Posted on 08/08/2022 10:03:46 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Edited on 08/09/2022 12:29:17 AM PDT by Chris Robinson. [history]
While much of the Beatles‘ early work had been comprised of love songs, and towards the end of the 1960s, the changing political state of the world had influenced the Fab Four – and particularly the most revolutionary amongst them, John Lennon – to avert their attention to the global events that were affecting the collective consciousness of society at the time.
One particular track in which Lennon’s newfound penchant for socially-conscious writing came to the fore was ‘Revolution’ from the White Album. It was inspired by the political protests that had taken place across the world, but particularly in America, against the ongoing atrocities of the Vietnam War.
“I wanted to put out what I felt about revolution,” Lennon said. “I thought it was time we [obscene] spoke about it, the same as I thought it was about time we stopped not answering about the Vietnamese war when we were on tour with Brian Epstein and had to tell him, ‘We’re going to talk about the war this time, and we’re not going to just waffle.’ I wanted to say what I thought about revolution.”
“I had been thinking about it up in the hills in India,” Lennon added. “I still had this ‘God will save us’ feeling about it, that it’s going to be all right. That’s why I did it: I wanted to talk, I wanted to say my piece about revolution. I wanted to tell you, or whoever listens, to communicate, to say, ‘What do you say? This is what I say.'”
So while Lennon and the Beatles had initially somewhat averted their eyes from the social horrors of the world whilst they were up in India earlier in 1968 – focusing on meditation and the futility of samsara under the influence of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi – something had been stirring in Lennon. He knew that something wasn’t right; seeing as he had such a global reach as the singer of the world’s biggest band, he had a moral responsibility to inform his audience of the social injustices occurring worldwide.
Lennon said: “We recorded the song twice. The Beatles were getting real tense with each other. I did the slow version, and I wanted it out as a single: as a statement of The Beatles’ position on Vietnam and The Beatles’ position on revolution.”
“For years, on The Beatles’ tours, Brian Epstein had stopped us from saying anything about Vietnam or the war,” Lennon added. “And he wouldn’t allow questions about it. But on one of the last tours, I said, ‘I am going to answer about the war. We can’t ignore it.’ I absolutely wanted The Beatles to say something about the war.”
Imagine there’s no Lennon.
sSucked
“They’re completely anti-Christ. I mean, I am anti-Christ as well, but they’re so anti-Christ they shock me which isn’t an easy thing.” (Saturday Evening Post, August 8-15, 1964, p. 25)
-Beatles’ press officer, Derek Taylor
“Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn’t argue with that; I’m right and I will be proved right.”
John Lennon
Hate “Imagine” more every year. That human beings in a fallen world devoid of Grace are going to be unified in a worldwide kumbaya is naive, childish and stupid.
Wow, really?
Had no idea about that one
In the end Lennon warmed up to Ronald Reagan’s conservative ideals. This was during the time he was raising his young son, Sean. Sean is now a conservative who hates the woke crowd.
” the ongoing atrocities of the Vietnam War.”
Stopped reading there.
I figured this would be about “Imagine”, since it’s a pro-communism, anti-religion song. “Revolution” seems to be an ANTI revolution song, and I can’t see how it has anything to do with Lennon’s loss of faith. Anti-war? Revolution?
You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it’s evolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don’t you know that you can count me out
Don’t you know it’s gonna be (all right)
Don’t you know it’s gonna be (all right)
Don’t you know it’s gonna be (all right)
You say you got a real solution
Well, you know
We’d all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well, you know
We’re all doing what we can
But if you want money for people with minds that hate
All I can tell you is brother you have to wait
Don’t you know it’s gonna be (all right)
Don’t you know it’s gonna be (all right)
Don’t you know it’s gonna be (all right)
You say you’ll change the constitution
Well, you know
We’d all love to change your head
You tell me it’s the institution
Well, you know
You better free your mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao
You ain’t going to make it with anyone anyhow
Don’t you know it’s gonna be (all right)
Don’t you know it’s gonna be (all right)
Don’t you know it’s gonna be (all right)
All, all, all, all, all, all, all, all, all, all, all right
All right, all right, all right, all right, all right
I always thought the lyrics were anti-communist. This really applies to the Woke crowd:
You say you’ll change the constitution
Well, you know
We’d all love to change your head
You tell me it’s the institution
Well, you know
You better free your mind instead
I can’t listen to them. Now I suppose it’s because I can sense Tge atheism
George yes. All things must pass. Him with Derek and Tge dominoes. It’s great. He did lead vocals on do you want to know a secret
Otherwise nope.
Agreed
Interesting... I didn't know that. I knew Sean Lennon was conservative (or "kind of conservative"). Good for him.
Never liked John Lennon, and I *really* hate his song 'Imagine' (also his stupid Christmas "war is over" song).
I don't believe in magic
I don't believe in I-Ching
I don't believe in Bible
I don't believe in tarot
I don't believe in Hitler
I don't believe in Jesus
I don't believe in Kennedy
I don't believe in Buddha
I don't believe in mantra
I don't believe in Gita
I don't believe in yoga
I don't believe in kings
I don't believe in Elvis
I don't believe in Zimmerman
I don't believe in Beatles
I just believe in me
Yoko and me
And that's reality
I wonder if he still sang that song after he and Yoko separated?
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