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John Lennon – Working Class Hero (3:47)

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About This Track

“Working Class Hero” is a song from John Lennon’s first post-Beatles solo album, 1970’s John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band.

The song is a take on the class split of the 1940s and 1950s, and of the 1960s in which he was famous. The song appears to tell the story of someone growing up in the working class of capitalism. According to Lennon in an interview with Jann S. Wenner of Rolling Stone magazine in December 1970, it is about working class individuals being processed into the middle classes, into the machine. Lennon stated (in the same interview) that he hoped that it was a warning to the people, a contemporary song for the revolution, for workers, thematically like Give Peace a Chance, aimed to replace the older songs like “We Shall Overcome”.

Notable Covers:

# Tommy Roe recorded his version in 1973. peaked at #97 on the Billboard Hot 100.
# Marianne Faithfull covered the song on her 1979 album Broken English.
# Then-New Zealand politician Marilyn Waring covered the song as a single in 1980.
# Jerry Williams covered the song in 1984 on his album Working Class Hero.
# Richie Havens covered the song for his 1987 album Richie Havens Sings Beatles and Dylan.
# Mike Peters covered the song when with The Alarm as a backing track to their 1989 single “A New South Wales”.
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  • Enousc

    They hurt you at home and they hit you at school. They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool. Until you're so fucking crazy you can't follow their rules.

    11 days ago

  • Ariues

    Im assuming now that John wrote all the good beatles songs. or should i say the ones im into. everybody else's solos are w rather ho hum to me

    12 days ago

  • Nidhogg7

    Bob Dylan should have done a cover of it. [4] Yeah, definitely!

    20 days ago

  • Distron

    No one should be allowed to cover this...?

    last month

  • paisleybabee

    Bare and brutally honest. We miss ya Johnny!

    last month

  • fleUr_henry

    "If you want to be a hero, well just follow me..." [2]

    last month

  • PattySauce

    He does it beautifully, and I agree with BRENTthewalrus, Bob Dylan should cover it!!!! I wonder if he ever did...

    last month

  • Yan089

    he jokes with the meaning of what it is to be a working class person... its hard work and we put it down all the time... But It's Hard! (@ Roy1968 Below)

    March 2012

  • Yan089

    You're so right John

    March 2012

  • iamahoneybee

    "If you want to be a hero, well just follow me..."

    March 2012

  • Roy1968Wood

    Perhaps I misunderstood the Lennon's intentions with this song as I perceive it as a put down of working people. Peasants?! Really, John?!!!!

    February 2012

  • Druid66

    Give "the Man" a poke in the eye for me, John!

    February 2012

  • power2themusic

    It's a good song to have on repeat for a few hours while you get some homework done.

    February 2012

  • Caboonha

    this is him trying to emulate the protest songs from the early 60s. that's obvious.

    January 2012

  • aquateenchica

    genius

    January 2012

  • pravdt

    Bob Dylan should have done a cover of it. [2]

    January 2012

  • pravdt

    Lyrics are WIN.

    January 2012

  • digout

    a very goodie! :-)

    January 2012

  • zimmerman6290

    truth

    December 2011

  • jhutch868

    perf

    December 2011
See all 462 shouts

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