The subject of the Beatles’ song “Dear Prudence” is Prudence Farrow, the younger sister of actress Mia Farrow. Prudence was present when the Beatles visited Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in Rishikesh, India in early 1968. Instead of joining the activities with the others, she primarily stayed in seclusion during long periods of meditation in her room.
The others at the retreat wanted her to join them. John Lennon, who thought she might be depressed, wrote the song to invite her to “come out to play”. Years later, Prudence explained that she was just trying to take Transcendental Meditation seriously. In Mojo magazine, she said: “They were trying to be cheerful, but I wished they’d go away. I don’t think they realized what the training was all about.”
Prudence Farrow, along with fellow retreat guest Mike Love of the Beach Boys, became teachers of Transcendental Meditation (TM).
“Dear Prudence” is the second track on the 1968 double-disc album The Beatles (better known as “The White Album”).
