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)
Working Class Hero
John Lennon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
By giving you no time instead of it all
'Til the pain is so big you feel nothing at all
A working class hero is something to be
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
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be
When they've 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
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 you're still fucking peasants as far as I can see
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be
There's room at the top they are 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
A working class hero is something to be
If you want to be a hero well just follow me
If you want to be a hero well just follow me
John Lennon's "Working Class Hero" is a powerful song that sheds light on the trials and tribulations of the working class. The first verse describes how society and institutions make individuals feel small and insignificant from birth, by giving them no time to develop themselves. The resulting pain makes them numb, making it easier for the system to use them for their work. The chorus speaks to the heroism of the working class, who have had to endure so much difficulty and pain in their everyday lives. The second verse addresses how people are mistreated at home and school and how the intelligent are despised, leading people to go crazy and not be able to abide by the societal rules.
The third verse discusses the effects of torture and fear on a person's psyche and its ability to limit their career opportunities. The last verse talks about how society distracts the working class by keeping them brainwashed with things like religion, sex, and TV, leading to a false sense of liberty. The message is potent, speaking to a person's responsibility to take their lives into their hands, adopt a critical perspective, and reject the ways in which they're being controlled.
Line by Line Meaning
As soon as you're born they make you feel small
From the moment you enter the world, you are treated insignificantly.
By giving you no time instead of it all
No time is given to you to discover your true purpose in life.
'Til the pain is so big you feel nothing at all
The emotional and psychological pain inflicted on you makes you numb to the world and everything around you.
They hurt you at home and they hit you at school
You are subjected to abuse and mistreatment not only at home, but also at school.
They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool
Intelligence is not celebrated, and ignorance is not only tolerated, but encouraged.
'Til you're so fucking crazy you can't follow their rules
The constant oppression and lack of support drives you to insanity, making it impossible to conform to societal norms.
When they've tortured and scared you for twenty-odd years
Years of being mistreated and frightened has led you to a life full of fear and anxiety.
Then they expect you to pick a career
After years of mistreatment, society expects you to magically know what career you want to pursue.
When you can't really function you're so full of fear
The trauma and abuse has made it nearly impossible to function normally in society due to the overwhelming fear and anxiety.
Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV
Society uses religion, sex, and television as a way to distract and manipulate you.
And you think you're so clever and classless and free
You may think you are free and in control, but in reality you are still a victim of societal oppression.
But you're still fucking peasants as far as I can see
Despite your efforts to rise up against oppression, you are still seen as a lower-class citizen.
There's room at the top they are telling you still
Society convinces you that success and wealth are achievable for anyone, regardless of their background or social class.
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill
In order to reach the top, you must be willing to do whatever it takes and sacrifice your values and morals.
If you want to be like the folks on the hill
If you wish to be successful and wealthy like those in power, you must be willing to play dirty and do whatever it takes.
A working class hero is something to be
Despite the overwhelming odds against you, being a hero from the working class is a noble pursuit.
If you want to be a hero well just follow me
If you aspire to be a hero from the working class, follow in the footsteps of those who have already made the journey.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Winston Lennon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Joshio Herrera
One of my top favorite songs of all time. John Lennon plays on your heart strings and relates to the common man who feels trapped and lied to in this dysfunctional society.
Greg Harvey
he just spoke the truth people God bless this album it's one of the best Beatle solo albums out there
Tony Julian
such a dope song and only 9,500 views?? damn shame
Raymond Ginn
If John Lennon's a working class hero, then C Hitchens deserves the Ono Peace(sic) Prize.
T Anderson
Raymond Ginn Zoom..right over your head..
shadow21173
FIRST!!
random person
And 9th ha lol
random person
8th