Several of their later albums were released under the name The Plastic Ono Band, and often featured other musicians such as Eric Clapton, Klaus Voorman, and Alan White. The Plastic Ono Band's first album, Live Peace in Toronto 1969, was recorded during the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival Festival. The first half of their performance consisted of rock standards, and during the second half, Ono took the microphone and along with the band performed what may be one of the first expressions of the avant garde during a rock concert. The set ended with music that consisted mainly of feedback, while Ono screamed and sang.
Their fifth album together, Some Time in New York City, released in 1972, is fiercely motivated by political issues the couple found themselves confronted with upon moving to New York City in September, 1971. The album was highly controversial but is generally seen as the beginning of Ono's emergence as a songwriter with "Sisters O Sisters", "Born In A Prison", and "We're All Water"
With the birth of their son Sean in 1975, Lennon put his career on hold to raise the boy and rekindle his relationship with his older son Julian. In the summer of 1980, both Lennon and Ono felt ready to resume to work and began composing. They made the decision to release their impending songs together on the same album. Subtitled "A Heart Play", Double Fantasy would be a collection of songs whereby John and Yoko would be singing to each other.
Released in 1984, Milk and Honey is notable for being Lennon's first posthumous release of music, having been recorded in the last months of his life during and following the sessions for Double Fantasy. Though Lennon's death caused a temporary shelving of the project, Ono was later capable of returning to complete it.
Attica State
John Lennon & Yoko Ono Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What a waste of human lives
Shoot the prisoners in the towers
Forty-three poor widowed wives
Attica state, attica state
We're all mates with attica state
But the prisoners did not kill
"Rockefeller pulled the trigger"
That is what the people feel
Attica state, attica state
We're all mates with attica state
Free the prisoners, jail the judges
Free all prisoners everywhere
All they want is truth and justice
All they need is love and care
Attica state, attica state
We're all mates with attica state
They all live in suffocation
Let's not watch them die in sorrow
Now's the time for revolution
Give them all a chance to grow
Attica state, attica state
We're all mates with attica state
Come together join the movement
Take a stand for human rights
Fear and hatred clouds our judgment
Free us all from endless night
Attica state, attica state
We're all mates with attica state
Attica state, attica state
We all live in attica state
Attica state, attica state
Attica, attica, attica state
The song Attica State by John Lennon and Yoko Ono is a commentary on the Attica Prison riot of 1971, which resulted in the deaths of 43 people in New York State. The lyrics express outrage over the senseless violence and waste of human life that occurred during the riot. The song blames the authorities, in particular Governor Nelson Rockefeller, for the violence, rather than the inmates who were protesting for better living conditions.
Lennon and Ono express support for the prisoners, calling for their release and the imprisonment of those responsible for the violence. The song highlights the need for truth and justice, love and care in the criminal justice system, and the importance of human rights.
The chorus "we're all mates with attica state" emphasizes the idea that we are all connected to the state of Attica and the events that occurred there, and that we all have a responsibility to work towards a more just and humane society.
Line by Line Meaning
What a waste of human power
The tragedy at Attica was a loss of human potential and the capability to make a positive impact on society.
What a waste of human lives
The death of prisoners at Attica was a loss of valuable human lives that could have contributed to the world.
Shoot the prisoners in the towers
The inevitability of death that prisoners in towers faced is an unforgivable act of violence.
Forty-three poor widowed wives
The wives of those who were killed in the Attica prison riot are now widows and their husbands are gone forever.
Attica state, attica state
The state of Attica and its issues need to be addressed and resolved.
We're all mates with attica state
Everyone is responsible for the state of Attica and everyone should work together to make it better.
Media blames it on the prisoners
The media puts the blame on the prisoners for the situation, even though they were not the ones in charge.
But the prisoners did not kill
The prisoners were not the ones responsible for the loss of life, but they were the ones penalized.
"Rockefeller pulled the trigger"
The people believe that the cause of the tragedy in Attica was caused by the government and the people in power.
Free the prisoners, jail the judges
The judges should be held responsible for their actions, and the prisoners should be given the chance to lead better lives.
Free all prisoners everywhere
All prisoners should be given the chance to earn their freedom and live better lives.
All they want is truth and justice
The prisoners are fighting for their rights as human beings and to be treated fairly.
All they need is love and care
Prisoners need to be treated with respect and dignity, and cared for in every way possible.
They all live in suffocation
The prisoners live in a state of confinement and lack the freedom to live fully and breathe freely.
Let's not watch them die in sorrow
It's our responsibility as fellow human beings to not sit idly by while others suffer.
Now's the time for revolution
It's time to make a change and take action to ensure that tragedies like this never happen again.
Give them all a chance to grow
All people deserve the chance to grow and improve their lives, regardless of their circumstances.
Come together join the movement
Everyone should work together to make the world a better place for all people.
Take a stand for human rights
We must stand up for the rights of all people, especially those who are most vulnerable.
Fear and hatred clouds our judgment
Our negative emotions can impact our ability to make decisions that benefit everyone.
Free us all from endless night
Breaking free from the cycle of violence is essential to creating a better future for all of humanity.
Attica state, attica state
The state of Attica and its problems need to be addressed and remedied.
We all live in attica state
We all suffer from the consequences of the unjust system that caused the tragedy in Attica.
Attica, attica, attica state
The repetition of the phrase emphasizes the urgency and importance of addressing the issues in Attica.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN LENNON, YOKO ONO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind