Album: Imagine (1971)

License This Song 

• You can shine your shoes and wear a suit
  You can comb your hair and look quite cute
  You can hide your face behind a smile
  One thing you can't hide
  Is when you're crippled inside
  
  You can wear a mask and paint your face
  You can call yourself the human race
  You can wear a collar and a tie
  One thing you can't hide
  Is when you're crippled inside
  
  Well now you know that your
  Cat has nine lives
  Nine lives to itself
  But you only got one
  And a dog's life ain't fun
  Momma take a look outside
  
  You can go to church and sing a hymn
  You can judge me by the color of my skin
  You can live a lie until you die
  One thing you can't hide
  Is when you're crippled inside
  
  Well now you know that your
  Cat has nine lives
  Nine lives to itself
  But you only got one
  And a dog's life ain't fun
  Momma take a look outside
  
  You can go to church and sing a hymn
  Judge me by the color of my skin
  You can live a lie until you die
  One thing you can't hide
  Is when you're crippled inside
  
  One thing you can't hide
  Is when you're crippled inside
  One thing you can't hide
  Is when you're crippled inside Writer/s: John Winston Lennon
  Publisher: Downtown Music Publishing
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 4

• Astro from AustraliaCan't agree with you Glen, some of the stuff John wrote for Imagine were superb examples of songwriting - Gimme Some Truth (surely one of the greatest ever protest songs) and How Do You Sleep. And Joe I agree with you it is about being heartbroken, crippled inside its the way I feel after having to get my 18 years old dog put down a few days ago. The song sums it up perfectly.
• Joe from WisconsinEverybody thinks this sounds like john taking a dig at paul or even himself. But I feel like crippled inside is what he calls it when you're heartbroken. And when you're heartbroken, there's nothing you can do to hide it.
• Glenn from UkThis was at the point when John Lennon departed from himself as a songwriter. The lyrics and finish of the song were an atrocious departure from Lennon's days without McCartney, eg. "Well now you know a cat has nine lives. Nine lives to itself....." and the finish, "One thing you can't hide......". As a songwriter, Lennon's career compared to McCartney took a nose dive with the exception of Imagine and Happy Christmas, War is Over. This song was a typical example of the cheesiness of his lyrics as he began to improvise most of what he wrote, trying to sound American and leaving behind his creativity with The Beatles years. The manipulative Yoko had truly destroyed what could have been a genius.
• Ken from Louisville, KySome people thought this was another song aimed at Paul, but John said it was about the hypocrisy in all of us, including himself.

More Songfacts:

MargaritavilleJimmy Buffett

"Margaritaville" is a state of mind, but it's most associated with Key West, Florida, where Jimmy Buffett moved when he was 24.

MMMbopHanson

Zac Hanson was just 11 years and 7 months old when "MMMbop" topped the Hot 100, making him the youngest group member to co-write and perform a US #1 single.

GypsyFleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac's "Gypsy" is about Stevie Nicks' best friend, who died of leukemia.

1901Phoenix

The Phoenix song "1901" is about Paris. Their lead singer Thomas Mars said: "Paris in 1901 was better than it is now. So the song is a fantasy about Paris."

Rap GodEminem

Eminem spits a total of 1,560 words on "Rap God," earning him an entry in the 2015 Guinness Book of Records for "most words in a hit single."

It Wasn't MeShaggy

"It Wasn't Me" by Shaggy was based on an Eddie Murphy comedy bit where he would deny everything no matter how badly he was caught.

Editor's Picks

Jeff TrottSongwriter Interviews

Sheryl Crow's longtime songwriting partner/guitarist Jeff Trott reveals the stories behind many of the singer's hits, and what its like to be a producer for Leighton Meester and Max Gomez.

British InvasionFact or Fiction

Go beyond The Beatles to see what you know about the British Invasion.

Francis Rossi of Status QuoSongwriter Interviews

Doubt led to drive for Francis, who still isn't sure why one of Status Quo's biggest hits is so beloved.

Millie JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Outrageously gifted and just plain outrageous, Millie is an R&B and Rap innovator.

Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford, Richie Faulkner and Glenn Tipton talk twin guitar harmonies and explain how they create songs in Judas Priest.

AC/DCFact or Fiction

Does Angus really drink himself silly? Did their name come from a sewing machine? See if you can spot the real stories about AC/DC.