Milk And Honey - John Lennon & Yoko Ono

Vinyl L.P · Polydor Records · 422-817 160-1 Y-1.
1984 · U.S.A.



Back cover.

Inner gatefold.

Inner sleeve.

Inner sleeve.

Disc side 1.

Disc side 2.

Labels.

Album lyrics:

All words and music by John Lennon & Yoko Ono.

I'm Stepping Out.

by John Lennon

Woke up this morning blues around my head

No need to ask the reason why

Went to the kitchen and lit a cigarette

Blew my worries to the sky

I'm stepping out

I'm stepping out

I'm stepping out

I'm stepping out

If it don't feel right you don't have to do it

Just leave a message on the phone and tell them to screw it

After all is said and done you can't go pleasin' everyone

So screw it...

I'm stepping out

I'm stepping out

I'm stepping out baby

I'm stepping out

Baby's sleeping the cats have all been blessed

Ain't nothing doing on TV (summer repeats)

Put on my space suit I got to look my best

I'm going out to do the city

I'm stepping out

I'm stepping out

I'm stepping out babe

I'm stepping out (boogie)

I'm stepping out (hold it down)

I'm stepping out

I'm stepping out

Gotta gotta gotta gotta get out

I'm stepping out babe

Just awhile

Ain't been out for days...

Sleepless Night.

by Yoko Ono

Sleepless night

The moon is bright

All I'm asking for is

Three minute love

Legs

What am I going to do with my legs

They're so hot

They won't stay on the cot

And they're screaming!

Sleepless night

The moon is bright

All I'm asking for is

Three minute love

Head

What am I going to do with my head

It's so light

It just gives me the fright

It's full of champagne and dreams

Sleepless night

All um umm

All I'm asking for is

Three minute love

This brush must sell like crazy

I mean there's a lot of lonely people out there

I wanna go to the ball

I wanna give it all

I'll take it all

Sleepless night

All I'm asking for is...

What am I asking for?

I Don't Wanna Face It.

by John Lennon

Say you're looking for a place to go

Where nobody knows your name

You're looking for oblivion

With one

Eye on the Hall of Fame

I don't wanna face it oh no

I don't wanna face it no no no no

Well I can dish it out

But I just can't take it

Say you're looking for some peace and love

Leader of a big old band

You wanna save humanity

But it's people that you just can't stand

I don't wanna face it oh no

I don't wanna face it no no no no

Well I can sing for my supper

But I just can't make it

Well now you're lookin' for a world of truth

Trying to find a better way

The time has come to see yourself

You always look the other way

I don't wanna face it oh no

I don't wanna face it no no no no

Well I can see the promised land

And I know I can make it!

I don't wanna face it I know

I don't wanna face it oh no

I don't wanna face it oh no

I don't wanna face it

I don't wanna face it

I just can't face it no more

Every time I look in the mirror

I don't see anybody there

Don't Be Scared.

by Yoko Ono

Don't be scared

Don't be scared

Don't be scared to love

Better to love than never love at all

Don't be scared

Don't be shy

Don't be shy

Don't be shy to tell

You may lose the chance to tell

Don't be shy

When your hearts are lit

Drop your survival kit

Then you never have to

Run or split

Sun in the east

Moon in the west

This boat's moving slow

There's no land in sight at all

Away we go

Don't be scared

Don't be scared

Don't be scared to love

It's better to love than never love at all

Don't be scared

Nobody Told Me.

