Was Lennon a Leftist?

[Il Medico]

I am a big fan of John Lennon and no one can deny he is very liberal. Many of his songs (in my opinion) suggest he was at least sympathetic to our views. His song Working Class Hero really inspires me and if I didn't know better I would think I was written by Marx not Lennon. Any opinions? I say he was.

[Jimmie Higgins]

He was very radicalized because of the general radicalization. He met Black Panthers, Edward Said, Yippies, SDSers, and other radicals of the day. He seems to have good class instincts and good views, but I think he was sort of an ally not a hardcore leftist.

[Dóchas]

I think he was sort of an ally not a hardcore leftist


he wanted to seem like a rebel but didnt want to tarnish his reputation by taking part fully in left wing organisations

[Arise!]

I thought it was a well-known fact that John Lennon was a leftist?
The lyrics to "Imagine" say quite a bit about his views, but he wasn't really a revolutionary, or a radical of any sorts.

[Killfacer]

Just a hippy bloke surely? Seemed to have fairly good liberal politics.

[gorillafuck]

He seemed like someone who would support us but not someone who would get involved in an organization.

[Dr Mindbender]

Lennon ceased to be cool in my eyes when i found out he spent a fortune on designer furs for Yoko. As well as another bomb on temperature moderation to ensure the afforementioned furs were kept at optimum condition.

The king of full of shit lefties.

[LOLseph Stalin]

The lyrics to "Imagine" say quite a bit about his views, but he wasn't really a revolutionary, or a radical of any sorts.

We were discussing the song "Imagine" in class today as part of our Protest music assignment and by no surprise Karl Marx was mentioned. This song shares similarities with the goals Marx wanted to achieve.

[Pogue]

Liberal-left I guess, doubt he was really into it too much.

[Random Precision]

You may find this to be of interest:

http://www.counterpunch.org/lennon12082005.html

It's an interview with Lennon and Ono by Tariq Ali and Robin Blackburn. Judging from this and other things he said, I'd say that he was sort of a vague "new communist" who was radicalized alongside most people of his age in the seventies. He sort of said "yes" to any sort of revolutionary movement, whether that's the Bolsheviks, Tito, Cuba, the Black Panthers, SDS, the NLF, etc. He certainly never identified himself with any specific left current or had much of an idea of theory.

But he certainly did use his influence and talent to support progressive causes in the United States and Britain, and wrote songs with a strong leftist message. To me that makes him a revolutionary.

[Random Precision]

Lennon ceased to be cool in my eyes when i found out he spent a fortune on designer furs for Yoko. As well as another bomb on temperature moderation to ensure the afforementioned furs were kept at optimum condition.

The king of full of shit lefties.

All this says is that he was a bit of an idiot for Yoko, which is far from surprising. It says nothing about his politics.

[Arise!]

I do know his political views and affiliations led to him having a pretty extenxive CIA-File.

[cb9's_unity]

You have to give the guy credit for not stopping at liberalism. Too many artists want to be leftists but don't get any farther left than the left wing of the democratic party. His views on religion and property certainly aren't that of your every day liberal. However his views on extreme leftism/communism could have been more developed and he certainly could have been more active for the leftist cause.

[mykittyhasaboner]

Nah he wasn't a leftist, your thinking of Lenin; now that guy was a leftist.

[JimmyJazz]

http://www.counterpunch.org/lennon12082005.html

That's a great interview.

[Pawn Power]

He was a left-pacifist. This should be obvious when looking at his views that we know of on the socio-political spectrum. Not radical, but leftist no doubt.

[Sugar Hill Kevis]

Didn't Lennon give £50,000 to the Workers Revolutionary Party?

[MilitantAnarchist]

Im torn on John Lennon... his music was inspirational, but bullshit
First off, imagine at first sight was great...he lived in a posh flat and played on a piano he got for over $2million...

[Cymru]

Nah he wasn't a leftist, your thinking of Lenin; now that guy was a leftist.
:laugh: comedy gold!

[Cymru]

Didn't Lennon give £50,000 to the Workers Revolutionary Party?
I'm having vague recollections of reading this somewhere...... DAMN, where was it?!?!

