Just wondering whether anyone knows whether this guy...

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/5246/johnlennonim4.jpg

...ever claimed to be a commie?


His song 'imagine' seems to follow my theory perfectly:

Quote:

Imagine there's no Heaven It's easy if you try No hell below us Above us only sky Imagine all the people Living for today Imagine there's no countries It isn't hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion too Imagine all the people Living life in peace You may say that I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will be as one Imagine no possessions I wonder if you can No need for greed or hunger A brotherhood of man Imagine all the people Sharing all the world You may say that I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will live as one

Summarising, Communists think:
A) There's no such thing as 'religion.'
B) There should be no such thing as 'countries.'
C) There should be no such thing as 'races.'

John Lennon seemed to follow this theme throughout the rest of his life after turning weird after he left his first wife for Yoko. Are my suspicions correct? Did Lennon ever fess up to being a communist?

I actually did a presentation on that song in high school English for the section on protest songs. I was advised to call him a socialist, not a communist. He made no effort to hide it.

I see.

But have you got an 'actual quote' of John Lennon to back it up?

No, apart from that song.

**Revolution**

You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
all right, all right

You say you got a real solution
Well, you know
We'd all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well, you know
We're doing what we can
But when you want money
for people with minds that hate
All I can tell is brother you have to wait
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
all right, all right
Ah ah, ah, ah, ah, ah...

You say you'll change the constitution
Well, you know
We all want to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well, you know
You better free you mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
all right, all right
all right, all right, all right
all right, all right, all right

Welcome to the forum, first of all, shithouse rat. Now...


Quote:

But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow

You reckon this indicates that Lennon wasn't a communist?

Is shithouse rat a communist?

Quote:

Is shithouse rat a communist?

Well, he does have a suitable name for one.  ;D

Shithouse rat..

Love that song:)

What about their song ''Back in the USSR'?

AN..a thought..I wonder, and it is just me wondering out loud here..if all politcal songs neccessarily reflect the values of the composer?

I suppose you'd have to say yes to that..but i wonder sometimes if songs are penned simply because the composer believes theyll be popular with the music buying pu ::) ::)blic?

Just a thought.

Yeah id say so..... unless peter garrett really is a sellout.
And i dont think people would be singing pro soviet songs during the cold war- unless they were sympathetic to communism.

What are the lyrics for that song?

I dont have them. but if someone could supply them it be good.

Flew in from Miami Beach BOAC
Didn't get to bed last night
Oh, the way the paper bag was on my knee
Man, I had a dreadful flight
I'm back in the USSR
You don't know how lucky you are, boy
Back in the USSR, yeah

Been away so long I hardly knew the place
Gee, it's good to be back home
Leave it till tomorrow to unpack my case
Honey disconnect the phone
I'm back in the USSR
You don't know how lucky you are, boy
Back in the US
Back in the US
Back in the USSR

Well the Ukraine girls really knock me out
They leave the west behind
And Moscow girls make me sing and shout
They Georgia's always on my my my my my my my my my mind
Oh, come on
Hu Hey Hu, hey, ah, yeah
yeah, yeah, yeah
I'm back in the USSR
You don't know how lucky you are, boys
Back in the USSR

Well the Ukraine girls really knock me out
They leave the west behind
And Moscow girls make me sing and shout
They Georgia's always on my my my my my my my my my mind

Oh, show me round your snow peaked
mountain way down south
Take me to you daddy's farm
Let me hear you balalaika's ringing out
Come and keep your comrade warm
I'm back in the USSR
Hey, You don't know how lucky you are, boy
Back in the USSR
Oh, let me tell you honey

Yep, he obviously put a lot of thought into those lyrics.  ;D

Thanks for the welcome, DT.

"Revolution" is a great song, Auzgurl. I don't think songwriters would write songs which go against their own personal beliefs, just to sell. They might choose to write 'Strictly Commercial', but they would still probably choose subjects they were comfortable with. "Instant Karma" is the Lennon song which speaks best to me.

