Lyrics:

The Song:

Love is a song by John Lennon from his 1970 album, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band.

Beck originally planned to perform "Love" at a John Lennon tribute concert on September 20, 2001 in New York. The show was to be broadcast on cable on October 9. But unfortunately due to the tragic World Trade Center attacks in NYC on September 11, the show was postponed a few weeks. When a rescheduled recording date was announced for October 2, it was also made known that Beck was no longer able to participate.

Despite that, Beck did learn the song, and throughout 2002-2003 he played "Love a number of times at his concerts (always solo, without a band).

Finally, over a decade later, in 2014, Beck released a studio recording of the song to a Starbucks compilation of love song covers. His recording is simple, yet full, highlighted by gorgeous slide guitar and vocal harmonies. It is essentially a one-man recording too, Beck played everything.

Beck's simple comment about the song noted its "masterful simplicity with chords you can get lost in."

Live:

Played live 9 times:
Earliest known live version: August 9, 2002
Latest known live version: October 9, 2020

Beck's participation in the Lennon tribute never happened, but he did play the song for an audience the first time on August 9 2002! He played "Love" solo, on the piano. After the show to some fans, he admitted he was a little nervous to do it. Nonetheless, he played it once again a few nights later in New York...all the more appropriate because of Lennon's association with the city.

Beck continued to perform the song occasionally throughout 2002-2003, always solo, without a band.

Then in summer of 2013, he pulled it back out again at a show in Paris (again, solo).