Watching The Wheels was the third and final single issued from John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Double Fantasy album (following (Just Like) Starting Over and Woman). It was released posthumously on March 13, 1981 (US), over three months after John’s tragic murder. The song’s message is for fans of John who were puzzled over his departure from the recording industry during his ‘househusband’ years (1975-1980); a time when he chose to stay home and spend time with his new son, Sean. Appropriately the video footage shows a nice collection of home clips of John and Sean having fun together. Some recordings in my collection reveal that John’s earliest demos of Watching The Wheels date way back to the mid-1970′s when the song was likely titled ‘I’m Crazy’. The message and lyrics were refined over John’s final years with us, yielding the perfected version that is now my favorite on the Double Fantasy album. John plays piano and sings, while a hammer dulcimer is played by session musician, Matthew Cunningham.

Click the image above to play the video.

Here are some Amazon links to read more on, or purchase, some music related to this post:

1) Double Fantasy (See all Folk Music CDs) – 2000 remaster CD of original 1980 album with Watching The Wheels, along with (Just Like) Starting Over, Woman, and 2 bonus tracks.

2) Double Fantasy Stripped Down [New Mix + Original Recording Remastered]
– 2010 two CD release containing the digitally remastered version of the 1980 Double Fantasy album plus a never before released ‘Stripped Down’ version produced by Yoko Ono and Jack Douglas. Includes Watching The Wheels, along with (Just Like) Starting Over, Woman, and more.

3) Power To The People: The Hits – 2010 Deluxe CD/DVD hits compilation, including a bonus DVD with promo videos for all the tracks featured on the CD. Includes Watching The Wheels.

4) More Amazon links for any of your favorite Beatles-related music: The Beatles, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.

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