"Crippled Inside"
"I Don't Want To Be A Soldier"
More from John Lennon
(1970) John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
(1971) Imagine
(1972) Some Time In New York City
(1973) Mind Games
(1974) Walls And Bridges
(1975) Rock 'n' Roll
(1980) Double Fantasy
(1984) Milk And Honey
(1986) Menlove Ave.
"Crippled Inside"
by John Lennon
From the album Imagine (1971)
Written by H-Seldon (2)
"Crippled Inside" is one of the lesser tracks on Imagine. It is an interesting combination of negative lyrics paired with bouncy up-tempo music. The lyrics are quite critical of its subject, but phrased in a way that suits the country-rock/honk-tonk arrangement.
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
Fellow ex-Beatle George Harrison plays dobro on the track. "Crippled Inside" is not a bad song, but it isn't a great one either. Because so much of Imagine is so good, this song suffers by comparison.
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I guess 'lesser' is a relative term. As I said in the review, 'lesser' doesn't mean 'bad'. I just think that Imagine has several moments of true genius, and I see "Crippled Inside" as 'lesser' in comparison to them.
You make a good point about the link back to Plastic Ono Band. I heard "How?" and, to a lesser degree, "Oh My Love" as links to that album, but I see what you mean about this song, as well.
ant Jan 10, 2010 9:01 AM Quote ↓
Cannot agree that "Crippled Inside" is a 'lesser track'. It probably provides the most tangible link between the raw, primal scream therapy of JLPOB and the lushness of Imagine.
Dressing up the lyric in that honky-tonk disguise could've been John trying to gloss over his hang-ups, or maybe showing that he was finally starting to come to terms with them: and if he could, then anyone could!
No matter which, as de song do say:
One thing you can't hide
Is when you're crippled inside...