Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)

(Working title: "This Bird Has Flown")

This famously cryptic song, which John Lennon wrote with the intent of describing an affair of his without his wife realizing it was about him, introduces the sitar to Beatles music. (However, the early version of Anthology 2 is more twangy than hypnotic, all but shrugging its shoulders at song's end. From this version, one would never guess what a mesmerizing effect this Indian instrument would have on an unsuspecting music world.)

The song, one of a treasure-trove of Lennon's best, effortlessly conveys the sense of mystery and resignation that entails a one-night stand. Strangely enough, some sources have maintained that the climactic lyric "I lit a fire" refers not to John lighting logs to keep himself warm but to his setting the woman's house on fire out of spite; I've listened to the song for years and never considered such a thought. You be the judge.

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