The Ballad of John and Yoko
The Beatles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trying to get to Holland or France
The man in the mac said
You've got to go back
You know they didn't even give us a chance
Christ you know it ain't easy
You know how hard it can be
They're going to crucify me
Finally made the plane into Paris
Honeymooning down by the Seine
Peter Brown call to say
You can make it O.K.
You can get married in Gibraltar near Spain
Christ you know it ain't easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They're going to crucify me
Drove from Paris to the Amsterdam Hilton
Talking in our beds for a week
The newspapers said
Say what're you doing in bed
I said we're only trying to get us some peace
Christ you know it ain't easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They're going to crucify me
Saving up your money for a rainy day
Giving all your clothes to charity
Last night the wife said
Oh boy when you're dead
You don't take nothing with you but your soul, think
Made a lightning trip to Vienna
Eating chocolate cake in a bag
The newspapers said
She's gone to his head
They look just like two gurus in drag
Christ you know it ain't easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They're going to crucify me
Caught the early plane back to London
Fifty acorns tied in a sack
The men from the press
Said we wish you success
It's good to have the both of you back
Christ you know it ain't easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They're going to crucify me
The way things are going
They're going to crucify me
"The Ballad of John and Yoko" is a song written by John Lennon and released by The Beatles in 1969. The lyrics are a first-person account of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's events and struggles leading up to their private wedding ceremony in Gibraltar. The song starts with Lennon describing his attempt to get out of the UK in order to marry Ono in Amsterdam. However, they were met with resistance and ordered to return to the UK. The lyrics then express the difficulties the couple had to face due to the public’s opposition to their relationship. In light of their unconventional relationship and activism for peace, Lennon compares himself and Ono to Christ in the song, and expresses fear of being “crucified” due to their controversial beliefs.
The song is a direct representation of the personal journey of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, which saw them marrying in Gibraltar and their subsequent honeymoon in Paris and Amsterdam. The song is known to have caused some controversies owing to the lyrics' explicit references to Lennon's association his wife, Ono’s activism and peace advocacy. Lennon’s desire to be with his wife under the most trying conditions is alluded to in the lyrics of the song. Also, the significance of Africa in the peace movement is referred to in the lines "In the middle of a struggle / You become the leader of a new race."
Line by Line Meaning
Standing in the dock at Southampton
Starting at the port of Southampton
Trying to get to Holland or France
Attempting to reach either Holland or France
The man in the mac said
The man in the raincoat said
You've got to go back
You can't go forward
You know they didn't even give us a chance
They didn't provide an opportunity
Christ you know it ain't easy
My goodness, you are aware it is difficult
You know how hard it can be
You perceive the extent of its difficulty
The way things are going
Based on recent events
They're going to crucify me
I am going to be unfairly punished
Finally made the plane into Paris
We ultimately boarded a flight to Paris
Honeymooning down by the Seine
Celebrating our marriage by the Seine river
Peter Brown call to say
Peter Brown called to convey that
You can make it O.K.
You can successfully navigate the situation
You can get married in Gibraltar near Spain
We can hold our wedding in Gibraltar, near Spain
Drove from Paris to the Amsterdam Hilton
We traveled by car from Paris to the Amsterdam Hilton
Talking in our beds for a week
Conversing while in bed for seven days
The newspapers said
The periodicals stated
Say what're you doing in bed
What is your purpose for being in bed
I said we're only trying to get us some peace
Responded that we were simply seeking tranquility
Saving up your money for a rainy day
Preserving your money for times of hardship
Giving all your clothes to charity
Donating your apparel to those in need
Last night the wife said
The previous evening, my spouse stated
Oh boy when you're dead
Oh my, when you pass away
You don't take nothing with you but your soul, think
You do not take anything besides your soul, so reflect on this
Made a lightning trip to Vienna
Quickly traveled to Vienna
Eating chocolate cake in a bag
Consuming chocolate cake from a bag
The newspapers said
The periodicals stated
She's gone to his head
She has influenced him greatly
They look just like two gurus in drag
They resemble two spiritual leaders in drag attire
Caught the early plane back to London
Took the first flight back to London
Fifty acorns tied in a sack
Fifty acorns bound in a bag
The men from the press
The journalists
Said we wish you success
Conveyed well wishes for our future endeavors
It's good to have the both of you back
It is great to have both of you return safely
The way things are going
Based on current events
They're going to crucify me
I am going to face adverse repercussions
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul Mccartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@wrschwurber9210
@Lisa Parsons ✿🙏🏼 💜 ✿🙏🏼 💜 ✿🙏🏼 💜 ✿🙏🏼 💜 ✿🙏🏼 💜 ✿🙏🏼 💜 ✿🙏🏼 💜 ✿🙏🏼 💜 ✿🙏🏼 💜 ✿🙏🏼 💜 ✿🙏🏼 💜 ✿🙏🏼 💜 ✿🙏🏼
Jesus Christus (von altgriechisch Ἰησοῦς Χριστός Iēsoûs Chrīstós [iɛːˈsuːs kʰriːsˈtos], deutsch ‚Jesus, der Gesalbte‘)
ist nach christlicher Lehre gemäß dem Neuen Testament (NT) der von Gott zur Erlösung aller Menschen gesandte Messias und Sohn Gottes.
Mit seinem Namen drückten bereits die Urchristen ihren Glauben aus und bezogen die Heilsverheißungen des Alten Testaments (AT)
auf die historische Person Jesus von Nazaret
Buddha (Sanskrit, m., बुद्ध, buddha, wörtl.: „der Erwachte“, chinesisch 佛, Pinyin fó, japanisch 仏, ぶつ butsu, vietnamesisch 佛 phật oder 𠍤 bụt) bezeichnet
im Buddhismus ein Wesen, das Bodhi (wörtl.: „Erwachen“) erreicht hat. Buddha ist der Ehrenname des indischen Religionsstifters Siddhartha Gautama,
dessen Lehre die Weltreligion des Buddhismus begründet.
