Released: September 26, 1974

Songwriter: John Lennon

Producer: John Lennon

[Chorus]
Nobody loves you when you're down and out
Nobody sees you when you're on cloud nine
Everybody's hustling for a buck and a dime
I'll scratch your back and you scratch mine

[Verse 1]
I've been across to the other side
I've shown you everything, I got nothing to hide
And still you ask me, "Do I love you?"
What it is, what it is
All I can tell you is, it's all show biz
All I can tell you is, it's all show biz

[Chorus]
Nobody loves you when you're down and out
Nobody knows you when you're on cloud nine
Everybody's hustling for a buck and a dime
I'll scratch your back and you knife mine

[Verse 2]
I've been across the water now so many times
I've seen the one eyed witch doctor leading the blind
And still you ask me, "Do I love you?"
What you say, what you say
Every time I put my finger on it, it slips away
Every time I put my finger on it, it slips away

[Guitar Solo]

[Bridge]
Well I get up in the morning and I'm looking in the mirror to see
Ooo wee!
Then I'm lying in the darkness and I know I can't get to sleep
Ooo wee!

[Outro]
Nobody loves you when you're old and grey
Nobody needs you when you're upside down
Everybody's hollering about their own birthday
Everybody loves you when you're six foot in the ground

John Lennon

As the founding member of The Beatles, John Winston Lennon (1940-1980) is one of the most recognizable cultural icons of the 20th Century. He is also the other half of the Lennon-McCartney songwriting partnership, alongside fellow Beatle, Paul McCartney.

As a solo artist and through his relationship and collaboration with avant-garde artist Yoko Ono, he became just as recognizable for his political activism.

Lennon was murdered by Mark David Chapman on December 8, 1980, outside of his New York apartment, The Dakota. Since then, his music and message remain timeless.