Julia

The phrase "ocean child" is a reference to Yoko Ono; it is the literal meaning of the Japanese name Yoko.

I think this song is about John ..somewhat explaining his love of Yoko to his dead mother.. Half of what I say is meaningless... he is talking to a dead person Ocean child calls me... I have found my love Kindof like introducing Yoko to his mom.

Oops, didn't mean when Julia was 16, she died when John was 16. Sorry folks!

Lennon wrote: "Half of what I say is meaningless But I say it just to reach you", Kahlil Gibran wrote: "half of what i say is meaningless, but i say it so the other half may reach you." I think anyone who is a poet or a songwriter knows that you write a line to communicate what's on your mind, then you work on a somewhat appropriate line that will rhyme with it, that may not say what you'd really like for it to say, but it's the best that can be done. Sometimes the writer inverts the two lines and the meaningless line comes first in order to make a better song or poem, or to give the latter line more emphasis, but you use the meaningless line anyway in order to create a song or a poem in the hopes that this will make what you want to say important enough for others to pay attention to it, and perhaps even to outlast your own life, to continue to communicate with those who will come after you are gone. Perhaps this is what Lennon and Gibran meant...

This is John's version of what he believes his father was feeling.It's not him to his mother.

this is a truely great song; I can only think of two things to say about this song. John Lennon sees his mother in everything because she is always at the forefront of his mind and or he believes that when she died she became part of everything, one with God.

Actually there are 2 parts in the song where John references Khalil Gibran's Sand and Foam.

There's the part that goes "Half of what I say is meaningless; but I say it so that the other half may reach you." as others have stated before.

Then in Gibran's poem: "When Life does not find a singer to sing her heart she produces a philosopher to speak her mind." becomes "When I cannot sing my heart, I can only speak my mind" in Julia.

Sand and Foam is an incredible piece of literature. I think John must have been fond of it, because as I was reading it, I really felt the influence it had on John. I somehow felt John's presence through the words of the poem.

I think this song is about John longing to be able to see and talk to his mother again, but maybe it's just the name Julia that makes me think that. Lines 1 and 2 lead me to believe that it may be, though.

John's mother <b>Julia</b> died when he was 16. She was hit by a car and died almost suddenly. I believe this song is about his longing to see his mother again, and how he regrets not being able to know her. John grew up with his Aunt Mimi, who was Julia's sister. This song is on "The Beatles" or "The White Album" which is what most people refer to it as. Anyway, that's about all I have to say. Oh yeah, this song rocks...and John Lennon is the greatest singer/songwriter who has ever lived. The Beatles Forever

i think its the greatest song about a girl ever. it always kinda bugged me that it was about his mom, but it is kinda about Yoko also, liek wit the "ocean child" line. This song can never get old. Aside from being one of the best song writers of all time, after listening 2 this song and hearing the melody and the way he sings it i'm sure John's the bets composer of music ever. JUST LISTEN 2 THIS SONG!!! the music i AMAZING!!