Comments on: Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)

By: Mr. Kite

Mr. Kite — Tue, 26 Mar 2019 21:06:08 +0000

Maybe John was just saying that he lit up a joint?

By: Mr. Kite

Mr. Kite — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 19:52:07 +0000

I think you’re right about a joint being lit up.

By: Andy

Andy — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 20:02:02 +0000

Why couldn’t it mean both? The bed and the dope? As well as the woman’s purported heritage and an erection?
Quadruple entendre! Check this out as an example of double entendre wit in one of their previous songs: Please Please Me, like I pleased you last night, could be about giving oral sex to an Beatle after he did her the night before

By: Andy

Andy — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 19:54:21 +0000

I just saw this, but that’s hilarious! How bout this: Sugar Ray redoes it as a mashup with his song, Every Morning; Stating: Norwegian Wood, Isn’t it good? You know I wanna do it again (on her four post Norwegian bed).

By: Sarah Grey

Sarah Grey — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 13:00:42 +0000

Hi all. Long time Beatles fan here. I heard the song as a teen in the mid 80s and immediately thought that it was about setting the apartment on fire and how well the Norwegian wood burns. I didn’t know then about the cheap panelling decor but I generally understood the rest of the song. It is a dark-themed song and seems the kind of thing John Lennon would have written, though to what extent each L and Mc had a hand in it seems debatable. Thanks for pointing out the “she once had me” meaning, as I didn’t realise what that bit meant until now! I found all your different interpretations really interesting too.

By: Virginia Abreu de Paula

Virginia Abreu de Paula — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 21:07:23 +0000

I also thought about a fireplace. It never occurred to me it could be a crime. Now I know that was the idea I feel very disappointed. Somehow I think Paul, again, is telling a lie because he doesn’t want people to know the truth. I hope so. Because it ruined the song for me.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Sat, 21 Jul 2018 04:31:06 +0000

I think when asked about the meanings of their songs the Beatles were prone to making stuff up: Lennon because he was snarky, McCartney because he was stoned. Imo, the lyrics are about a guy who thought he was going to get lucky, but didn’t. It got too late (2:00 a.m.) and the woman told him she had to go to sleep because she had to work in the morning. Hence, the opening line: “I once had a girl or should I say she once had me.” In that line, the word “had” is used in two opposing senses: (1) vulgar slang for a sexual conquest, or so the guy was hoping, (2) informal for being deceived or “led on.” It was the inspiring line of the song, and it contains irony. As for the song title, it seems to explain itself. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown). Grammatically speaking, the word “this” should be a reference to the antecedent, “Norwegian Wood.” The girl was Scandinavian, he found her attractive, but she got away. End of story.

By: Joe Cogan

Joe Cogan — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 17:00:57 +0000

I’m pretty sure the line is “crawled *off* to sleep in the bath”.

By: Chris LeGate

Chris LeGate — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 15:54:53 +0000

I’m speculating that John was having “performance problems” and was unable When he woke up he had Norwegian (morning) Wood and pleasured himself in the tub. “Chasing the bird” is a reference in the Kuma Satra, but that’s a stretch.

By: Teddy Salad

Teddy Salad — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 15:55:12 +0000

I’m not completely convinced that the line is “So I lit ‘a’ fire” instead of “So I lit ‘the’ fire.” I have always heard “the,” though I know lyric sources say “a,” and I have always seen this fire in the fireplace. “The” positively puts it in the fireplace, though “a” doesn’t necessarily eliminate it. Also, did anyone besides Paul say it was about arson?

By: Teddy Salad

Teddy Salad — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 13:50:17 +0000

I think the timing of Lennon’s comments is telling. In 1970, when he obviously felt acrimonious toward McCartney, he gave Paul partial credit. Ten years later, when they were said to be on “good terms’ again, he says it was his song completely. I believe the first comment because of the rift and thinking he would give Paul the least credit at that time. I think the 1980 comment is a result of his poor memory or perhaps wanting to claim more credit for one of his songs he actually felt good about. I think Paul’s claim of such a significant contribution is apocryphal.

By: Neil Burg

Neil Burg — Wed, 31 May 2017 03:28:51 +0000

Ok, so, I distinctly remember reading “somewhere”, that John Lennon was conversing with Brian Epstein about Norwegian Wood, and John wanted to call the song “I Knew She Would”, and I know I read that, and I didn’t dream it, and I can’t find it again anywhere. Brian was against it. Can anyone help? Thanks!

By: Eileen Eulich

Eileen Eulich — Mon, 01 May 2017 06:52:27 +0000

Lol. So you’re just making up lyrics to fit your idea? Nobody is disputing the fact that the song goes “I once had a girl, or should say, she once had me”. Don’t you see the play on words? I wanted a girl doesn’t even work here. You’re funny.

By: Eileen Eulich

Eileen Eulich — Mon, 01 May 2017 05:59:26 +0000

Lol. I like how you think you can question the recording logs that Martin and EMI were meticulous about.keeping.

By: Eileen Eulich

Eileen Eulich — Mon, 01 May 2017 05:55:24 +0000

George Martin didn’t know a thing about what was going on outside of the studio (including the source of lyrics). The band considered him an authority/paternal figure, and it’s totally unlikely that John would have had this conversation at all, let alone with Martin.

By: jimmy wayne

jimmy wayne — Sat, 18 Feb 2017 18:14:10 +0000

re: the fire at the end: knowing paul, especially his need to be “cutting edge” and hip, i wouldn’t doubt he heard that interpretation (i.e. burning down the flat) years later and decided to make it sound as if it were his original idea/intention. i’m only speculating of course, but his version of the “fire” (as described in his book) just doesn’t ring true to me.

By: Paul Costanza

Paul Costanza — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 16:18:23 +0000

Anything Paul said after John’s death (and once Paul’s “Reclamation Of His Beatle Legacy” tour began) must be taken with several truckloads of salt.

By: Finbar Saunders

Finbar Saunders — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 21:20:25 +0000

I figured out the meaning – exactly as Sir Paul says it – after one listen many, many years ago. Great song that highlights the band’s sense of humor.

By: John Yuma

John Yuma — Sat, 20 Aug 2016 04:12:09 +0000

Easily one of John’s or the Beatles best songs. I think that John was just word playing with us in this one trying to be sophisticated about an affair as he says. The melody is just so tight and the structure of the song is perfection. How I miss these guys and those times so long ago.

By: Gregory

Gregory — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 21:23:50 +0000

“I once had a girl, or should I say she once had me” could be referring to his mom. I read in a book on John that he once spoke about lying in bed with his mom as a young teen and “wondering what to do next”