Look at Me (John Lennon song)

"Look at Me"
Cover of the 2021 remix
Song by John Lennon
from the album John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
Released	11 December 1970
Recorded	26 September – 23 October 1970
Genre	Folk
Length	2:54
Label	Apple Records
Songwriter(s)	John Lennon
Producer(s)	John Lennon Yoko Ono Phil Spector

"Look at Me" is a song written and performed by John Lennon, from his debut solo album John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band.

Writing

John Lennon began writing "Look at Me" in India in 1968, during the extended sessions for The Beatles' self-titled double album, also known as "The White Album". He then shelved the song until 1970, when he recorded it for his debut solo album John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band.[1] A different recording of the song was later released on the John Lennon Anthology and the compilation album Acoustic.[1]

The pattern of the song is fairly prominent throughout the track. It was built from a finger-picking technique that Lennon used on The Beatles songs such as "Dear Prudence", "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" and "Julia", all of which appear on The White Album.[1] Lennon learned this finger-picking guitar style (known as Travis-picking) from the Scottish musician Donovan, who was with The Beatles at the time at Rishikesh, India.[2]

Recording

Recorded at EMI Studios on 7 October 1970,[3] the album version of "Look at Me" features double-tracked vocals by Lennon.[1]

Personnel

• John Lennon – vocals, acoustic guitar[4]

In popular culture

• The version from the John Lennon Anthology was featured in the 2001 film The Royal Tenenbaums and its soundtrack.
• The Canadian punk rock band Sum 41 released a song titled "Look at Me" from their LP Underclass Hero. The beginning verse also started with the lines "Look at me; who am I supposed to be?" The album title itself is a reference to another Lennon song, "Working Class Hero".
• Joseph Arthur recorded a version for the Lennon Covered #2 CD issued by Q magazine.
• Orenda Fink covered "Look at Me" as an extra-song on the download-only single "Ace Of Cups" (2014)

References

1. "Look At Me". The Beatles Bible. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
2. Interview with Donovan (2004), John Lennon's Jukebox
3. Madinger, Chip; Raile, Scott (2015). LENNONOLOGY Strange Days Indeed - A Scrapbook Of Madness. Chesterfield, MO: Open Your Books, LLC. p. 211. ISBN 978-1-63110-175-5.
4. Blaney, John (2005). John Lennon: Listen To This Book. Guildford, Great Britain: Biddles Ltd. p. 273. ISBN 0-9544528-1-X.