Watching the Wheels
Encyclopedia
"Watching the Wheels" is a single by John Lennon
released posthumously in 1981 after his murder. It was the third and final single released from Lennon and Yoko Ono
's Double Fantasy
album, and reached #10 in the U.S and #30 in the UK.
In "Watching the Wheels" Lennon addresses those who were confounded by his "househusband" years, 1975-1980. During this period, he "retired" from the music industry to concentrate on raising his son Sean
with Yoko.
The song features a hammered dulcimer
accompanying the lead piano.
The B-side features Yoko's "Yes, I'm Your Angel."
The photograph on the cover was taken by Paul Goresh, a fan of Lennon who also took the infamous photo of Lennon signing a copy of Double Fantasy for his killer, Mark David Chapman
. Both photos were taken at the same place, in front of the Dakota
building, which was the site of his 1980 shooting. Later, Chapman was recorded in police custody reciting a line "People say I'm Crazy" from the song. This clip was used by the band EMF
for the track "Lies" on their 1991 album Schubert Dip
, though immediate protests from Yoko prompted the sample's removal on subsequent pressings.
The acoustic demo of "Watching the Wheels" is featured in the ending credits to the 2009 film Funny People
.
(1992), The Samples
(1997), Matisyahu
for the benefit album Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur
(2007), and Charly Garcia
under the name "Mirando las ruedas" for his album Kill Gil (2010).
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
released posthumously in 1981 after his murder. It was the third and final single released from Lennon and Yoko Ono
Yoko Ono
is a Japanese artist, musician, author and peace activist, known for her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking as well as her marriage to John Lennon...
's Double Fantasy
Double Fantasy
Double Fantasy is an album released by John Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, in 1980. Though initially poorly received, the album is notable for its association with Lennon's murder three weeks after its release, whereupon it become a worldwide commercial success, and went on to win the 1981 Album...
album, and reached #10 in the U.S and #30 in the UK.
In "Watching the Wheels" Lennon addresses those who were confounded by his "househusband" years, 1975-1980. During this period, he "retired" from the music industry to concentrate on raising his son Sean
Sean Lennon
is an American singer, songwriter, musician, guitarist and actor. He is the only child of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. His godfather is Sir Elton John.-Early life and education:...
with Yoko.
The song features a hammered dulcimer
Hammered dulcimer
The hammered dulcimer is a stringed musical instrument with the strings stretched over a trapezoidal sounding board. Typically, the hammered dulcimer is set on a stand, at an angle, before the musician, who holds small mallet hammers in each hand to strike the strings...
accompanying the lead piano.
The B-side features Yoko's "Yes, I'm Your Angel."
The photograph on the cover was taken by Paul Goresh, a fan of Lennon who also took the infamous photo of Lennon signing a copy of Double Fantasy for his killer, Mark David Chapman
Mark David Chapman
Mark David Chapman is an American prison inmate who murdered former Beatles member John Lennon on December 8, 1980. He committed the crime as Lennon and Yoko Ono were outside of The Dakota apartment building in New York City. Chapman aimed five shots at Lennon, hitting him four times in his back...
. Both photos were taken at the same place, in front of the Dakota
The Dakota
The Dakota, constructed from October 25, 1880 to October 27, 1884, is a co-op apartment building located on the northwest corner of 72nd Street and Central Park West in the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City...
building, which was the site of his 1980 shooting. Later, Chapman was recorded in police custody reciting a line "People say I'm Crazy" from the song. This clip was used by the band EMF
EMF (band)
EMF were an indie dance band from the United Kingdom. The band, from the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, came to prominence at the beginning of the 1990s. During its initial eight year run , EMF had released three studio albums and had gone on hiatus and reformed twice...
for the track "Lies" on their 1991 album Schubert Dip
Schubert Dip
Schubert Dip is the debut album by the rock band EMF, released in 1991 on Parlophone Records. The name is a pun on the name of the popular sweet Sherbet Dip and the 19th-century composer Franz Schubert.-Track listing:...
, though immediate protests from Yoko prompted the sample's removal on subsequent pressings.
The acoustic demo of "Watching the Wheels" is featured in the ending credits to the 2009 film Funny People
Funny People
Funny People is a 2009 American comedy-drama film written, co-produced and directed by Judd Apatow, and starring Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, and Leslie Mann. The film was released on 31 July 2009 in North America, and on 28 August 2009 in the United Kingdom. Funny People uses considerably more...
.
Cover versions
The song has been covered by Gwen GuthrieGwen Guthrie
Gwen Guthrie was an American singer-songwriter, who also sang backing vocals for Aretha Franklin, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, and Madonna, among others, and who wrote songs made famous by Ben E. King, and Roberta Flack....
(1992), The Samples
The Samples
The Samples were a band formed in Boulder, Colorado in early 1987. The band's name came from the members' early sustenance of food samples from the local King Soopers grocery store. The music has been described as "reggae influenced rock/pop" and a cross between The Police and the Grateful Dead...
(1997), Matisyahu
Matisyahu
Matthew Paul Miller , better known by his Hebrew name and stage name Matisyahu, is an American Hasidic Jewish reggae and alternative rock musician....
for the benefit album Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur
Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur
Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur is a compilation album of various artists covering songs of John Lennon to benefit Amnesty International's campaign to alleviate the crisis in Darfur...
(2007), and Charly Garcia
Charly García
Charly García is a singer-songwriter, pianist and keyboardist from Argentina with a long career in rock music, forming successful groups such as Sui Generis and Serú Girán, cult status groups like La Máquina de Hacer Pájaros, and as a solo musician.-Early years:Charly García was the eldest son in...
under the name "Mirando las ruedas" for his album Kill Gil (2010).