John Lennon – Working Class Hero (1970)

A new video has appeared as part of John Lennon Signature Box contains 9 Albums. All the singles, a disc of rarities & a book from Yoko, Julian & Sean of all the video’s can be found here. Working Class Hero is one of my favourite John Lennon tracks. It is a song from John Lennon’s first post-Beatles solo album, 1970’s John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. The song is a commentary or criticism on the difference between social classes. It tells the story of someone growing up in the working class.

The video was directed by Simon Hilton and filmed in Liverpool at John’s
childhood school Dovedale Primary (Strawberry Fields) and John’s childhood home Mendips. This place was recently acquired by Yoko and donated to the National Trust. John Winston Lennon, co-founded of The Beatles, was born 9 October 1940 and died 8 December 1980.

John Lennon – Working Class Hero – Lyrics

As soon as you’re born they make you feel small
By giving you no time instead of it all
Till 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
Till you’re so fucking crazy you can’t follow their rules
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’re 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