☝️ Key Points
- The song 'Dear Prudence' was written by the Beatles for Prudence Farrow, who had isolated herself during a meditation course in India.
- The opening line 'Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play?' is a direct invitation to Prudence to break her self-isolation and participate in life again.
- Through passages like 'Greet the brand new day.' and 'The sun is up, the sky is blue. It's beautiful, and so are you', the song's lyrics attempt to convey that life and the world are beautiful and that Prudence is a part of it.
- The song emphasizes the connection to the world and nature, and encourages Prudence to be aware of it and engage.
- By urging her to smile and show her joy, Prudence is encouraged to actively participate in life and end her self-isolation.
Interpretation
"Dear Prudence" is a song that
the Beatles wrote during their time in India. It is addressed to Prudence Farrow, the sister of actress Mia Farrow. They both participated in a meditation course with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. During this time, Prudence would retreat to her accommodation to meditate and rarely come out. The Beatles, especially John Lennon, who wrote the majority of the song, were concerned about her and tried to get her to open up to them and the outside world again.
The song begins with the words "Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play?", which is a direct invitation to Prudence to come out of her self-isolation and participate in life. The lyrics continue with "Greet the brand new day. The sun is up, the sky is blue. It's beautiful, and so are you." Here, the Beatles express their appreciation for the day and the beauty of the world, while reminding Prudence that she is also a part of that beauty.
Throughout the song, they encourage Prudence to open her eyes and see the sunny skies, metaphorically telling her to see the positive aspects of life. The lyrics "The wind is low, the birds will sing that you are part of everything" emphasize the connection with the world and nature.
The repeated line "Look around, around" is another encouragement to become aware of the world around her and engage with it.
Finally, they ask Prudence to smile and show her joy, which is another sign that she should actively participate in life. The song ends with the same lines it began with, underscoring the Beatles' desire for Prudence to end her self-isolation and open herself up to life and the world around her."