by John Lennon

Everybody's talking and no one says a word

Everybody's making love and no one really cares

There's Nazis in the bathroom just below the stairs

Always something happening and nothing going on

There's always something cooking and nothing in the pot

They're starving back in China so finish what you got

Nobody told me there'd be days like these

Nobody told me there'd be days like these

Nobody told me there'd be days like these

Strange days indeed -- strange days indeed

Everybody's runnin' and no one makes a move

Everyone's a winner and nothing left to lose

There's a little yellow idol to the north of Katmandu

Everybody's flying and no one leaves the ground

Everybody's crying and no one makes a sound

There's a place for us in the movies you just gotta lay around

Nobody told me there'd be days like these

Nobody told me there'd be days like these

Nobody told me there'd be days like these

Strange days indeed -- most peculiar, mama

Everybody's smoking and no one's getting high

Everybody's flying and never touch the sky

There's a UFO over New York and I ain't too surprised

Nobody told me there'd be days like these

Nobody told me there'd be days like these

Nobody told me there'd be days like these

Strange days indeed -- most peculiar, mama

O' Sanity.

by Yoko Ono

It's only sane to be insane

Psychotic builds a castle

And neurotic lives in it

I don't know what to do with my sanity

When the world's at the verge of calamity

O' sanity, o' sanity

What am I to do with you

Drink up, shoot up, anything you please

But you're always standing behind me like a devil in hell

O' sanity, o' sanity

Why don't you let me go

Let go, let go, cut it out!

Borrowed Time.

by John Lennon

When I was younger

Living confusion and deep dispair

When I was younger ah hah

Living illusion of freedom and power

When I was younger

Full of ideas and broken dreams (my friend)

When I was younger ah hah

Everything simple but not so clear

Living on borrowed time

Without a thought for tomorrow

Living on borrowed time

Without a thought for tomorrow

Now I am older

The more that I see the less that I know for sure

Now I am older ah hah

The future is brighter and now is the hour

Living on borrowed time

Without a thought for tomorrow

Living on borrowed time

Without a thought for tomorrow

Good to be older

Would not exchange a single day or a year

Good to be older ah hah

Less complications everything clear

Living on borrowed time

Without a thought for tomorrow

Living on borrowed time

Without a thought for tomorrow

Your Hands.

by Yoko Ono

Anatano te

Konnani kereina

Anatano te

Yumenimade miru

Your hands

So beautiful

Your hands

I even dream about them

Anatano hada

Konnani atsui

Anatano hada

Yumenimade miru

Your skin

So hot

Your skin

I even dream about it

Ichinichi ni

Nando attemo

Aitarinai

Isshoni

Nando attemo

Aitarinai

In a day

No matter how many times we meet

It's not enough

In a lifetime

No matter how many times we meet

It's not enough

Isshoni

Nando attemo

Aitarinai

Ikusei ni

Nando attemo

Aitarinai

In a lifetime

No matter how many times we meet

It's not enough

In many lifetimes

No matter how many times we meet

It's not enough

Futarino koi

Konnani tsuyoi

Futarino koi

Konnani moroi

Futarino koi

Itsumademo

Our love

So strong

Our love

So frail

Our love

Forever

Anatano me

Konnani kereina

Anatano me

Your eyes

So beautiful

Your eyes

(Forgive Me) My Little Flower Princess.

by John Lennon

Forgive me my little flower princess

For crushing your delicateness

Forgive me, if you could forgive me

Forgive me my little flower princess

For selfishness

Forgive me, forgive me

Well I know there is no way to repay you

Whatever it takes I will try to

The rest of my life I will thank you (thank you, thank you)

My little...

If you'll forgive me my little flower princess

Never too late unless you can't forgive...

Time is on our side

Let's not waste another minute

'Cause I love you my little friend

I really love you

Give me just one more chance

And I'll show you -- take up the dance

Where we left off

The rest of our life is the...my little

(I'm home)

Let Me Count The Ways.

by Yoko Ono

Let me count the ways how I love you

It's like that gentle wind you feel at dawn

It's like that first sun that hits the dew

It's like that cloud with a gold lining telling us softly

That it'll be a good day, a good day for us

Thank you, thank you, thank you

Let me count the ways how I miss you

It's like that oak tree in my childhood garden

It's like that first summer I spent in Egypt

It's like that warm evening you read to me

Both knowing deeply

That it's a good time, a good time for us

Thank you, thank you, thank you

Let me count the ways how I see you

It's like that lake in the mountain you heard about

It's like that autumn sky that stays so blue

It's like that air around me that holds me gently

Whispering strongly that you're always there, always for me

Thank you, thank you, thank you

Grow Old With Me.

