Remembering John Lennon

Regardless of where you happened to be over the weekend, I am sure you would have been reminded that it marked the 70th birthday of John Lennon. It is, indeed, hard to believe it is almost 30 years since John was shot dead at point blank range outside the Dakota Building in his beloved New York City, robbing the music world of one of it's most exceptional talents.

I was barely out of short trousers when the Beatles hit their stride in 1966/67 with Revolver and Sgt.Pepper but I have never had much doubt it was John's contribution that lifted them into legendary status.

John was always controversial and his solo career ebbed and flowed. During this period, he is probably best remembered for the much loved and many times covered "Imagine",the anti-war "Give Peace A Chance" and the bed-in for peace at the Amsterdam Hilton. However, for me, his most powerful song was "Working Class Hero" from his first post-Beatles recording - 1970's "Plastic Ono Band". Not a radio favourite due to it's acerbic and unprintable lyric, it has stayed in the memory for so long. Here is a sample:-

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 are 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.

The following clip is a great compilation of images of John's life. Strangely, John was the one Beatle who was brought up in what was regarded then as a middle class household. As the Americans would say, go figure.....