Peak
2
Weeks
20
Score
4,624
Chart Year
1981
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Lennon wrote this song as an ode to his wife Yoko Ono. He regarded it as the most Beatles-like track on his Double Fantasy album and he called it the '80s update of "Girl," which is a track on Rubber Soul. Speaking with Rolling Stone just days before his death, Lennon said: "'Woman' came about because, one sunny afternoon in Bermuda, it suddenly hit me what women do for us. Not just what my Yoko does for me, although I was thinking in those personal terms... but any truth is universal. What dawned on me was everything I was taking for granted. Women really are the other half of the sky, as I whisper at the beginning of the song. It's a 'we' or it ain't anything." In many ways, this song is Lennon's apology to Yoko. In 1973, the couple was having problems in their marriage, so Yoko agreed to put their relationship on hold and let John sow his oats. He did, taking up with his assistant May Pang and engaging in some unruly behavior. Lennon referred to this time as his "Lost Weekend" - it lasted about 18 months. This was released as a single in January 1981, about a month after Lennon was murdered. In the UK, this replaced Lennon's "Imagine" at #1, which had been reissued following Lennon's death. This was the first time an artist replaced himself at UK #1 since The Beatles did it in 1963 with "She Loves You" and "I Want To Hold Your Hand." This is the only song title for which Lennon and McCartney wrote separate songs. In 1966 McCartney wrote a song of the same title for Peter & Gordon using the pseudonym Bernard Webb. The word "woman" begins each verse, but doesn't show up in the chorus, which is just "Ooh, Oooh Oooh, well, well, do do do do."
(For the other half of the sky) Woman I can hardly express My mixed emotions at my thoughtlessness After all, I'm forever in your debt And woman I will try to express My inner feeling and thankfulness For showing me the meaning of success Ooh, well, well Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo Ooh, well, well Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo Woman I know you understand The little child inside the man Please remember my life is in your hands And woman Hold me close to your heart However distant, don't keep us apart After all it is written in the stars Ooh, well, well Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo Ooh, well, well Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo Well, woman Please let me explain I never meant to cause you sorrow or pain So let me tell you again and again and again I love you, yeah, yeah Now and forever I love you, yeah, yeah Now and forever I love you, yeah, yeah Now and forever I love you, yeah, yeah
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan 17, 1981 | 36 | 90 |
| 2 | Jan 24, 1981 | 27 | 99 |
| 3 | Jan 31, 1981 | 17 | 109 |
| 4 | Feb 7, 1981 | 8 | 118 |
| 5 | Feb 14, 1981 | 6 | 120 |
| 6 | Feb 21, 1981 | 4 | 122 |
| 7 | Feb 28, 1981 | 3 | 123 |
| 8 | Mar 7, 1981 | 3 | 123 |
| 9 | Mar 14, 1981 | 3 | 123 |
| 10 | Mar 21, 1981 | 2 | 124 |
| 11 | Mar 28, 1981 | 2 | 124 |
| 12 | Apr 4, 1981 | 2 | 124 |
| 13 | Apr 11, 1981 | 4 | 122 |
| 14 | Apr 18, 1981 | 5 | 121 |
| 15 | Apr 25, 1981 | 8 | 118 |
| 16 | May 2, 1981 | 16 | 110 |
| 17 | May 9, 1981 | 34 | 92 |
| 18 | May 16, 1981 | 51 | 75 |
| 19 | May 23, 1981 | 65 | 61 |
| 20 | May 30, 1981 | 96 | 30 |