Keltner]] – drums


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{MetroLyrics song|john-lennon|aisumasen-im-sorry}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider -->


{{John Lennon}}
{{John Lennon}}
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[[Category:John Lennon songs]]
[[Category:John Lennon songs]]
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[[Category:Songs about Yoko Ono]]
[[Category:Songs about Yoko Ono]]
[[Category:Rock ballads]]
[[Category:Rock ballads]]
[[Category:Plastic Ono Band songs]]

Latest revision as of 08:02, 30 October 2024

"Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)"
Song by John Lennon
from the album Mind Games
Released16 November 1973
RecordedJuly–August 1973
GenreSoft Rock
Length4:44
LabelApple
Songwriter(s)John Lennon
Producer(s)John Lennon
Mind Games track listing
12 tracks
Side one
  1. "Mind Games"
  2. "Tight A$"
  3. "Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)"
  4. "One Day (At a Time)"
  5. "Bring on the Lucie (Freeda Peeple)"
  6. "Nutopian International Anthem"
Side two
  2. "Intuition"
  3. "Out the Blue"
  4. "Only People"
  5. "I Know (I Know)"
  6. "You Are Here"
  7. "Meat City"

"Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)" is a song written by John Lennon released on his 1973 album Mind Games.[1] The song is included on the 1990 box set Lennon.

Lyrics and music

[edit]

The song's lyrics have Lennon apologising to wife Yoko Ono.[2][3][4] Aisumasen is a slightly corrupted version of the formal term ai sumimasen, which means "I'm sorry" in Japanese.[3][4] The line "It's hard enough I know to feel your own pain" reprises a theme found in a line from Lennon's earlier song "I Found Out."[2][4] After the lyrics run out, a guitar solo is played.[4] Authors Ken Bielen and Ben Urish interpret this solo as a continuation of the plea for forgiveness.[4] The solo ends abruptly, which Bielen and Urish suggest symbolises the rejection of Lennon's plea.[4] In fact, by the time "Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)" was released, Lennon and Ono had separated.[4] Author John Blaney agrees that the song implies that Lennon will not get the forgiveness and comfort he needs from Ono, and further states that the song reveals just how much he needed her.[5]

"Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)" has some similarities to the Beatles song "I Want You (She's So Heavy)," which was also written by Lennon and inspired by Ono.[4] Bielen and Urish claim that "Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)" has a similar rhythm to "a slowed down, semi-acoustic version" of "I Want You (She's So Heavy)."[4] "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" also ends abruptly.[4]

Lennon had been working on the melody to "Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)" since at least 1971.[2][3][5] A demo of the song was recorded during sessions for Lennon's Imagine.[6] Originally, the melody belonged to a song whose working title was "Call My Name.",[2][3][7] dating from a demo recorded in December 1971.[6] In "Call My Name," Lennon was offering to comfort someone, but in the final version of the song Lennon is the one asking for forgiveness.[3][5] In "Call My Name," the melodic line that became "Aisumasen" was sung to the words "I'll ease your pain."[4]

Reception

[edit]

Music critic Johnny Rogan finds the song to be "occasionally powerful" and feels it "brings some depth" to the Mind Games album.[2] Keith Spore of The Milwaukee Sentinel called the song "a lovely ballad" which serves as a reminder of Lennon's past brilliance.[8] Bielen and Urish consider it to be one of Mind Games' strongest songs, although they think it may have been even stronger had Lennon stuck to his original lyrical impulses of "Call My Name."[4] PopMatters feels that the song starts out well, "like classic Lennon blues," but that Lennon "never finds the conviction to carry the song across the finish line."[9]

Ultimate Classic Rock critic Stephen Lewis rated "Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)" as Lennon's 8th greatest solo love song, saying that Lennon's falsetto singing of the line "All that I know is just what you tell me / All that I know is just what you show me" is a highlight of the song.[10]

Personnel

[edit]

The musicians who performed on the original recording were as follows:[1][5][11]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "John Lennon: Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)". The Beatles Bible. 10 August 2010. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e Rogan, J. (1997). The Complete Guide to the Music of John Lennon. Omnius Press. p. 79. ISBN 0-7119-5599-9.
  3. ^ a b c d e du Noyer, P. (1999). John Lennon: Whatever Gets You Through the Night. Thunder's Mouth Press. p. 74. ISBN 1-56025-210-3.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Urish, B. & Bielen, K. (2007). The Words and Music of John Lennon. Praeger. pp. 49, 116. ISBN 978-0-275-99180-7.
  5. ^ a b c d Blaney, J. (2007). Lennon and McCartney: together alone : a critical discography of their solo work. Jawbone Press. pp. 81, 83. ISBN 978-1-906002-02-2.
  6. ^ a b Miles, Barry; Badman, Keith, eds. (2001). The Beatles Diary After the Break-Up: 1970–2001 (reprint ed.). London: Music Sales Group. ISBN 978-0-7119-8307-6.
  7. ^ Calkin, Graham. "Mind Games". Jpgr.co.uk. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  8. ^ Spore, K. (7 December 1973). "Beatles Reflected in Lennon Genius". The Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 25. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  9. ^ "John Lennon 101 – Day 4: The Lost Weekend (1972–1973)". PopMatters.com. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  10. ^ Lewis, Stephen (20 March 2013). "Top 10 John Lennon Love Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  11. ^ Booklet accompanying Mind Games reissue (Capitol Records, 2024).
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