by John Lennon

Grow old along with me

The best is yet to be

When our time has come

We will be as one

God bless our love

God bless our love

Grow old along with me

Two branches of one tree

Face the setting sun

When the day is done

God bless our love

God bless our love

Spending our lives together

Man and wife together

World without end

World without end

Grow old along with me

Whatever fate decrees

We will see it through

For our love is true

God bless our love

God bless our love

You're The One.

by Yoko Ono

Mountains may move

River may run

But you make me be myself

You make me be

How do I tell you

How do I tell

You're the one

Stars may move

Time may run

But you make me free myself

You make me free

How do I tell you

How do I tell

You're the one

You're the one

In the world's eye

We were Laurel and Hardy

In our minds

We were Heathcliff and Cathy

In a moment of wisdom

We were a wizard and a witch

In a moment of freedom

We were Don Quijote and Sancho

In reality

We were just a boy and a girl

Who never looked back

How do I tell you

How do I tell you

How do I tell you

How do I tell you

How do I tell you

How do I tell you

How can I tell you

How could I tell you

You're the one

You're the one

You're the one

You're the one...

John Lennon & Yoko Ono

Liner notes:

I'M STEPPING OUT

SLEEPLESS NIGHT

I DON’T WANNA FACE IT

DON’T BE SCARED

NOBODY TOLD ME*

O’ SANITY*

BORROWED TIME

YOUR HANDS

(FORGIVE ME) MY LITTLE FLOWER PRINCESS

LET ME COUNT THE WAYS

GROW OLD WITH ME

YOU'RE THE ONE

Grow old along with me!

The best is yet to be,

The last of life, for which the first was made:

Our times are in his hand

Who saith ’a whole I planned,

Youth shows but half; trust God: see all nor be afraid!

            —ROBERT BROWNING

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of being and ideal grace,

I love thee to the level of everyday’s

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for right:

I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints,—I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life!—And, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

            —ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING

GROW OLD WITH ME

Grow old along with me

The best is yet to be

When our time has come

We will be as one

God bless our love

God bless our love

            —JOHN LENNON

            © 1982, 1984 ONO MUSIC

LET ME COUNT THE WAYS

Let me count the ways how | love you

It's like that gentle wind you feel at dawn

It’s like that first sun that hits the dew

It’s like that cloud with a gold lining telling us softly

That it'll be a good day, a good day for us

Thank you, thank you, thank you

            —YOKO ONO

            © 1982, 1984 ONO MUSIC

MILK AND HONEY

A Heart Play By John Lennon and Yoko Ono

PRODUCED BY

    John Lennon and Yoko Ono

GUITARS

    John Lennon

    Hugh McCracken

    Earl Slick

    John Tropea

    Elliot Randall

    Steve Love

BASS GUITAR

    Tony Levin

    Neil Jason

    Wayne Pedziwiatr

DRUMS

    Andy Newmark

    Yogi Horton

    Allan Schwartzberg

PIANO

    George Small

    Paul Griffin

PERCUSSION

    Arthur Jenkins, Jr.

    Jimmy Maelen

SYNTHESIZERS

    Pete Cannarozzi

    Ed Walsh

BARITONE SAX

    Howard Johnson

SOLO VOCALS

    John Lennon

    Yoko Ono

BACKGROUND VOCALS

    Gordon Grody

    Kurt Yahjian

    Carlos Alomar

    Billy and Bob Alessi

    Pete Thom

CHIEF ENGINEERS

    Jon Smith

    Michael Barbiero

REMIX ENGINEERS

    Michael Barbiero

    Steve Thompson (disco mix)