[Sugar Hill Kevis]

I googled it and apparently it's just an accusation (along with Lennon funding the IRA, which seems slightly more dubious) - it's been denied by whoever was the WRP leader at the time... but who knows hey?

[MikeSC]

I think Lennon was different things at different times. Imagine was probably written by a communist, and sung live by a reactionary (changing "Imagine no religion" to "Imagine no immigration" and so on when sung live.) The Play Boy interview from just before he died, I can't see as being from any kind of leftist.

[brigadista]

marlon brando gave money to the black panthers

[Dr Mindbender]

marlon brando gave money to the black panthers

which means very little, i remember reading once that McDonalds gave money to the PLO to counter claims that it was pro-Israel.

[Random Precision]

Imagine was probably written by a communist, and sung live by a reactionary (changing "Imagine no religion" to "Imagine no immigration" and so on when sung live.)

Citation?

In any case, if he did say that I would think it was satirical, considering Lennon was an immigrant himself.

[Pirate Utopian]

which means very little, i remember reading once that McDonalds gave money to the PLO to counter claims that it was pro-Israel.
Marlon Brando played in loads of political films such as Burn! and Apocalypse Now and was an activist for a big part of his life and very outspoken about social issues, moreso then your average hollywood star.

[Hexen]

John Lennon was a admitted abuser where he said in Getting Better "I used to be cruel to my woman I beat her and kept her apart from the things that she loved" which pretty much tells me he was no leftist.

[9]

John Lennon was what a lot of hippies of that era were. It was popular to be left, so he was left. He wrote a song that read like communist propaganda, so what? He also wrote the song with the lyrics:


"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

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"Despite the fact that I think he made a very relevant point about "carrying pictures of chairman Mao", the song overall sounds like the usual liberal rhetoric that's employed by the New Age spiritualist liberal pacifists to criticize the "unrealistic ambitions" of the revolutionary left, or some shit like that. The "revolution occurs in the soul not in the streets" bullshit.
But, again, assuming we can't judge his position from a single song... fahr altz in aynem, I'd say he was basically a liberal hippie. And the fact that he was filthy rich certainly doesn't work in his favor in this respect. He basically got up on stage, said a lot of cliche leftist-sounding things (as was popular at that time), and made a fortune off it. So if he may have been a Leftist in theory, I don't think one could argue that he really was in practice.

[brigadista]

He was apolitical - didnt yoko ono write the words for imagine? personally i dont get the fuss - average musician-

[GPDP]

I have a cousin who I swear could pass for the reincarnation of John Lennon. He's one of those liberal New Age spiritualist hippie types who thinks Lenin's biggest flaw was his belief in using violence to change things, which not only exposes him as a useless pacifist bleeding-heart, but also demonstrates a profound and frankly self-inflicted ignorance of the revolutionary left, its theory, and its history. He's one of those people that think world peace can be attained if everyone were to look within themselves, find enlightenment, and then unite under the power of music. Or some shit like that. It's telling when he cares far more about the environment than everyday human suffering.

Point is, John Lennon's lyrics may sound leftist, but he did little to back them up or show any real adherence to leftist beliefs. To me, he was much like my cousin - he said or implied some nice things, particularly through music, but ultimately comes off as uselessly apolitical.

[Hexen]

Probably silly, but wonder what this reference to the right wing Daily Mail is about though:

Well here's some sources that John Lennon was a misogynist

http://www.nypost.com/seven/10122008/news/nationalnews/give_beast_a_chance_133215.htm
http://suicidegirls.com/news/music/11636/
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,21045054-401,00.html
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article565118.ece
http://www.thetripwire.com/news/2008/10/13/john-lennon-an-abusive-misogynist/

Not to mention this book

http://www.amazon.com/John-Lennon-Life-Philip-Norman/dp/006075401X

Which pretty much tells me that he was just "leftist" in name only.

