10 Darkest Songs John Lennon Ever Wrote

Featured on: Walls and Bridges (1974)

Steel and Glass contains Lennon’s most threatening lyric in “You're mother left you when you were small. But you're gonna wish you wasn't born at all”.

It is believed that Lennon wrote the song as an attack on his former business manager, Allen Klein. It was Klein who pushed McCartney to sue not only his former business manager but also his former bandmates.

Lennon never publicly confirmed Klein was his target, however, lyrical references to a squawking mouthpiece and pulling strings are cited as evidence. Many have also noted musical similarities to Lennon’s most infamous musical attack How Do You Sleep, particularly in the use of violin and horns during the chorus.

The strong backing music and sheer number of musicians gives the feeling Lennon’s vitriol has more co-conspirators than his previous lyrical attacks.

Lennon told fans that the song wasn’t really about anybody. Adding “I’m loathe to tell you this, because it spoils the fun. I would sooner everybody think, ‘Who’s it about?’ and try and piece it together. For sure, it isn’t about Paul and it isn’t about Eartha Kitt”.

Lennon summed up the track saying, “I was trying to write something nasty, and I really didn’t feel that nasty, but there’s some interesting musical stuff on it”.