Lennon's philosophy was not about imposing his 'communist like' views on other people by violence or by institutional means. It was about attitude and about choice. The song "Revolution" is quite specifically a renunciation of the revolutionary brands of Communism attributed to Marx, Lenin, and Mao, and also rejects aggressive political activism. I doubt he ever labeled himself as a communist.

...and Freediver, I think it was actually Paul McCartney who wrote "Back in the USSR" as a parody of US Cold War pop music. The lyrics are probably the way they are for a reason. I also don't think he, or any of his wives, have been Communists.

Now Yoko Ono, that sounds like a good communist name to me...and those squinty eyes...

No. He was a miserable pot addict who was never happy with the world, so someone put him out of his misery.

Like most people his opinions evolved. By the time he wrote Give Peace A Chance, he was fed up with all the "isms" people cling to as beliefs, as the lyrics attest. "ism, ism, ism." Communism would have been one of them. John Lennon wasn't a communist he was a sometime idealist, but most importantly, he was a musician.

issuevoter wrote on Feb 20^th, 2023 at 6:24am:

Like most people his opinions evolved. By the time he wrote Give Peace A Chance, he was fed up with all the "isms" people cling to as beliefs, as the lyrics attest. "ism, ism, ism." Communism would have been one of them. John Lennon wasn't a communist he was a sometime idealist, but most importantly, he was a musician.

He was an idealist.

He was a socialist.

He was a musician looking for answers to life’s deeper questions.

Unlike John Lennon, Bob Dylan (his contemporary) found those answers when he became a Christian.

Lennon was a badly educated iconoclast.

His skill as a songwriter was augmented, beyond what he would have achieved on his own, by McCartney's skill and, importantly, McCartney's high conscientiousness, when it came to applying himself to the craft.

Lennon did not have McCartney's focus on the job, (he was much less conscientious than McCartney) as evidenced by McCartney's complete reinvention of himself during the 70s, while Lennon mostly languished in an opioid haze.

Had he not been shot, his last album 'Double Fantasy' would have been consigned to the dustbin as unworthy of his former work.

Lennon was, and remained, a malcontent typical of his generation at the time. He was born a British working-class child, who was elevated into the British lower-middle class in his early childhood and so bore the burden of British working-class self-consciousness lacquered with a middle-class sense of upwards mobility.

ex-member DonaldTrump wrote on Feb 27^th, 2007 at 2:29am:

Welcome to the forum, first of all, shithouse rat. Now... Quote: But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow You reckon this indicates that Lennon wasn't a communist?

He called himself an instinctive socialist.


Quote:

In 1980, on the day he was killed, Lennon did a long interview for a New York radio station. He said growing up in working-class Liverpool had made him “an instinctive socialist.” It gave him a deep hostility to Britain’s ruling class, a hatred of war, and a distinctive kind of verbal humor. https://jacobin.com/2020/12/john-lennon-beatles-revolution-peace#:~:text=An%20Instinctive%20Socialist,distinctive%20kind%20of%20verbal%20humor.

Dnarever wrote on Feb 20^th, 2023 at 10:30am:

ex-member DonaldTrump wrote on Feb 27th, 2007 at 2:29am: Welcome to the forum, first of all, shithouse rat. Now... Quote: But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow You reckon this indicates that Lennon wasn't a communist? He called himself an instinctive socialist. [quote]In 1980, on the day he was killed, Lennon did a long interview for a New York radio station. He said growing up in working-class Liverpool had made him “an instinctive socialist.” It gave him a deep hostility to Britain’s ruling class, a hatred of war, and a distinctive kind of verbal humor. https://jacobin.com/2020/12/john-lennon-beatles-revolution-peace#:~:text=An%20Instinctive%20Socialist,distinctive%20kind%20of%20verbal%20humor.

[/quote]
An 'instinctive socialist' who hated paying taxes and went to great lengths to avoid them.

Who disinherited his own son, Julian, during his lifetime.