EDITING ENGINEERS

    Michael Barbiero

    Paul Stubblebine

ASSISTANT ENGINEERS

    Alec Head

    Ollie Cotton

    John Davenport

    Scott James

    Fin Hunt

MASTERING ENGINEER

    Greg Calbi

STUDIOS

    Hit Factory, New York

    A and R Studios, New York

    The Automatt, San Francisco

    Sterling Sound, New York

ART DIRECTION

    Yoko Ono

ARTWORK

    Bill Levy/Bob Heimall

PHOTOGRAPHY

    Outside/Kishin Shinoyama

    Inside/© Allan Tannenbaum

Note:

“Grow Old With Me", (John Lennon/Vocal, Piano and Rhythm Box), and “Let Me Count The Ways", (Yoko Ono/Vocal and Piano) are from original cassette recordings by John and Yoko.

One early morning in the summer of 1980, I woke up with “Let Me Count the Ways” ringing in my head. I called John who was then in Bermuda and played it over the phone. “How d’you like it?” “I really like it. It’s beautiful”. “How about you writing one with a Robert Browning line and we'll have portraits of us as Elizabeth and Robert on the cover?” (This needs a little explaining. John and I always thought, among many other things, that we were maybe the reincarnation of Robert and Liz. So he immediately knew what I was talking about). We discussed then about Double Fantasy cover that it should be two portraits, one of Elizabeth and the other of Robert, only the faces would be ours. John thought we should look very prim and proper with just our hands coming out of the paintings and holding in the middle, the funny touch. We both laughed. “Okay then, just tell downstairs (our office) to send me the collection of Robert Browning and let’s see what happens”. It wasn’t necessary, however, to send the collection to Bermuda. John called me that afternoon “Hey, you won't believe this!” He explained that he was watching the TV, a fifties film of a baseball player. In the film, John saw the girlfriend send a poem to her baseball player, a poem which was one by Robert Browning called “Grow Old Beside Me”. “Can you believe that?...so anyway, this is my version”. John proudly played his song over the phone. That's how our two songs happened.

To us, these two songs were the backbone of Double Fantasy, and we kept discussing how we would arrange them. For John, “Grow Old With Me” was one that would be a standard, the kind that they would play in church every time a couple gets married. It was horns and symphony time. But we were working against deadline for the Christmas release of the album, kept holding “Grow Old With Me” to the end, and finally decided it was better to leave the song for “Milk and Honey” 'so we won't do a rush job.

December 25 '80, I discovered that I received a Christmas present from John which he had bought and had it held as a surprise for me. It was a portrait and an original handwriting of Elizabeth Browning framed side by side. Sean received an Akita puppy, and named her Merry as in Merry Christmas. It was a cold day, and I remember Sean’s thoughtful voice explaining to me how he named her Merry. Sean also received a watch inscribed in the back from Dad and Mom, which disappeared later.

“Grow Old With Me” was a song John made several cassettes of, as we discussed the arrangements for it. Everybody around us knew how important those cassettes were. They were in safekeeping, some in our bedroom, some in our cassette file, and some in a vault. All of them disappeared since then except the one on this record. It may be that it was meant to be this way, since the version that was left to us was John’s last recording. The one John and I recorded together in our bedroom with a piano and a rhythm box.

From ’81 to ’83, it was as though Sean and I were standing in a snowfield surrounded by human wolves, who claimed themselves “close friends” and meanwhile raped and desecrated John’s body in front of our eyes. We saw beautiful rainbows behind the black forest and people calling us with love from the distance, but there was no way to let them know what was happening. And Sean and I decided to call the rainbow to us by sharing our song with you.

    Happy birthday, John. God bless our love.

        October 9th '83 N.Y.C, y.o.

Memorabilia:

 Album Poster · Polydor Records.

 Album Poster · Polydor Records.

Album Poster · Polydor Records.

JOHN AND YOKO.
MILK AND HONEY.
Ploydor Records · Smash Hits 1984-01-19.

John Lennon & Yoko Ono by Annie Leibovitz 1982-12-08.

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