Is there Meditative Chanting in “Dear Prudence”?

By Ella Bernard

“Dear Prudence, 

Won't you open up your eyes

Look around”

(“Dear Prudence”, The White Album, 1968)

The Lennon-McCartney written song off the 1968 Beatles White Album was one of many composed on a trip to Rishikesh, India that same year. Lennon has listed it as one of his favorite Beatles songs, with themes of enlightenment and devotion, to meditation by a young Prudence Farrow. What you may not know is that “Dear Prudence” might incorporate meditation into the fabric of its music. The Ram mantra, a chant of worship to Hindu god Shree Ram, leads the individual to follow the path of the dharma towards spiritual perfection, bringing self-assurance, willpower, and mental strength. Having an interest in meditation myself, I recognized what sounded a lot like the Ram mantra when listening to “Dear Prudence” recently. The chanting of “round, round, round…” that follows the lyrics above sounds much like the simplified version of the Ram Mantra, in which the word “Ram” is used alone as a meditation syllable. While there are many variations of the Ram mantra, chanting “RAM” is enough to bring positive energy and awaken the soul” Astrotalk.

The Beatles traveled to the Ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in Rishikesh, India in early 1968 to practice his style of Transcendental meditation, “a technique of meditation in which practitioners repeat a Sanskrit word or mantra with the aim of achieving a state of inner peace” Dope Yogi, such as “Ram”, for instance. It’s possible that the Beatles overheard and partook in practicing this mantra, and, either intentionally or unintentionally wove it into the backing vocals of the track, heard at 1:47. While some syllables are clearly  “round”, the cadence of some sound eerily like “Ram”. Listen to the Ram mantra here. Try listening to it at 2x speed, then follow that recording with a listen to “Dear Prudence”, especially from 1:47 onward.

Music was everywhere at the ashram, it was inescapable David-Flynn. Without distraction, the Beatles wrote dozens of songs while at the ashram. Other guests overlapping with the Beatles’ stay included Scottish popstar Donovan, The Beach Boys’ Mike Love, and Prudence and Mia Farrow. 

Prudence Farrow Bruns at just 20 years old was able to fulfill her longing to practice transcendental meditation, accompanying her older sister, actress Mia Farrow who had been invited by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi himself, to the Ashram. “Dear Prudence” is about her dedicated meditation practices, after begging to be admitted to the Ashram at 18 years old, yet denied entry. The song recalls George and John’s attempts to get her to come out and join the festivities. With the piece being a dedication to meditation, it would not be unreasonable to ascertain that it incorporates elements of meditation in it. 

“Dear Prudence” was one of the only positive songs written about the Beatles’ stint in Rishikesh. The Beatles would later denounce the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, claiming he was a fraud. John Lennon is quoted in The Beatles Anthology “We believe in meditation, but not the Maharishi and his scene. … We thought he was something other than he was” Rolling Stone. There were also several sexual assault allegations posed against the Maharishi. The lyrics of “Sexie Sadie” on The White Album were originally "Maharishi, what have you done? / You made a fool of everyone" (Gould, 2007). Despite their severed ties with the Maharishi, George Harrison and John Lennon would remain particularly passionate about meditation throughout the rest of their lives. 

Perhaps it's no coincidence the Ram mantra was one of the primary mantras used in transcendental meditation in the 1960s. The Beatles played a great part in bringing transcendental meditation to the West. One way of introducing transcendental meditation would be to have it play over the radio in their songs. Have we been listening to the Ram mantra for years without realizing it? How cool would it be if this was truly the hidden intention of the band? The ram mantra is a bringer of love and light to the world, as well as pleasing to the ears. The Indian influence is clearly audible in their music, in “Dear Prudence”, “The Inner Light”, “I am the Walrus”, and “Norwegian Wood'' to name just a few. The chanting of “Jai Guru Deva” in “Across the Universe” is a chant honoring the Maharishi’s guru Dev, which was often invoked at the ashram. Guru Dev was famous for opening transcendental meditation to anyone to partake in, rather than just monks. George Harrison popularized the Sitar in his work in the Beatles as well as in his solo music, including a previously unreleased recording of “Om Hare Om (Gopala Krishna)”, dedicated to one of the most widely revered hindu deities.

Although nobody else has yet to observe this meditative aspect of “Dear Prudence,” I still believe it's likely the Ram mantra was the source of inspiration for the chanting in the track. The Beatles did a great deal to popularize and transport elements of Eastern meditation back to the West, and maybe “Dear Prudence” helps to carry this load. Other songs written while the Beatles were in India all incorporate the teachings of the Maharishi or experiences shared while there. Some songs perhaps go beyond just the lyrics in conjuring the Beatles stint at the famously defamed ashram.