Life Begins at 40
Encyclopedia
"Life Begins at 40" is a song by John Lennon
. It was written in 1980, the year that both Lennon and Ringo Starr
turned 40 years of age. Lennon recorded a demo of the song at his home, but it was not recorded at any of the sessions for his comeback album, Double Fantasy
. Instead, he intended to give the song to Starr to record on his own forthcoming album, Can't Fight Lightning
. The song's amiable country
feel was well suited to Starr's singing style. After Lennon's murder in December 1980 these plans were understandably shelved. However Lennon's demo was eventually issued in 1998 on the John Lennon Anthology
box set.
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
. It was written in 1980, the year that both Lennon and Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
turned 40 years of age. Lennon recorded a demo of the song at his home, but it was not recorded at any of the sessions for his comeback album, Double Fantasy
Double Fantasy
Double Fantasy is an album released by John Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, in 1980. Though initially poorly received, the album is notable for its association with Lennon's murder three weeks after its release, whereupon it become a worldwide commercial success, and went on to win the 1981 Album...
. Instead, he intended to give the song to Starr to record on his own forthcoming album, Can't Fight Lightning
Stop and Smell the Roses
Stop and Smell the Roses is the eighth studio album by Ringo Starr, released in 1981 following the twin commercial disasters of Ringo the 4th and Bad Boy .-History:...
. The song's amiable country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
feel was well suited to Starr's singing style. After Lennon's murder in December 1980 these plans were understandably shelved. However Lennon's demo was eventually issued in 1998 on the John Lennon Anthology
John Lennon Anthology
John Lennon Anthology is a box set of home demos, alternative studio outtakes and other unreleased material recorded by John Lennon over the course of his solo career from "Give Peace a Chance" in 1969 up until the 1980 sessions for Double Fantasy and Milk and Honey.The anthology was divided by its...
box set.