Lennon was an instinctive sociopath.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Feb 20^th, 2023 at 10:10am:

Lennon was a badly educated iconoclast. His skill as a songwriter was augmented, beyond what he would have achieved on his own, by McCartney's skill and, importantly, McCartney's high conscientiousness, when it came to applying himself to the craft. Lennon did not have McCartney's focus on the job, (he was much less conscientious than McCartney) as evidenced by McCartney's complete reinvention of himself during the 70s, while Lennon mostly languished in an opioid haze. Had he not been shot, his last album 'Double Fantasy' would have been consigned to the dustbin as unworthy of his former work. Lennon was, and remained, a malcontent typical of his generation at the time. He was born a British working-class child, who was elevated into the British lower-middle class in his early childhood and so bore the burden of British working-class self-consciousness lacquered with a middle-class sense of upwards mobility.

A lippy scouser git, then.

Frank wrote on Feb 20^th, 2023 at 10:47am:

MeisterEckhart wrote on Feb 20th, 2023 at 10:10am: Lennon was a badly educated iconoclast. His skill as a songwriter was augmented, beyond what he would have achieved on his own, by McCartney's skill and, importantly, McCartney's high conscientiousness, when it came to applying himself to the craft. Lennon did not have McCartney's focus on the job, (he was much less conscientious than McCartney) as evidenced by McCartney's complete reinvention of himself during the 70s, while Lennon mostly languished in an opioid haze. Had he not been shot, his last album 'Double Fantasy' would have been consigned to the dustbin as unworthy of his former work. Lennon was, and remained, a malcontent typical of his generation at the time. He was born a British working-class child, who was elevated into the British lower-middle class in his early childhood and so bore the burden of British working-class self-consciousness lacquered with a middle-class sense of upwards mobility. A lippy scouser git, then.

It wouldn't be the first time he was called that, although he wasn't a true scouser - he cultivated a scouse accent to go with his working-class singer image.

Lennon was often unaware of the serious risk he put himself, and anyone with him, in when it came to his smartarse wisecracks. He was impulsive, reckless and capable of outbursts of violent rage.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Feb 20^th, 2023 at 10:10am:

Lennon was a badly educated iconoclast. His skill as a songwriter was augmented, beyond what he would have achieved on his own, by McCartney's skill and, importantly, McCartney's high conscientiousness, when it came to applying himself to the craft. Lennon did not have McCartney's focus on the job, (he was much less conscientious than McCartney) as evidenced by McCartney's complete reinvention of himself during the 70s, while Lennon mostly languished in an opioid haze. Had he not been shot, his last album 'Double Fantasy' would have been consigned to the dustbin as unworthy of his former work. Lennon was, and remained, a malcontent typical of his generation at the time. He was born a British working-class child, who was elevated into the British lower-middle class in his early childhood and so bore the burden of British working-class self-consciousness lacquered with a middle-class sense of upwards mobility.

Quote:

Lennon did not have McCartney's focus on the job, (he was much less conscientious than McCartney) as evidenced by McCartney's complete reinvention of himself during the 70s, while Lennon mostly languished in an opioid haze.

After the beatles broke up in 1969 both Lennon and McCatney released their first album in 1970 and their second in 1971.

John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band - 1970
John Lenon - Imagine 1971

McCartney (self named) - 1970
RAM - 1971.

Lennon had release 3 works with Yoko Ono while the beatles were still together. Plus a live album and 2 singles. "Give Peace a Chance" and "Cold Turkey"

The facts seem to not agree with your assesment. Both Lennon and McCartney were wonderful writers.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Feb 20^th, 2023 at 10:52am:

Frank wrote on Feb 20th, 2023 at 10:47am: MeisterEckhart wrote on Feb 20th, 2023 at 10:10am: Lennon was a badly educated iconoclast. His skill as a songwriter was augmented, beyond what he would have achieved on his own, by McCartney's skill and, importantly, McCartney's high conscientiousness, when it came to applying himself to the craft. Lennon did not have McCartney's focus on the job, (he was much less conscientious than McCartney) as evidenced by McCartney's complete reinvention of himself during the 70s, while Lennon mostly languished in an opioid haze. Had he not been shot, his last album 'Double Fantasy' would have been consigned to the dustbin as unworthy of his former work. Lennon was, and remained, a malcontent typical of his generation at the time. He was born a British working-class child, who was elevated into the British lower-middle class in his early childhood and so bore the burden of British working-class self-consciousness lacquered with a middle-class sense of upwards mobility. A lippy scouser git, then. It wouldn't be the first time he was called that. Lennon was often unaware of the serious risk he put himself, and anyone with him, in when it came to his smartarse wisecracks. He was impulsive, reckless and capable of outbursts of violent rage.

WTF are you guys on about???

John Lennon was all about love and peace....wasn’t he? That’s what we were taught at school (in yr 7 and yr 8 our curriculum included the subject music <—- 2 periods a week and an awesome bludge those 2 lessons were too).

Edit :

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=john+lennon+horrible+person&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-au&client=safari#ip=1

No way! He was a 2 faced PRICK! 🥺😳😞

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20201207-how-john-lennon-was-made-into-a-myth

I can’t believe what I’m reading here. He was violent against women and children ffs😳

In the article : How John Lennon was made into a myth

Under the sub title : A misconceived saint

“Soon after Lennon's death – within hours, really  –  he was portrayed in this really sanctimonious, sanitised way that doesn't do justice to his personality, his sense of humour, or his fellow Beatles,” says Rob Sheffield, a writer for Rolling Stone magazine and the author of the 2017 book Dreaming The Beatles. "I always loved what Paul said in the 80s: 'Since his death he's become Martin Luther Lennon.'"

Naturally, the Dakota building became a focal point for fans in the days after the shooting, transformed into a sea of flowers and grief-stricken notes. Hundreds of people held a silent tribute on the steps of Washington DC's Lincoln Memorial. Radio stations played nothing but Lennon and Beatles songs for days, and record stores sold out of the Lennon-Ono album Double Fantasy. Meanwhile further afield, there was similar beatification going on: within days of his death, too, a mural appeared on a wall in a hidden side-street in Prague, which has been added to and embellished over the years to become a shrine. Despite efforts to remove it or have it covered over, it is now a major tourist attraction and regular stop on guided tours of the Czech capital.
He was the most caustic, sarcastic, withering wit in the music world. So it sells him short to portray him as a simple-minded optimist – Rob Sheffield
"It's understandable that in the first flush of grief, people wanted to pretend he was a saint, but that's the last claim Lennon ever would have made for himself," says Sheffield. "In addition to everything else he was, he was the most caustic, sarcastic, withering wit in the music world. So it sells him short to portray him as a simple-minded optimist."

Lennon certainly wasn't a saint by any stretch of the imagination. Five years ago, a legal document emerged featuring a statement from Dorothy Jarlett, Lennon's housekeeper when he was married to his first wife Cynthia, which painted the star as a serial philanderer who was aggressive and violent to their young son Julian. In an interview with Playboy, published just two days before he died, Lennon admitted, "I used to be cruel to my woman, and physically... any woman. I was a hitter. I couldn't express myself, and I hit."

Dnarever wrote on Feb 20^th, 2023 at 11:05am:

