Meaning of Give Peace a Chance by John Lennon & Song Story

The outstanding British rock musician John Lennoy would have turned seventy-two today. On the birthday of a great man – an article about one of his most famous songs, created without the participation of The Beatles.

In 1969, newlyweds Yoko Ono and John Lennon staged two bed rallies against the Vietnam War.

They spent the first at the Amsterdam Hilton Hotel, where they sat on a bed in white robes, promoting peace and answering questions from visitors. The couple staged a second such demonstration in room 1472 of the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal.

The history of the song Give Peace a Chance

On June 1, on the final day of the event, John Lennon, along with all those present, sang the new song Give Peace a Chance (“Give peace a chance”) to the accompaniment of two guitars (Tom Smothers played the second) and a tambourine (Yoko Ono). Recording with four microphones and a regular tape recorder was made by Andre Perry. He rented equipment from one of the local studios.

There is no need to interpret the meaning of the song Give Peace a Chance. It is clearly expressed in the very title of the composition.

Give Peace a Chance immediately became the anthem of all protesters against the war in Vietnam. On October 15, 1969, it was sung in chorus by over half a million demonstrators in Washington.

Lennon, who saw a report on the event on TV, called this day one of the most important in his life. Later, he told Rolling Stone magazine that he wrote the song specifically for such actions.

Release and achievements

The single Give Peace a Chance climbed to number two on the UK Singles Chart and peaked at number fourteen on the Billboard Hot 100.

Subsequently, Give Peace a Chance was sung by many famous artists and bands, including Yoko Ono, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Louis Armstrong, Ringo Starr, Stevie Wonder, U2, Aerosmith and others.

Clip Give Peace a Chance

Now we offer you to watch the official music video for Give Peace a Chance with footage of the protest in bed.

Interesting Facts

The song was originally credited to Lennon and McCartney. In later releases, Paul’s name was no longer there, and John said that he had to credit Yoko Ono as co-writer, because she helped him write the lyrics.
On a recording on the live album Live Peace in Toronto 1969, Lennon admits that he does not remember the words and therefore has to improvise.
In the third verse of the first version of the text, the word “masturbation” is used, which John later changed to “mastication” (“chewing”).
In 2008, Lennon’s handwritten lyrics were sold at Christie’s for more than £400,000. John gave it to Gale Renard, a sixteen-year-old at the time, during a bed action.
A song with almost the same name, Please, Give Peace a Chance, and almost identical meaning is in Joe Cocker’s repertoire.

Give Peace a Chance Lyrics

Ev’rybody’s talkin’ ’bout
Bagism, Shagism, Dragism, Madism, Ragism, Tagism
This-ism, that-ism, ism ism ism
All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Ev’rybody’s talkin’ ’bout
Minister, Sinister, Banisters and Canisters,
Bishops, Fishops, Rabbis, and Pop Eyes, Bye bye, Bye byes
All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Ev’rybody’s talkin’ ’bout
Revolution, Evolution, Masturbation, Flagellation, Regulation,
Integrations, mediations, United Nations, congratulations
All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Ev’rybody’s talkin’ ’bout
John and Yoko, Timmy Leary, Rosemary,
Tommy Smothers Bobby Dylan Tommy Cooper
Derek Taylor, Norman Mailer, Alan Ginsberg, Hare Krishna
hare hare krishna
All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Give Peace a Chance Lyrics John Lennon

Everyone is talking about
Veshchizme, trahism, dragism, dickism, ragism, labelism,
Etoism, toism, -ism, -ism, -ism
All we talk about is “Give the world a chance”
All we talk about is “Give the world a chance”

Everyone is talking about
Ministers, misfortunes, railings, canisters,
Bishops, monks, rabbis and bug-eyed, bye-bye
All we talk about is “Give the world a chance”
All we talk about is “Give the world a chance”

Everyone is talking about
Revolution, evolution, masturbation, flagellation, instructions,
Integrations, mediations, United Nations, congratulations
All we talk about is “Give the world a chance”
All we talk about is “Give the world a chance”

Everyone is talking about
Jon and Yoko, Timmy Leary, Rosemary,
Tommy Smothers, Bobby Dylan, Tommy Cooper
Derek Taylor, Norman Mailer, Alan Ginsberg, Hare Krishna,
Hare, Hare Krishna
All we talk about is “Give the world a chance”
All we talk about is “Give the world a chance”