The Story Behind Working Class Hero — John Lennon
Hello guys, it’s Vic Richardson. Today I want to talk about the story behind one of the most famous John Lennon’s songs. Today we are going to explore the amazing story behind “Working Class Hero”.
Critics
Alright, I don’t know if you already know that this song caused a fair amount of controversy for John Lennon, as his detractors pointed out that he was raised in an upper-middle-class home by his aunt and had no right to call himself a working-class hero. In an interview with Rolling Stone just three days before his death, Lennon explained that the thing about this song, that nobody ever got right, was that it was supposed to be sardonic — it had nothing to do with socialism…”
On January 1971 in an edition of Rolling Stone he explained that its concept was revolutionary, and he hoped it was for workers and not for tarts and fags. He hoped it was what “Give Peace A Chance” was about. He thought it was for the people like him who were working class — whatever, upper or lower. It was about his experience, and he hoped it was just a warning to people. He said it was a revolutionary song; not the song itself but a song for the revolution.”
Recording
The final take as it appears on the album is actually a composite of two different performances done at two different studios. If you listen carefully (it might require headphones 1.28 min circa) you can clearly hear the sound of the guitar and vocals change where the edit was made about halfway through the song.
Lyrics
We have all noticed that the f-word appears twice in the lyrics — never happened in any Beatles songs. On the printed lyrics that came with the album, the words were obscured.
But why did Lennon curse in the song? Yoko Ono explained in a 1998 interview with Uncut that he told her that swearing was part of being working class. It couldn’t be working class if every thing was very clean a proper.
And, do you remember the line, “If you want to be like the folks on the hill”? Is a reference to the Beatles song “The Fool On The Hill.”
Testimonials
Andy Stephens recalled to Uncut magazine in August 2010 that he watched the former Beatle obsess about this song day after day, singing an endless number of takes… well over 100… Probably 120, 130.”
Stephens added that Lennon became more frustrated as each take passed. “If the mix in his headphones wasn’t exactly what he wanted, he would take them off and slam them into the wall.
Covers
Green Day recorded this for the benefit album Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur, and they also performed the song on the 2007 season finale of American Idol. In their version, the last two lines are from the original John Lennon song.
Thank you for reading my article. If you like to listen to my cover of ‘Working Class Hero’ please watch my video on YouTube.
Much Love, I’ll see you soon!
