Joe Wong And Mary Timony Share Haunting Cover Of John Lennon And Yoko Ono’s “Every Man Has A Woman Who Loves Him”

Joe Wong and Mary Timony have released a new cover of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s song “Every Man Has A Woman Who Loves Him” as a 40th anniversary celebration for Lennon and Ono’s album Double Fantasy. Dave Fridmann of The Flaming Lips mixed Wong and Timony’s version of the track.

Wong and Timony create a psychedelic soundscape with deep vocals and transcending synths. Wong slowly sings Lennon’s lyrics, creating a haunting sound that pulls listeners into an alternate dimension. Drums slowly beat beneath to create a softer sound, the track continuing to have an edge within its instrumentals. Timony provides slithering back-up vocals as she and Wong dance and sway amid the plucking guitars and deep bass.

“The song has always felt haunting and profound to me, and is an under appreciated song in the Ono/Lennon oeuvre,” Wong said in a press statement. “Although the song was recorded during the week of Lennon’s 80th birthday (last month), the track continues to inhabit my dreams, and that’s a good thing. Not enough people talk about what an incredible singer Yoko is, and interpreting her song was a formidable challenge. It was a thrill to explore Andy Newmark’s subtly polyrhythmic drum part and Tony Levin’s bass genius, from the time when it was restricted to a mere four strings.”

Lennon and Ono released Double Fantasy on November 17, 1980, with the album being Lennon’s final studio release from within his lifetime. The original track appears more upbeat in sound, incorporating more funky guitars as Ono’s vocals take on a more prominent role. The song pulls from genres such as folk and early psychedelia, with Wong and Timony ensuring those influences remain in their cover.

The cover comes as Wong’s latest offering since his debut album, Nite Creatures, had been released last September. Wong is also the host of the popular podcast, The Trap Set, which has featured guests such as Sheila E, Phil Collins, Fred Armisen, Sharon Van Etten and more.

Mary Timony is a member of the punk band Hammered Hulls, which had formed in 2018. She also fronts the band Ex Hex, who had released their latest album, It’s Real, in March, 2019. Their debut album, Rips, had been released in 2014.