Steel and Glass by John Lennon

Album: Walls and Bridges (1974)

License This Song

lyrics

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

Like his 1971 track How Do You Sleep?, this is a bitter song directed at someone Lennon believed had turned against him. While the target of his previous song was Paul McCartney, this time it's Allen Klein, who took over management duties for The Beatles in 1969 and worked with Lennon on his Imagine album. Their relationship turned sour, however, as Lennon sings here: "Your mother left you when you were small, but you're gonna wish you were never born at all." Klein was accused of many unethical acts before his death in 2009, but this lyric is especially harsh, as Klein's mother died when he was young.
Part of what was considered at the time Lennon's first post-Yoko album, Walls and Bridges was recorded during Lennon's "Lost Weekend," when he separated from Yoko Ono. According to David Thoener, who was an engineer at the sessions, Lennon managed to put his personal problems aside for the album. Thoener told us: "It was amazing. Despite all of the personal pain John Lennon was in, he was a consummate professional in the studio. Almost as if working kept him sane, through those difficult times."

Comments: 3

Eric from OklahomaSome websites suggest this is Lennon targeting former Beatles manager, Allen Klein. Others suggest that Lennon may have been addressing himself, similar to "Nowhere Man". However, Lennon reportedly wasn't too happy with Klein's lack of support as John and Yoko ramped up their political work (notably on the 1972 album "Some Time in New York City"). In 1973, a year before recording the "Walls and Bridges" album, Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr served notice that Klein's contract would not be renewed. Klein then sued the Beatles. All that said, and we all are aware of Lennon's razor-sharp lyrics (when called for), it seems likely that "Steel and Glass" was about a certain, greedy American businessman.
Mike from Fargo, Nd, NdIn an interview I read, John stated he used "Steel & Glass" in a similar fashion that he used to name his album "Walls & Bridges". Steel for the person's tough side and Glass in reference to the fragility of one's life. The album's title was said to represents John's life at the time (fresh off his 'Lost Weekend' and chaotic Phil Spector oldies sessions) and a transition of turning his walls into bridges and getting on with things...
Margret Hamilton from St. Paul, MnHaunting song. What is "steel and glass" referencing?... some kind of temperament of the person?

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Grazing In The GrassThe Friends Of Distinction

Grazing In The Grass by The Friends Of Distinction was the first big hit to use the phrase "dig it" in the lyric.

Rock And Roll All NiteKiss

Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of Kiss wrote "Rock And Roll All Nite" as a "rallying cry for all of our fans." In later years, members of Kiss wrote songs separately.

Forever In Blue JeansNeil Diamond

Despite his hit "Forever In Blue Jeans," Neil Diamond was rarely seen in denim. He said the jeans are a symbol for how "the simple things are really the important things."

Stay With MeSam Smith

A gospel choir appears in Sam Smith's "Stay With Me" video, but the vocals on the song are all Smith - about 20 tracks of his voice were used to make him sound like a chorus.

Every Breath You TakeThe Police

"Every Breath You Take" by The Police feels like a love song, but a careful listen reveals it's about a stalker. Sting called it "a nasty little song, really rather evil. It's about jealousy and surveillance and ownership."

We Will Rock YouQueen

There are no actual drums on Queen's "We Will Rock You," just lots of foot stomping.