The tragic assassination of John Lennon on December 8, 1980, sent shockwaves through the world. However, what many may not know is that Lennon narrowly escaped death just a few months earlier. During a treacherous boating expedition to Bermuda, Lennon faced a life-threatening situation that could have ended his life prematurely. Furthermore, it has been revealed that Lennon had received an unsettling letter from a psychic in 1966, predicting that he would be shot in the United States. These events shed light on the profound impact that near-misses and premonitions had on Lennon’s life.
John Lennon’s Perilous Boating Journey
Approximately six months before his assassination, John Lennon embarked on a voyage from Newport, RI, to Bermuda. Bermuda became a haven for his creativity, providing inspiration for many songs on his final album, Double Fantasy. However, the journey was far from smooth sailing. Lennon and his crew encountered a violent thunderstorm, characterized by massive waves and intense winds. In a 1980 Playboy interview with David Sheff, Lennon described how he took control of the boat, displaying remarkable courage despite his initial fear. Singing old sea shanties and defying the storm, Lennon found a sense of exhilaration amidst the chaos.
“So there I was at the wheel with the wind and sea lashing out at me. At first I was terrified, but Captain Hank was at my side so I felt relatively safe because I knew he wouldn’t let me do anything stupid. After a while Captain Hank wasn’t feeling too well so he went to the cabin below. Once I accepted the reality of the situation, something greater than me took over and all of a sudden I lost my fear. I actually began to enjoy the experience and I started to shout out old sea shanties in the face of the storm, screaming at the thundering sky.”
A Haunting Premonition
While Lennon managed to survive the treacherous boating expedition, tragedy would eventually befall him in December 1980. Astonishingly, years before his assassination, Lennon had received a letter from a psychic that foretold his shooting in the United States. Cynthia Lennon, John’s ex-wife, revealed this eerie premonition in her book, “John.” The letter arrived in 1966, a time when The Beatles were preparing for their final North American tour. Cynthia explained that the warning made John increasingly paranoid before their U.S. trip, as they believed it referred to that particular tour. The psychic’s message had a lasting impact on Lennon, causing him to constantly be on guard and live with a sense of impending danger.
The Lingering Fear and Tragic Reality
Although The Beatles completed their tour without incident, Lennon remained haunted by the psychic’s prediction. Cynthia recounts how he would often express his belief that he would be shot one day. Despite the passage of 14 years between the receipt of the letter and his assassination, the weight of the psychic’s words continued to trouble Lennon’s psyche. The constant presence of obsessive fans and the controversies surrounding The Beatles further amplified his concerns.
The harrowing boating incident and the chilling premonition cast a shadow over John Lennon’s life, hinting at the fragility of existence and the looming tragedy that awaited him. While it is impossible to definitively prove the psychic’s prediction, the profound impact it had on Lennon’s mindset is undeniable. These events serve as poignant reminders of Lennon’s close brush with death and the unsettling foreboding that persisted until that fateful day in December 1980. Lennon’s untimely death robbed the world of a musical genius, leaving an indelible mark on the history of music and the hearts of countless fans worldwide.