The Beatles‘ interest in Transcendental Meditation largely uprooted the entire course of their career. While much of their sound took on a more psychedelic tone, the evolution of John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s lyricism also became more accomplished as they began to fuse the poetic appeal of their earlier material with more abstract musings.
First appearing on the band’s charity compilation No One’s Gonna Change Our World – a title which could fill its own article of analysis – the track ‘Across the Universe’ later became a Let It Be staple and one of Lennon’s all-time favourite collection of lyrics. As his own worst critic, he naturally picked out parts of the song he was unhappy with, but the words remained some of his finest work.
Musically, ‘Across the Universe’ yields a simultaneously unnerving and comforting feel as Lennon breathlessly guides over the words, set to a guitar progression that effortlessly melts into the background. The arrangements are simple, and yet something about it feels considerably complex, particularly when you apply close examination to the lyrics.
During the song’s refrain, Lennon sings the elusive words: “Jai Guru Deva Om”, which many have taken to mean a variety of different things. Firstly, the mantra is glided over in a similar fashion to the band’s experiences with Transcendental Meditation. The spiritual leader, which Maharishi Mahesh Yogi would often refer to, Guru Dev, is referenced in the Sanskrit utterance, translating roughly to: “I give thanks to Guru Dev” or “all glory to Guru Dev”.
However, some have given it a broader meaning, saying that it is more likely a variation of “Victory to God divine” as a way of paying tribute to a divine entity that brought them enlightenment and freedom to explore their spiritual selves. A lot of the teachings they experienced during this time factored into their music, and the rest of the lyrics play into a similar theme of spirituality.
How did John Lennon come up with the lyrics to ‘Across the Universe’?
During one of John Lennon’s last-ever major interviews, he explained why he first came up with the initial idea for ‘Across the Universe’, recalling the moment he had an argument with his first wife, Cynthia. He explained he “was lying next to me first wife in bed” and he was “irritated” because “she must have been going on and on about something and she’d gone to sleep and I kept hearing these words over and over, flowing like an endless stream.”
He continued, explaining that he went downstairs and “it turned into sort of a cosmic song rather than an irritated song,” continuing: “it drove me out of bed. I didn’t want to write it, but I was slightly irritable, and I went downstairs, and I couldn’t get to sleep until I’d put it on paper.” As a result, Lennon wrote down the famous words: “words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup.”
The lyrics that Lennon added ended up relying on abstract images and a mantra that encouraged the mind to experience a higher consciousness. “Jai Guru Deva Om” anchors its entire meaning, but it also bridges the gap between the first section and the chorus, which includes the words: “Nothing’s gonna change my world.”
While recording the song, things became convoluted when Lennon grew increasingly frustrated with the track, citing his inability to stay in tune and the lack of support from those around him. As a result, it’s often said to be a defining example of his growing tensions with McCartney, who, in his words, would often “subconsciously try and destroy a great song.”
However, in an interview with Rolling Stone in 1971, Lennon admitted that, despite the difficult recording process, “it’s one of the best lyrics I’ve written. In fact, it could be the best.” He added: “It’s good poetry, or whatever you call it, without chewin’ it. See, the ones I like are the ones that stand as words, without melody. They don’t have to have any melody, like a poem, you can read them.”
