The Most Haunting Song John Lennon Wrote for a Hollywood Icon’s Sister
A Time of Change for The Beatles
In 1968, The Beatles were going through a difficult phase. The previous year brought both highs and lows. Their album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was a major success, but they also lost their manager and close friend Brian Epstein. After his death, Paul McCartney pushed the group to move forward with Magical Mystery Tour, which included making a film and recording music without any guidance. This pressure wore them down.
To step back and refocus, the group took a planned trip to Rishikesh, India, for a meditation retreat. The break helped them creatively and personally. Many songs from that time became fan favorites. One special song came from this period—a gentle tune John Lennon wrote for Mia Farrow’s sister, Prudence.
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Lennon Writes for Prudence Farrow
The Beatles went to India to study Transcendental Meditation under Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. George Harrison was especially serious about the teachings, but John Lennon and Paul McCartney used the time to write songs together like they did in their early days. Lennon later said, “Regardless of what I was supposed to be doing, I did write some of my best songs there.”
One of those songs was “Dear Prudence.” It was a calm, heartfelt ballad for Prudence Farrow, who was very focused on meditation during the retreat. She often stayed alone in her room, which made some of the others worry about her. Lennon’s lyrics kindly invite her to come outside and spend time with the group.
Donovan’s Unexpected Role in the Song
Another musician at the retreat was Donovan, a popular folk singer who admired The Beatles. He got along well with Lennon and even helped him write the song. Donovan taught Lennon a guitar technique called finger-picking, which Lennon used in both “Dear Prudence” and later in “Julia,” a song about his mother.
“As I was acoustic all my life, I was playing guitar constantly, and John looked at me and said, ‘How do you do that guitar pickin’?’ So I taught John,” Donovan shared. He felt a strong connection to “Dear Prudence” because of his part in it.
“With the guitar style and John’s caring attitude to Prudence, it was very touching,” he said.
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Prudence Farrow Remembers Lennon’s Kindness
Prudence Farrow was already a fan of The Beatles when she joined the retreat. She was excited but also cautious, since her Hollywood background had shown her that many celebrities could be disappointing in person. Her experience with The Beatles was different.
“The Beatles were all very nice, humble, modest, kind, and down-to-earth people. This actually shocked me since other celebrities I had met before disappointed me and did not live up to my expectations,” she said.
She spent the most time with John Lennon and George Harrison, who took the meditation practice seriously. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr left the retreat after only a few weeks, but Lennon and Harrison stayed longer and got to know her well.
A Song That Surprised and Moved Her
Before leaving, George Harrison told Prudence that Lennon had written a song about her. She felt honored but also nervous. Since Lennon left the ashram upset with the Maharishi, she worried the song might be negative. But she was wrong.
When her mother played the song for her on the record, she was pleased. The lyrics were kind and caring. “Very sweet, innocent, and even flattering,” she called it.
“Dear Prudence” became a fan favorite, known for its gentle message and peaceful melody. Its simple words and finger-picked guitar create a calm feeling that stays with the listener. Lennon’s message to a friend—asking her to step out and enjoy life—remains one of his most heartfelt works.
