Born in Liverpool, Lennon became involved in the skiffle craze as a teenager. In 1956, he formed The Quarrymen, which evolved into the Beatles in 1960. Sometimes called "the smart Beatle", Lennon initially was the group's de facto leader, a role he gradually ceded to McCartney. Through his songwriting in the Beatles, he embraced myriad musical influences, initially writing and co-writing rock and pop-oriented hit songs in the band's early years, then later incorporating experimental elements into his compositions in the latter half of the Beatles' career as his songs became known for their increasing innovation. Lennon soon expanded his work into other media by participating in numerous films, including How I Won the War, and authoring In His Own Write and A Spaniard in the Works, both collections of nonsense writings and line drawings. Starting with "All You Need Is Love", his songs were adopted as anthems by the anti-war movement and the larger counterculture of the 1960s. In 1969, he started the Plastic Ono Band with his second wife, multimedia artist Yoko Ono, held the two-week-long anti-war demonstration Bed-ins for Peace and left the Beatles to embark on a solo career.
Between 1968 and 1972, Lennon and Ono collaborated on many works, including a trilogy of avant-garde albums, several more films, his solo debut John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band and the international top-10 singles "Give Peace a Chance", "Instant Karma!", "Imagine", and "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)". Moving to New York City in 1971, his criticism of the Vietnam War resulted in a three-year deportation attempt by the Nixon administration. Lennon and Ono separated from 1973 to 1975, during which time he produced Harry Nilsson's album Pussy Cats. He also had chart-topping collaborations with Elton John ("Whatever Gets You thru the Night") and David Bowie ("Fame"). Following a five-year hiatus, Lennon returned to music in 1980 with the Ono collaboration Double Fantasy. He was murdered by a Beatles fan, Mark David Chapman, three weeks after the album's release.
As a performer, writer or co-writer, Lennon had 25 number-one singles in the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Double Fantasy, his best-selling album, won the 1981 Grammy Award for Album of the Year. That year, he won the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. In 2002, Lennon was voted eighth in a BBC history poll of the 100 Greatest Britons. Rolling Stone ranked him the fifth-greatest singer and 38th greatest artist of all time. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame (in 1997) and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (twice, as a member of the Beatles in 1988 and as a solo artist in 1994).
Studio albums
John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (1970)
Imagine (1971)
Some Time in New York City (with Yoko Ono, 1972)
Mind Games (1973)
Walls and Bridges (1974)
Rock 'n' Roll (1975)
Double Fantasy (with Yoko Ono, 1980)
Milk and Honey (Posthumous with Yoko Ono, 1984)
Experimental studio albums with Yoko Ono
Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins (1968)
Unfinished Music No. 2: Life with the Lions (1969)
Wedding Album (1969)
Instant Karma
John Lennon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Instant karma's gonna get you
Gonna knock you right on the head
You better get yourself together
Pretty soon you're gonna be dead
What in the world you thinking of
Laughing in the face of love?
It's up to you, yeah, you
Instant karma's gonna get you
Gonna look you right in the face
Better get yourself together, darlin'
Join the human race
How in the world you gonna see
Laughin' at fools like me?
Who in the hell d'you think you are?
A super star?
Well, right you are
Well, we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Well, we all shine on
Everyone come on
Instant karma's gonna get you
Gonna knock you off your feet
Better recognize your brothers
Everyone you meet
Why in the world are we here?
Surely not to live in pain and fear?
Why on earth are you there
When you're everywhere?
Come and get your share
Well, we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Yeah, we all shine on
Come on and on and on, on, on
Yeah, yeah, alright, uh-huh, ah
Well, we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Yeah, we all shine on
On and on and on, on and on
Well, we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Well, we all shine on
And the moon and the stars and the sun
Well, we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Yeah, we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
The lyrics of John Lennon's song "Instant Karma" warn listeners that their actions and decisions have consequences that will come back to them quickly. The phrase "Instant Karma" refers to the idea that what goes around comes around instantly. The chorus of the song emphasizes this message, urging listeners to recognize their interconnectedness with others and take responsibility for their actions. The lyrics challenge listeners to think about their role in the world and to consider how they can contribute positively to society.
The verses of the song address specific actions and attitudes that the singer sees as problematic. Laughing in the face of love and looking down on others are highlighted as examples of negative behavior. The lyrics also suggest that people need to recognize and appreciate the humanity in others, as "we all shine on" and are part of a larger community. The song ultimately encourages listeners to come together and collectively make a difference in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Instant Karma's gonna get you
Your actions will have consequences, and the universe will respond accordingly.
Gonna knock you right on the head
This response will be swift and forceful.
You better get yourself together
To avoid the negative consequences, you must take responsibility for your actions and change your behavior.
Pretty soon you're gonna be dead
If you don't change your ways, you will face a serious consequence.
What in the world you thinking of
Your behavior is irrational and lacking in empathy for others.
Laughing in the face of love
You are failing to appreciate the positive aspects of life and love.
What on earth you tryin' to do
Your actions seem senseless and without purpose.
It's up to you, yeah you
Ultimately, it's your responsibility to change your behavior and avoid the negative consequences.
Gonna look you right in the face
The consequences of your actions will be impossible to ignore.
Better get yourself together darlin'
To be a part of society, you must make an effort to connect and understand others.
Join the human race
The human experience is one of shared struggle and interconnectedness.
How in the world you gonna see
Your close-mindedness and inability to empathize prevents you from truly seeing the world around you.
Laughin' at fools like me
You are mocking those who you see as inferior, without recognizing your own flaws.
Who in the hell d'you think you are
Your arrogance and sense of superiority are misguided.
A super star
Your perceived status and success do not excuse your negative behavior.
Well we all shine on
Despite our flaws and struggles, we are all capable of radiating positivity and goodness.
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
We all have a unique and important role to play in the world.
Ev'ryone come on
We are all in this together and need to support each other.
Gonna knock you off your feet
The consequences of your actions will be powerful enough to interrupt your daily life.
Better recognize your brothers
We are all part of the same human family and should treat each other with kindness and compassion.
Ev'ryone you meet
Every person you encounter is deserving of respect and understanding.
Why in the world are we here
The purpose of our existence is a profound and eternal question.
Surely not to live in pain and fear
Our lives are meant to be full of joy and love, not fear and suffering.
Why on earth are you there
Your actions are not serving your true purpose or connection to others.
When you're ev'rywhere
You have the potential to make an impact and connect with others in meaningful ways.
Come and get your share
There is enough love and positivity to go around, if we all choose to receive and give it freely.
On and on and on on on
The cycle of life and positivity continues perpetually.
Yeah yeah, alright, uh huh, ah
Expressing enthusiasm and positivity toward the idea of universal love and human connection.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rhagedorn
John's vocals in this song were incredible.
@sonoyta5386
Drum beat is kool
@pimprijs8836
Its also an effect he is using
@Slutuppnu
Yes! His voice was more steely here than ever.
@bluethunder6801
Yeeeep
@christined2495
Yesssssss! My favorite Lennon Song. Miss him
Drums can’t be beat
@romcallis
Mind boggling to think of all the great songs John would have created if he were still with us
@fougee1
Yes and the monster that took him is still alive. Lennon was talking
about a tour.Also a Beatles reunion possibly in the future. Miss him
every day.
@maxwellk10
WAP Remix - Cardi feat. John Lennon, city gurlz, machine gun Kelly, and t swizzle. This could’ve been a reality
@TheBCBuddy
....just imagine....❤