When creating art, experiences such as Lennon’s are nearly impossible to separate from the finished product. That being so, there were hoards of Beatles’ songs that reportedly included Lennon’s trauma and hardship. Although, one of the most notable was their 1965 hit, “Help.”

Paul McCartney on John Lennon’s Familial Trouble

In an interview on The Howard Stern Show, Howard Stern brought up the tribulations Lennon underwent in his childhood. McCartney attested to this fact by acknowledging that his father had left him when he was only three and that “It was a huge pain for John growing up.” McCartney also recollected how Lennon felt when his uncle died after he lived with them. According to McCartney, Lennon said, “I could be a jinx against the male line.”

McCartney went on to attribute a lot of Lennon’s depth and angst to his troubled family dynamic. Though, given that the two were best friends, McCartney was not only a great listener but also an avenue that allowed Lennon to express these plights through creativity. As McCartney stated, “When he and I were together there wasn’t a lot of [angst], because…we were being creative.”

Lennon’s Cry for “Help”

“I remember sitting down and writing [Help] with John” and when “He’d come up with the line ‘when I was younger so much younger’ I suddenly realized well we’re talking about an insecurity,” McCartney told Stern. Despite this possibly overt cry for help, McCartney didn’t make this connection until years later. Telling Stern, “Wow, you know that was a real cry for help.”

It is a shame that Lennon felt this way, and if anyone could have extracted that pain from him they surely would have. Although, in some sadistic way, fans are seemingly grateful for Lennon’s pain as it provided them with the answers to the questions plaguing their souls. In retrospect, it is quite clear to see how “Help” connects with John Lennon’s childhood. It’s this connection that makes the song all the more wonderfully heartbreaking.