MeisterEckhart wrote on Feb 20th, 2023 at 10:10am: Lennon was a badly educated iconoclast. His skill as a songwriter was augmented, beyond what he would have achieved on his own, by McCartney's skill and, importantly, McCartney's high conscientiousness, when it came to applying himself to the craft. Lennon did not have McCartney's focus on the job, (he was much less conscientious than McCartney) as evidenced by McCartney's complete reinvention of himself during the 70s, while Lennon mostly languished in an opioid haze. Had he not been shot, his last album 'Double Fantasy' would have been consigned to the dustbin as unworthy of his former work. Lennon was, and remained, a malcontent typical of his generation at the time. He was born a British working-class child, who was elevated into the British lower-middle class in his early childhood and so bore the burden of British working-class self-consciousness lacquered with a middle-class sense of upwards mobility. Quote: Lennon did not have McCartney's focus on the job, (he was much less conscientious than McCartney) as evidenced by McCartney's complete reinvention of himself during the 70s, while Lennon mostly languished in an opioid haze. After the beatles broke up in 1969 both Lennon and McCatney released their first album in 1970 and their second in 1971. John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band - 1970 John Lenon - Imagine 1971 McCartney (self named) - 1970 RAM - 1971. Lennon had release 3 works with Yoko Ono while the beatles were still together. Plus a live album and 2 singles. "Give Peace a Chance" and "Cold Turkey" The facts seem to not agree with your assesment. Both Lennon and McCartney were wonderful writers.

McCartney's successful reinvention was so complete during the 70s with 'Wings', many people born after the Beatles era were unaware that he was in a band before Wings.

McCartney wrote the theme song for the James Bond film 'Live and Let Die'.

The fortune he amassed during his Wings era (from Wings sales alone) eclipsed many times over Lennon's Plastic Ono Band and everything Lennon produced post-Beatles combined.

👇 Julian Lennon his son.

---

Lennon was a sociopath and, like all sociopaths, they are a lifelong danger to themselves and anyone associated with them.

I would agree he was a sociopath.
The Media loves him and harps on about him.
But I believe the world became a better place, when someone gave him what he asked for - R.I.Peace.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Feb 20^th, 2023 at 11:15am:

Dnarever wrote on Feb 20th, 2023 at 11:05am: MeisterEckhart wrote on Feb 20th, 2023 at 10:10am: Lennon was a badly educated iconoclast. His skill as a songwriter was augmented, beyond what he would have achieved on his own, by McCartney's skill and, importantly, McCartney's high conscientiousness, when it came to applying himself to the craft. Lennon did not have McCartney's focus on the job, (he was much less conscientious than McCartney) as evidenced by McCartney's complete reinvention of himself during the 70s, while Lennon mostly languished in an opioid haze. Had he not been shot, his last album 'Double Fantasy' would have been consigned to the dustbin as unworthy of his former work. Lennon was, and remained, a malcontent typical of his generation at the time. He was born a British working-class child, who was elevated into the British lower-middle class in his early childhood and so bore the burden of British working-class self-consciousness lacquered with a middle-class sense of upwards mobility. Quote: Lennon did not have McCartney's focus on the job, (he was much less conscientious than McCartney) as evidenced by McCartney's complete reinvention of himself during the 70s, while Lennon mostly languished in an opioid haze. After the beatles broke up in 1969 both Lennon and McCatney released their first album in 1970 and their second in 1971. John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band - 1970 John Lenon - Imagine 1971 McCartney (self named) - 1970 RAM - 1971. Lennon had release 3 works with Yoko Ono while the beatles were still together. Plus a live album and 2 singles. "Give Peace a Chance" and "Cold Turkey" The facts seem to not agree with your assesment. Both Lennon and McCartney were wonderful writers. McCartney's successful reinvention was so complete during the 70s with 'Wings', many people born after the Beatles era were unaware that he was in a band before Wings. McCartney wrote the theme song for the James Bond film 'Live and Let Die'. The fortune he amassed during his Wings era (from Wings sales alone) eclipsed many times over Lennon's Plastic Ono Band and everything Lennon produced post-Beatles combined.

Quote:

McCartney's successful reinvention was so complete during the 70s with 'Wings', many people born after the Beatles era were unaware that he was in a band before Wings.

Calling BS on that one.

McCartney is great not playing them off against each other. Lennon was hugely successful in his own right.

Imagine has got air play for 5 decades. many of his other songs were big hits.

