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
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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
John Lennon's "Instant Karma!" is a candid rebuke of condescension, arrogance and lack of empathy in humans. The song's title refers to the notion that whatever one puts out into the universe, be it good or bad, comes back to them instantly. The song is an upbeat and energetic rocker, with driving piano and guitar riffs, which reflects Lennon's desire to create a song that could be understood and enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds.
The opening lines of the song warn the listener that they are not immune to the consequences of their actions, and that their behavior has the potential to harm them. The chorus provides a message of hope, suggesting that there is still time to alter one's course and that everyone has the capacity for greatness. The song concludes by asserting that every person is capable of shining like the stars in the sky if they choose to embrace their fellow humans and live with compassion.
Overall, "Instant Karma!" is a call to action, urging people to take responsibility for their actions and to treat others with kindness and respect. It is a reminder that everyone, regardless of their station in life, has the capacity to make a positive impact on the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Instant karma's gonna get you
Your actions have consequences that come back to you quickly
Gonna knock you right on the head
The consequences will hit you hard
You better get yourself together
You should start making better choices
Pretty soon you're gonna be dead
The consequences of your actions will catch up to you and be fatal
What in the world you thinking of
What could possibly be going through your mind
Laughing in the face of love?
Why are you mocking love and its power
What on earth you tryna do?
What exactly are you trying to accomplish
It's up to you, yeah, you
You alone are responsible for the consequences of your actions
Instant karma's gonna get you
Your actions have consequences that come back to you quickly
Gonna look you right in the face
The consequences will be impossible to ignore
Better get yourself together, darlin'
You should start making better choices, my dear
Join the human race
Be a part of the community of people who strive to do good
How in the world you gonna see
How will you be able to recognize truth and goodness
Laughin' at fools like me?
Why are you mocking those who are trying to do good
Who in the hell d'you think you are?
Why do you believe you are above consequence and above others
A super star?
Are you a celebrity, the exception to the rule?
Well, right you are
You are not above consequence and not above others
Well, we all shine on
We are all unique and valuable beings
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Just like celestial objects in the universe
Everyone come on
Everyone is included in this shining
Instant karma's gonna get you
Your actions have consequences that come back to you quickly
Gonna knock you off your feet
The consequences will be so intense that you will be unable to stand
Better recognize your brothers
You should acknowledge the shared humanity you have with everyone you encounter
Everyone you meet
Every person you interact with, regardless of how brief the interaction
Why in the world are we here?
What is the purpose of our existence
Surely not to live in pain and fear?
It cannot be for suffering and terror
Why on earth are you there
What are you doing in that place or situation
When you're everywhere?
When you have the ability and opportunity to be anywhere
Come and get your share
Take part in the goodness and opportunities available to you
Well, we all shine on
We are all unique and valuable beings
And the moon and the stars and the sun
Just like celestial objects in the universe, we all have light to offer
On and on and on, on and on
This shining is endless and perpetual
Yeah, yeah, alright, uh-huh, ah
An expression of agreement and enthusiasm
Well, we all shine on
We are all unique and valuable beings
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Just like celestial objects in the universe
Yeah, we all shine on
We all have goodness and light to offer
On and on and on, on and on
This shining is endless and perpetual
Well, we all shine on
We are all unique and valuable beings
And the moon and the stars and the sun
Just as celestial objects in the universe shine, we all have light to offer
Well, we all shine on
We are all unique and valuable beings
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Just like celestial objects in the universe
Yeah, we all shine on
We all have goodness and light to offer
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....❤