John Lennon's First Girlfriend

TL;DR

Barbara Baker reminisces about her relationship with John Lennon, from their first meeting to their eventual split.

Transcript

Barbara Baker's earliest recollections of John Lennon were of little John perching up in a tree and shooting arrows at her and all the other girls passing by. Later, she also recalled encountering Lennon's youthful "charm" one day as she was walking home, her hair done up in a ponytail. She stated he said, "Oh there's horseface! Horse's tail and ho... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ John Lennon had a reputation for being mischievous and charming even in his youth.
• 🎼 Barbara Baker witnessed significant moments in John's early music career, including his first public performance.
• 💍 Their relationship was not without its flaws, with John often prioritizing his career and engaging in unfaithful behavior.
• 🥺 Barbara's parents and John's Aunt Mimi played a role in separating them, ultimately leading to their breakup.
• 🥹 John reminisced about Barbara years later, demonstrating that he still held some emotional attachment to their relationship.
• 🙊 Despite the challenges, Barbara spoke fondly of John's romantic gestures, such as writing poetry and drawing pictures for her.
• 🥌 John's relationship with Barbara was a stepping stone to meeting Cynthia Powell, who would become his first wife.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Barbara Baker and John Lennon first meet?

Barbara Baker first encountered John Lennon when he was perched in a tree, shooting arrows at her and the other girls passing by. Later, he approached her as she was walking home and referred to her as "horseface."

Q: What were some memorable moments in Barbara and John's relationship?

Barbara was present at John's first public singing debut with The Quarrymen at St. Barnabus church. They also enjoyed activities like bicycle riding and ice skating together.

Q: How did their relationship end?

Barbara's interest in John waned after about a year, and she started dating one of his friends behind his back. John was heartbroken when he found out but eventually forgave Barbara and got back together with her. Their relationship ultimately ended due to intervention from their parents and John's Aunt Mimi.

Q: How did John feel about Barbara even after their relationship ended?

In a later interview, John expressed curiosity about Barbara's life and wondered who was kissing her at the time. He acknowledged that their time together was in the past but still held some sentiment for his first girlfriend.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Barbara Baker recalls John Lennon shooting arrows at her as a child and later asking her for a walk, marking the start of their relationship.

• Despite John's busy schedule with The Quarrymen, Barbara had a front-row seat to musical history, including John's public singing debut.

• Their relationship had its challenges, with John being inconsiderate and sometimes engaging in simultaneous affairs with Barbara and his friend's girlfriend.