Nach buddhistischem Verständnis ist er jedoch nicht der einzig mögliche Buddha.
Sokrates (altgriechisch Σωκράτης Sōkrátēs; * 469 v. Chr. in Alopeke, Athen; † 399 v. Chr. in Athen) war ein für das abendländische Denken
grundlegender griechischer Philosoph, der in Athen zur Zeit der Attischen Demokratie lebte und wirkte. Zur Erlangung von Menschenkenntnis,
ethischen Grundsätzen und Weltverstehen entwickelte er die philosophische Methode eines strukturierten Dialogs, die er Maieutik („Hebammenkunst“)
nannte.
@wrschwurber9210
@phila3884 ✿🙏🏼 💜 ✿🙏🏼 💜 ✿🙏🏼 💜 ✿🙏🏼 💜 ✿🙏🏼 💜 ✿🙏🏼 💜 ✿🙏🏼 💜 ✿🙏🏼 💜 ✿🙏🏼 💜 ✿🙏🏼 💜 ✿🙏🏼 💜 ✿🙏🏼 💜 ✿🙏🏼
Jesus Christus (von altgriechisch Ἰησοῦς Χριστός Iēsoûs Chrīstós [iɛːˈsuːs kʰriːsˈtos], deutsch ‚Jesus, der Gesalbte‘)
ist nach christlicher Lehre gemäß dem Neuen Testament (NT) der von Gott zur Erlösung aller Menschen gesandte Messias und Sohn Gottes.
Mit seinem Namen drückten bereits die Urchristen ihren Glauben aus und bezogen die Heilsverheißungen des Alten Testaments (AT)
auf die historische Person Jesus von Nazaret
Buddha (Sanskrit, m., बुद्ध, buddha, wörtl.: „der Erwachte“, chinesisch 佛, Pinyin fó, japanisch 仏, ぶつ butsu, vietnamesisch 佛 phật oder 𠍤 bụt) bezeichnet
im Buddhismus ein Wesen, das Bodhi (wörtl.: „Erwachen“) erreicht hat. Buddha ist der Ehrenname des indischen Religionsstifters Siddhartha Gautama,
dessen Lehre die Weltreligion des Buddhismus begründet.
Nach buddhistischem Verständnis ist er jedoch nicht der einzig mögliche Buddha.
Sokrates (altgriechisch Σωκράτης Sōkrátēs; * 469 v. Chr. in Alopeke, Athen; † 399 v. Chr. in Athen) war ein für das abendländische Denken
grundlegender griechischer Philosoph, der in Athen zur Zeit der Attischen Demokratie lebte und wirkte. Zur Erlangung von Menschenkenntnis,
ethischen Grundsätzen und Weltverstehen entwickelte er die philosophische Methode eines strukturierten Dialogs, die er Maieutik („Hebammenkunst“)
nannte.
@azylien7136
Lyrics:
"Standing in the dock at Southampton
Tryin' to get to Holland or France
The man in the mac said, "You've got to go back"
You know, they didn't even give us a chance
Christ, you know it ain't easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They're going to crucify me
Finally made the plane into Paris
Honey mooning down by the Seine
Peter Brown called to say
"You can make it OK
You can get married in Gibraltar, near Spain"
Christ, you know it ain't easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are goin'
They're going to crucify me
Drove from Paris to the Amsterdam Hilton
Talking in our beds for a week
The newspapers said, "Say what you doing in bed?"
I said, "We're only trying to get us some peace"
Christ, you know it ain't easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are goin'
They're going to crucify me
Saving up your money for a rainy day
Givin' all your clothes to charity
Last night the wife said, "Oh boy, when you're dead
You don't take nothing with you but your soul
Think"
Made a lightning trip to Vienna
Eating chocolate cake in a bag
The newspapers said, "She's gone to his head
They look just like two gurus in drag"
Christ, you know it ain't easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are goin'
They're going to crucify me
Caught the early plane back to London
50 acorns tied in a sack
The men from the press said, "We wish you success
It's good to have the both of you back"
Christ, you know it ain't easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are goin'
They're going to crucify me
The way things are goin'
They're going to crucify me"
@derby1884
Hard to believe The Beatles made so much great music in such a relatively short space of time. Less than seven years. Unbelievable.
@deangiusti4462
Great point. They recorded so many classics that you'd swear they were around for decades together.Amazing.
@kmckenna45
Yes - that’s what is the most amazing thing about them. It was like 8 years and the made so many great songs
@vernpascal1531
I always think of this song with Creeque Alley-Mama's And The Papa's & I Dig Rock And Roll Music-Peter,Paul & Mary. Great spontaneous sounding story songs...that just flow effortlessly.
@pkgannon
@kmckenna45 no, it was from July 1962 - August 1969 .. that's their RECORDING career. 7 years.
@candidoj
true
@orcciezaj
The fact Paul helped John with this song, and much later on, helped Yoko repair her marriage to John following the "lost weekend," reveals so many sweet layers to their friendship. Paul was always a real friend to John and all the people touched by him, no matter what.
@lisaparsons4124
Yes I agree Paul McCartney was a great friend to John Lennon.Paul McCartney is very kind
@wendymason5493
Depends where you're standing and the perspective you see from there
@ITILII
"I think that people sometimes forget, than I'm the biggest John Lennon fan of all!" - Paul McCartney