John Lennon Once Claimed He Had “Nothing Against” Bob Dylan, but One Song Hinted at Tension Between Them
via The Beatles Interviews / YouTube
Lennon’s Candid Reputation
John Lennon was never known for holding back his thoughts, whether in casual conversation or through lyrics. That honesty extended to his opinions on Bob Dylan, especially during Dylan’s late 1970s career move that sparked debate among fans and critics. Many had something to say about Dylan’s decision to embrace Christianity in his music, and Lennon was no exception.
One of Lennon’s responses to this era came not in interviews, but in a song that remained unreleased during his lifetime. Found later on archival recordings, it offered a glimpse into feelings he didn’t fully reveal to the press.
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Lennon Speaks on Dylan’s Christian Period
Bob Dylan’s Christian era divided audiences. For some, the gospel-inspired songs were difficult to reconcile with the rebellious voice of the 1960s who had challenged authority and questioned social norms. Others viewed it simply as another stage in Dylan’s wide-ranging career. Even among Dylan’s peers, reactions varied, and Lennon chose his words carefully when asked about it publicly.
“I don’t like to comment on it,” Lennon said during one of his last interviews with David Sheff in 1980. “For whatever reason, he’s doing it. It’s personal for him, and he needs to do it. I’m not distressed by the fact that Dylan is doing what Dylan wants or needs to do. I like him personally. I’ve known him for years. Though, I haven’t seen him in years. I understand it and have nothing against it or for it. If he needs it, let him do it. People who don’t want to hear it will just leave the theater.”
More Direct Words to Playboy
In a separate 1980 conversation with Playboy, Lennon’s response was more candid. “I must say I was surprised when old Bobby boy did go that way,” he admitted. “All I ever hear whenever I hear about him, and people can quote me and make me feel silly, too, but all I ever think of is ‘don’t follow leaders, watch the parking meters’ [from ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’]. It’s the same man, but it isn’t the same man. I don’t want to say anything about a man who is searching or has found it. There isn’t one answer to anything.”
These comments show Lennon respecting Dylan’s choice while also hinting at his own sense of surprise, even confusion, over the shift.
“Serve Yourself” as a Response
While Lennon avoided direct criticism in public, his music told another story. In the late 1970s, he wrote a blues track that paralleled Dylan’s “Gotta Serve Somebody,” a song about choosing between serving the devil or the Lord. Lennon’s answer, pointedly titled “Serve Yourself,” used the same blues style but shifted the message, urging independence rather than devotion.
Though Lennon often wrote in abstract ways, this particular song seemed closely tied to Dylan’s work. His sharp wit also surfaced on a tape recorded September 5, 1979, where he remarked, “‘Gotta Serve Somebody’. Guess [Dylan] wants to be a waiter now.” The comment suggested Lennon felt more strongly about Dylan’s religious direction than his public interviews revealed.
