After the Beatles broke up, John became entangled in a self-destructive web of jealousy which hampered he and Yoko's relationship. To atone for his sins, as it were, he wrote "Jealous Guy," a somber, beautiful recording aplogizing for his ways. The tune is soft and moving, and was originally written in India during the Beatles' stay with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1968 as "Child of Nature." Paul wrote a similar song, "Mother Nature's Son," and his was the one that made it onto The Beatles, though "Child of Nature" clearly meant something to John as he kept reworking it even into the Get Back sessions (which later became Let It Be). It wasn't until John realized that he was ruining he and Yoko's relationship with his obsessive jealousy that he penned the words and laid down the track, full of lovely piano, spare strings, and propulsive drum beats.
Noteworthy Covers: "Jealous Guy" is one of John's most covered songs, but most of the covers I've come across simply aren't worth much. This includes Roxy Music's version, released a year after John's death in 1981; it was their only #1 hit, but by that point they had already sold out, and it has not aged well. There were two exceptional versions I discovered, and the first of those is Lou Reed's powerful tour de force performance at the 9/11 benefit concert special, Come Together: A Night for John Lennon's Words and Music.
Lou Reed performing "Jealous Guy" in October 2001 at the Come Together: A Night for John Lennon's Words and Music 9/11 benefit concert, in New York City's Radio City Music Hall. Steve Buscemi introduces him.
The other excellent version I happened upon was a beautiful, soulful interpretation by James Morrison.
James Morrison performing "Jealous Guy" on November 29, 2007, at the KL Convention Center in Malaysia.
