Paul McCartney: John Donne

 Paul McCartney's Dream  

Paul was going through a difficult time, working hard and dealing with tensions in The Beatles that would eventually lead to the group splitting up, He writes:

"I fell asleep exhausted one day and had a dream in which my mum (who had died just over 10 years previously) did in fact come to me. When you dream about seeing someone you've lost, even though it's sometimes just for a few seconds, it really does feel like they’re right there with you and it's as if they've always been there. My mum was very reassuring. In this dream, seeing my mum's beautiful, kind face and being with her in a peaceful place was very comforting. I immediately felt at ease and loved and protected. My mum is very reassuring and like so many women often are, she was also able to keep our family going. She kept our spirits up. She seemed to realise I was worried about what was going on in my life and what would happen, and she said to me. 

"Everything will be alright. Let it be."

As far as religion goes, I'm obviously influenced by Christianity. But there are many great teachings in all the religions. I'm not particularly religious in any conventional sense, but I do believe in the idea there is some sort of higher force that can help us. So this song becomes a prayer, or mini prayer. There's a yearning somewhere at its heart, the word amen itself means. 

So be it or let it be.

When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom
Let it be
And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom
Let it be

Paul Mccartney / John Lennon

John Donne's Vision

John Donne (1571 or 1572 – 31 March 1631) was an English poet, scholar, soldier and secretary born into a recusant family, who later became a cleric in the Church of England. He married Anne More in 1601 when she was 17 and he was 30 or 31.

Wikipedia Page

Donne had gone to Paris (1612) at about the same time as his wife Anne, was about to give birth to their eighth child in London. 

Izaac Walton records in his biography of Donne:

“Two days after their arrival there, Mr Donne was left alone, in the room in which Robert [Drury], and he, and some friends had dined together. To this place Sir Robert returned within half an hour; and, as he left so he  found Mr Donne alone; but, in such ecstasy, and so altered as to his looks, as amazed Sir Robert to behold him: insomuch that he earnestly desired Mr. Donne to declare what had befallen him in the short time of his absence? To which Mr Donne was not able to make present answer: but after a long and perplexed pause, did at last say, 

I have seen a dreadful vision since I saw you: I have seen my dear wife passed twice by me through this room with her hair hanging about her shoulders, and a dead child in her arms: this I have seen since I saw you. 

To which Sir Robert replied, Sure Sir, you have slept since I saw you, and this is a result of some melancholy dream which I desire you to forget for you are now awake. To which Mr Donne's reply was: 

I cannot be surer that I now live than that I have not slept since I saw you: and am as sure that at her second appearing, she stopped and looked me in the face and vanished.

He sent a messenger to London the next morning. The man returned 12 days later.Anne he said. had borne a stillborn child the same day and about the very hour that Mr Donne affirmed he saw her pass by him in his chamber.