Here is a nice cover of a very good Lennon song. (Emily)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAhKTzl_4Rc

McCartney was brilliant but for me Live and let die was not one of his best for me, nor was mulligans tyres (horrible). Just about played RAM through the record, One of the few fans of My Love. Band on the run etc.

I prefer to like them both No need to run either of the greats down.

Jasin wrote on Feb 20^th, 2023 at 12:24pm:

I would agree he was a sociopath. The Media loves him and harps on about him. But I believe the world became a better place, when someone gave him what he asked for - R.I.Peace.

Amazing how often the right here show that the right is full of hate, the topic does not matter there is hate to be found. 

Dnarever wrote on Feb 20^th, 2023 at 3:31pm:

I prefer to like them both No need to run either of the greats down.

Sure, you can like Lennon's music, and also not hide from the truth of his personality and character at the same time.

Many famously creative people had deeply flawed personalities - it's more the norm than the exception - van Gogh, for instance.

Many of us covertly admire sociopathic behaviour in others from a distance - they do what they want impulsively, and often get more than what they want because of that.

Dnarever is a media gimp, let alone Peccary's.

The Beatles never really grabbed my attention, let alone their music.
But Led Zep did!  :D

Anyway, I always admire professionalism and integrity in front of the camera and off it. Very few Musicians, Celebs, etc gift the world with this.

Lennon wasn't one of them. MeisterEccy has really described well - the Lennon flaw.
Me personally, he did come across as just a miserable snob of pothead man - that peeved someone off so much, they gave him what he asked for.

Sometimes it happens like that.
And I don't buy into the mass sympathy the media throws around flippantly.

I always, right from the start, even long before the 'arranged' marriage with Diana 'Lannister' Spencer - never liked her fake persona for the Media. She was a potty mouthed Spencer gold digger that couldn't keep her mouth shut slagging off everything... while playing the shy, timid, media princess like a fragile victim for the media. ::)

I actually was relieved for poor old Charlie who put 'love' before 'arranged' in his life, when the 'Queen' showed the Spencers not to mess with a Windsor.

Zeplin released their first record about the same time as the Beatles last. They didn't really cross over. Jasin being too young at the time to understand is more like the point here. Zeplin were also great.


Quote:

The Beatles never really grabbed my attention

One of the things that make the Right the right, the belief that the sun and moon revolve around them.

JOHN LENNON sold over 22,843,171 albums Not too shabby.

That would be exactly 22,843,171 more than Jasin & me either independently or combined.

Jasin wrote on Feb 20^th, 2023 at 5:03pm:

Dnarever is a media gimp, let alone Peccary's. The Beatles never really grabbed my attention, let alone their music. But Led Zep did!  :D Anyway, I always admire professionalism and integrity in front of the camera and off it. Very few Musicians, Celebs, etc gift the world with this. Lennon wasn't one of them. MeisterEccy has really described well - the Lennon flaw. Me personally, he did come across as just a miserable snob of pothead man - that peeved someone off so much, they gave him what he asked for. Sometimes it happens like that. And I don't buy into the mass sympathy the media throws around flippantly. I always, right from the start, even long before the 'arranged' marriage with Diana 'Lannister' Spencer - never liked her fake persona for the Media. She was a potty mouthed Spencer gold digger that couldn't keep her mouth shut slagging off everything... while playing the shy, timid, media princess like a fragile victim for the media. ::) I actually was relieved for poor old Charlie who put 'love' before 'arranged' in his life, when the 'Queen' showed the Spencers not to mess with a Windsor.

Charlie had been sniffing around Diana from the time she was 14, he was around 35.

They didn't off with her head but it was just as effective.

I'm going to say no, Lennon was not a commy based on the lyrics to Revolution and his song, Working Class Hero was not about socialism.

