The most active period of political and public activity of John Lennon fell on the end of the sixties – the beginning of the seventies. During this time, he staged bed demonstrations, campaigned for improved conditions for prisoners, defended the rights of North American Indians, and wrote the famous songs “Revolution”, Imagine and Give Peace a Chance.
The story of creation and the meaning of the song Working Class Hero
At the same time, the acutely social composition Working Class Hero was born, which was included in the John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band album. In it, John sharply and cynically spoke out about class stratification, the transformation of individuals into a gray mass, which obeys the same rules, and called on everyone who wants to become heroes to follow him, although he did not explain where exactly.
After recording Working Class Hero, Lennon was immediately accused of not understanding anything in the life of the working people, because he himself came from the “middle bourgeoisie”, and therefore does not have to perform such songs. Paul McCartney commented on it this way:
John’s family was middle class and that impressed me because we all came from working families. We thought that John belonged to the upper class. Among his relatives were doctors, dentists, and someone even worked for the Air Force in Edinburgh. But fate decreed that John became a real street guy. He even wrote Working Class Hero, even though he was not working class himself.
John claimed that the song Working Class Hero “has nothing to do with socialism”. Say, he wanted to say, “if you want to go down this path, you will get to where I am and become the same.”
Video of Working Class Hero by John Lennon
Let’s watch the music video for John Lennon’s song.
In addition, Lennon called it “a warning to the people” and “a song for the revolution.” And whether he was sincere in his statements and appeals, decide for yourself.
Cover versions of Working Class Hero
Covers have been recorded by many famous musicians, including Ozzy Osbourne, David Bowie and Green Day.
Interesting Facts
- The guitar riff of Working Class Hero is the same as the one used on Bob Dylan’s “Masters of War”.
- In 1995, a tribute album entitled Working Class Hero was recorded, dedicated to the work of John Lennon.
- The “boys on the hill” that the song is about may refer to the US Congress sitting on Capitol Hill, or it may be a reference to The Beatles song “The Fool on the Hill”.
- Because of the word “f***ing” in the song’s lyrics, many radio stations did not want to broadcast it, and the director of one of them was sued after “Working Class Hero” went on the air, but he was acquitted.
Working Class Hero Lyrics by John Lennon
As soon as you’re born they make you feel small
By giving you no time instead of it all
Till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all
A working class hero is something to be
They hurt you at home and they hit you at school
They hate you if you’re clever and they despise a fool
Till you’re so f***ing crazy you can’t follow their rules
A working class hero is something to be
When they’ve been tortured and scared you for twenty-odd years
Then they expect you to pick a career
When you can’t really function you’re so full of fear
A working class hero is something to be
Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV
And you think you’re so clever and classless and free
But see you’re still f***ing peasants as far as I can
A working class hero is something to be
There’s room at the top they’re telling you still
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill
If you want to be like the folks on the hill
A working class hero is something to be
If you want to be a hero well just follow me
Lyrics of Working Class Hero by John Lennon Alternate
As soon as you are born, you are made to feel small,
Depriving you of time instead of giving it all to you,
Until the pain gets so bad you don’t feel anything anymore
A working-class hero means something
You get hurt at home and get hit at school
You are hated if you are smart and despised if you are stupid,
As long as you don’t go crazy enough that you can’t follow their rules.
A working-class hero means something
At first they tortured and intimidated you for more than twenty years,
And then they expect you to choose a profession,
If you are unable to function normally, you are terribly afraid
A working-class hero means something
Fill your head with religion, sex and TV
And you think you’re so smart and classless and free
But you’re just f***ing stinkers, as far as I can see.
A working-class hero means something
They still tell you there’s room upstairs
But first you have to learn to smile when you kill
If you want to be like those guys on the hill
A working-class hero means something
If you want to be a hero, well, follow me
Song quote
I think it’s for people like me who represent the working class, top or bottom, who the bureaucratic machine is supposed to recycle into the middle class, that’s all.
John Lennon
