Meaning of "Strawberry Fields?"?

Question

Do you think the song "strawberry fields forever" by John Lennon is about his childhood experiences at the orphanage? Or do you think it is about the red tracks druggies get on their arms from using heroin? There is a lot of debate about this and I want to see which side has the majority.

Answer 1

I never could stand the druggie analogy, so how about we ask John?  

Q: "What is Strawberry Fields?"

JOHN "It's a name, it's a nice name. When I was writing 'In My Life,' I was trying 'Penny Lane' at that time. We were trying to write about Liverpool, and I just listed all the nice-sounding names, just arbitrarily. Strawberry Fields was a place near us that happened to be a Salvation Army home. But Strawberry Fields-- I mean, I have visions of Strawberry Fields. And there was Penny Lane, and the Cast Iron Shore, which I've just got in some song now, and they were just good names-- just groovy names. Just good sounding. Because Strawberry Fields is anywhere you want to go."

Q: "Pop analysts are often trying to read something into songs that isn't there."

JOHN: "It is there. It's like abstract art really. It's just the same really. It's just that when you have to think about it to write it, it just means that you labored at it. But when you just say it, man, you know you're saying it, it's a continuous flow. The same as when you're recording or just playing. You come out of a thing and you know 'I've been there,' and it was nothing, it was just pure, and that's what we're looking for all the time, really."

Answer 2

I think Helen thought the asker thought this song was John Lennon's and not The Beatles'.

Regardless, I think it's about the druggies because that song is way too wacky and drug-inspired that I doubt it was about something like Lennon's childhood. They'd make the song more serious if it was about that.

Answer 3

its about the red tracks druggies get on their arms from heroin.....like you said

to helen- and your point is?

Answer 4

UMM IM SORRY BUT THAT SONG IS BY

THE BEATLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!