You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out (in)
Don't you know it's gonna be
All right?
Don't you know it's gonna be (all right)
Don't you know it's gonna be (all right)
You say you got a real solution
Well, you know
We'd all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well, you know
We're all doing what we can
But if you want money for people with minds that hate
All I can tell you is brother you have to wait
Don't you know it's gonna be (all right)
Don't you know it's gonna be (all right)
Don't you know it's gonna be (all right)
You say you'll change the constitution
Well, you know
We'd all love to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well, you know
You better free your mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow
Don't you know it's gonna be (all right)
Don't you know it's gonna be (all right)
Don't you know it's gonna be (all right)

Gordon wrote on Feb 20^th, 2023 at 6:00pm:

I'm going to say no, Lennon was not a commy based on the lyrics to Revolution and his song, Working Class Hero was not about socialism. You say you want a revolution Well, you know We all want to change the world You tell me that it's evolution Well, you know We all want to change the world But when you talk about destruction Don't you know that you can count me out (in) Don't you know it's gonna be All right? Don't you know it's gonna be (all right) Don't you know it's gonna be (all right) You say you got a real solution Well, you know We'd all love to see the plan You ask me for a contribution Well, you know We're all doing what we can But if you want money for people with minds that hate All I can tell you is brother you have to wait Don't you know it's gonna be (all right) Don't you know it's gonna be (all right) Don't you know it's gonna be (all right) You say you'll change the constitution Well, you know We'd all love to change your head You tell me it's the institution Well, you know You better free your mind instead But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow Don't you know it's gonna be (all right) Don't you know it's gonna be (all right) Don't you know it's gonna be (all right)

Socialist isn't communist, he claimed to be a socialist but not a communist. An instinctive socialist I suspect he means that as from a working class family with a belief in workers rights he was just naturally anti establishment market politics (big corporate) and pro social justice.

Gordon wrote on Feb 20^th, 2023 at 6:00pm:

I'm going to say no, Lennon was not a commy based on the lyrics to Revolution and his song, Working Class Hero was not about socialism.

Socialism and communism are two different things.

The thread is about communism - why change the subject to socialism?   :-/

Unlike woke lefties, I literally don't give a flying crap about the politics or bad deeds of entertainers I enjoy. They're there to entertain me, not be role models.

Louis CK can wank on pot plants all he wants, he's one of my favourite comedians.
Roger Waters can be a raving left wing loony, I'll never stop listening to Pink Floyd.
I'll even happily watch Alec Baldwin (AKA psyco killer) in Hunt for Red October and the Departed.


I like some Beatles, some Lennon, some McCartney

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CExDLt_Fgq0

Gotta say tho, if I could trade Harrison to be alive instead of McCarntey, I probably would. ;D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAKO5FK-dDA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPnLXjx5qOg

Gordon wrote on Feb 20^th, 2023 at 6:00pm:

I'm going to say no, Lennon was not a commy based on the lyrics to Revolution and his song, Working Class Hero was not about socialism. But when you talk about destruction Don't you know that you can count me out (in)

Until you read about the original lyrics - Lennon's version was pro-revolution. All that remains of his version was his muted 'in' right after they sing 'count me out'.

It was Lennon's little act of defiance at the lyrics being rewritten.

Working-class hero was about his angst at being considered one - given the middle-class upbringing he'd had when he went to live with his mother's sister, he was considered 'posh' by scouse standards, so, not working-class. Likely he was more concerned about being found out as a fraud.

I was shown a cliff wall in Kathmandu where Lennon found 'spirituality'. It was basically a cliff wall with little caves in it where 'pot heads' lived in the name of being 'holy', etc.
Yeah - I didn't really buy into the whole 'potty' version of Peace and love and I found Lennon's version just another vague and drug-induced false illusion like the rest.

Jasin wrote on Feb 20^th, 2023 at 7:46pm:

I was shown a cliff wall in Kathmandu where Lennon found 'spirituality'. It was basically a cliff wall with little caves in it where 'pot heads' lived in the name of being 'holy', etc. Yeah - I didn't really buy into the whole 'potty' version of Peace and love and I found Lennon's version just another vague and drug-induced false illusion like the rest.

So he wasn't a communist then. I agree it's a bit of a silly thought.