Mind Games

"Mind Games" is the title track from an album of the same name by John Lennon. It was also released as a single, reaching 26 in the UK Single Charts and #18 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, the B-Side was Meat City. Originally titled "Make Love Not War," the song evoked lingering hippie sentiments mixed with the evolving mysticism of the early 1970s.[citation needed] Although Phil Spector was not involved in this album, Lennon's production is similar to the Spector "Wall of Sound." This song, which was begun in 1969 and can be heard in the Beatles' Let It Be sessions, was inspired by the book of the same name by Robert Masters and Jean Houston (1972), which emphasized the power of the human brain to induce various states of consciousness without the aid of external substances. The book presented a series of exercises intended to maximize one's potential for problem solving, conflict resolution, visionary thinking, creativity, focused listening and super-communication. Each application would start with a brief meditation cycle followed by the guided instructions of a director. During the exercise, only the director would speak, but each person would share their experience afterwards. Mind alteration had long since been a point of interest to Lennon, however he was aware of the risks involved with chemical consumption. A recommendation by Lennon himself is included with the book.

[Verse 1] We're playing those mind games together Pushing the barrier, planting seed Playing the mind guerilla Chanting the mantra, "peace on Earth" We all been playing those mind games forever Some kind of Druid dude, lifting the veil Doing the mind guerilla Some call it magic, the search for the grail [Bridge] Love is the answer And you know that, for sure Love is the flower You gotta let it, you gotta let it grow [Verse 2] So keep on playing those mind games together Faith in the future, out of the now You just can't beat on those mind guerillas Absolute elsewhere, in the stones of your mind Yeah, we're playing those mind games forever Projecting our images in space and in time [Bridge] Yes is the answer And you know that for sure Yes is surrender You gotta let it, you gotta let it go [Verse 3] So keep on playing those mind games together Doing the ritual, dance in the sun Millions of mind guerillas Putting their soul power to the karmic wheel Keep on playing those mind games forever Raising the spirit of peace and love Love! [Outro] Love! I want you to make love, not war I know you've heard it before