Looking_Through_A_Glass

John spent many years thinking about a one man show on Lennon's life before he finally took the big step.

In TV Week September 17 1983, interviewer Garry Shelley asks John, "Is there anything that John Waters would like to do in the future which might show us another facet of his diversity ? "

John replies, "I have an appalling fascination to do a one-man show. I haven't a clue about the format, but I keep mulling over vague ideas of songs I'd like to do. People say you have to have an enormous ego to do a one-man show, but I think what one should have is courage and confidence."

In 1986, on July 12th an interview in New Idea magazine - John mentions wanting to become a house husband for a few weeks so he can write his own show about the life, times and music of John Lennon.

"Oh I see, the fellow's upset. It seems I didn't write 'to dear whats- his-name' on the album cover. Funny about that. I shoulda realised I'm suppose to know everybody in the world. Still, I think I've even given up resenting like you know. I've probably been in this guys lounge room for half his life. Coming out of the speakers. HIS MASTERS VOICE. That little doggy's been sitting there a long time. Just listening. I hope he doesn't get jack of it. Dogs can BITE you know."

Fade to heartbeat, then Imagine.

Glass Onion (Lennon/McCartney)

I told you about strawberry fields

You know the place where nothing is real

Well here's another place you can go

Where everything flows.

Looking through the bent backed tulips

To see how the other half live

Looking through a glass onion.

I told you about the walrus and me-man

You know that we're as close as can be-man

Well here's another clue for you all

The walrus was Paul.

Standing on the cast iron shore-yeah

Lady Madonna trying to make ends meet-yeah

Looking through a glass onion.

I told you about the fool on the hill

I tell you man he living there still

Well here's another place you can be

Listen to me.

Fixing a hole in the ocean

Trying to make a dove-tail joint-yeah

Looking through a glass onion.

The name of the show comes from the lyrics themselves.

" a remarkable celebration of a unique talent... Waters does it brilliantly"

THE SPECTATOR, LONDON

"John Waters encapsulates the essence of Lennon... the band makes Lennon's music sound fresher than ever and Waters uncanny vocals make it all the more poignant. Every number brings a wealth of memories of John, the Beatles and the way we were."

CAPITOL RADIO, LONDON

"The humour, the pace, the crisp intercuts of light and sound, the emotional texture of music and narrative, and the insights add up to a stirring celebration of genius."

SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

"...Waters is backed by a first class band... if you shut your eyes you can really imagine that you are listening to Lennon's voice."

DAILY TELEGRAPH, LONDON

"Part bio, part great concert, totally excellent."

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Waters describes the show as a "kaleidoscopic collage of song, word, emotion and image exploring the essence of John Lennon".

Looking Through a Glass Onion had its origins as a two man show at the Tilbury Hotel and since then has twice toured nationally in 1993 and 1994, played successfully in the West End for three months and been released on CD.

"Moves far beyond a deftly executed musical tribute ... wry acerbic and often painfully honest Lennon is not so much evoked as delivered whole to the stage each night."

GLENN A. BAKER

'It's only an autograph. But sometimes you wish they'd just be content with the music, you know? That's all we want to give them. That's all we can give them. But sometimes they don't want to stop there. They want more. It's crazy. I mean, I've only got the same number of pairs of underpants as anybody else.'

Fame according to John Lennon, as expressed by John Waters in Looking Through A Glass Onion

The song list is interspersed with eerie monologue as Lennon floats between life and death and considers the moments in his life via the lyrics of his songs:

Scouser's Lament, Liverpool Lullaby, Day in the Life, Isolation, Glass Onion, You've Got to Hide Your Love Away, Lucy in the Sky, Working Class Hero, How do You Sleep, Norwegian Wood, All You Need is Love I'm so Tired, Revolution, Sexy Sadie, Come Together, Strawberry Fields, Steel & Glass, Nowhere Man, Julia, Mother, Woman, Ballad of John & Yoko, Crippled Inside, How, God, Jealous Guy, Watching the Wheels, Beautiful Boy, Isolation, Imagine.