[Led Zeppelin]

Well here's some sources that John Lennon was a misogynist

Since you like to base your views about Lennon's supposed "sexism" or "misogyny" on his song lyrics then read these:


Woman is the nigger of the world
Yes she is...think about it
Woman is the nigger of the world
Think about it...do something about it

We make her paint her face and dance
If she won’t be slave, we say that she don’t love us
If she’s real, we say she’s trying to be a man
While putting her down we pretend that she is above us

Woman is the nigger of the world...yes she is
If you don’t belive me take a look to the one you’re with
Woman is the slaves of the slaves
Ah yeah...better screem about it

We make her bear and raise our children
And then we leave her flat for being a fat old mother then
We tell her home is the only place she would be
Then we complain that she’s too unworldly to be our friend

Woman is the nigger of the world...yes she is
If you don’t belive me take a look to the one you’re with
Woman is the slaves of the slaves
Yeah (think about it)

We insult her everyday on TV
And wonder why she has no guts or confidence
When she’s young we kill her will to be free
While telling her not to be so smart we put her down for being so dumb

Woman is the nigger of the world...yes she is
If you don’t belive me take a look to the one you’re with
Woman is the slaves of the slaves
Yes she is...if you belive me, you better screem about it.

We make her paint her face and dance
We make her paint her face and dance
We make her paint her face and dance

In his song "Woman" he says in the intro: "For the other half of the sky", referring to the Mao quote I believe, which says that women hold up half of the sky.

Now cease being a fool and stop googling "John Lennon + misogyny + sexism".

Or you can google "John Lennon + racist" and call him a racist as well based on some song lyrics (the ones I posted above taken out of context, for example).

To answer the topic title; Yes, Lennon was obviously a leftist. Watch the documentary linked earlier in the thread for proof of it.

[Hexen]

Since you like to base your views about Lennon's supposed "sexism" or "misogyny" on his song lyrics then read these:



In his song "Woman" he says in the intro: "For the other half of the sky", referring to the Mao quote I believe, which says that women hold up half of the sky.

Now cease being a fool and stop googling "John Lennon + misogyny + sexism".

Or you can google "John Lennon + racist" and call him a racist as well based on some song lyrics (the ones I posted above taken out of context, for example).

To answer the topic title; Yes, Lennon was obviously a leftist. Watch the documentary linked earlier in the thread for proof of it.

Well I know that song, which I was going to point out that Lennon was a flip flopper and a hypocrite when it comes to his actual treatment of women in the past despite that song. Also it's has been previously stated that Lennon was apolitical and a pacifist similar to Gandhi...(who also abused his wife which they share familiar terms)

[Led Zeppelin]

Also it's has been previously stated that Lennon was apolitical and a pacifist similar to Gandhi...

Did you read the interview Random Precision posted or see the interview he did on television in which he defended the Black Panthers (and was on with a BP leader)?

He was far from apolitical, that's actually a very ridiculous claim given his involvement in the anti-war movement. Also it's more ridiculous given the huge CIA file on him which shows the lengths they went to in order to get rid of him.

Just watch the documentary The U.S. vs. John Lennon to see proof of him not being apolitical.

[Dimentio]

Lennon ceased to be cool in my eyes when i found out he spent a fortune on designer furs for Yoko. As well as another bomb on temperature moderation to ensure the afforementioned furs were kept at optimum condition.

The king of full of shit lefties.

If you got so much money, what would you spend it on?

[Vahanian]

drugs. :redstar2000: edit: shit, he already did that i forgot about Sgt. peppers

but to answer the OP, Lennon might have been sympathetic to leftist but he definitely wasn't one

[Led Zeppelin]

but to answer the OP, Lennon might have been sympathetic to leftist but he definitely wasn't one

Why was the "definitely" not a leftist? Random Precision and myself have posted quotes and sources that show that he was...

It's important to keep in mind that the original post was asking if he was a leftist, not a revolutionary leftist.

Big difference.

[narcomprom]

The "revolution occurs in the soul not in the streets" bullshit.

exactly my opinion. what the whole counter culture is about is pumping money out of hapless middle class kids with superficially progressive ideas. None of the new age hippie bs is not even remotely leftist by any definition.
"Imagining all the people" while taking LSD, dewing the t-shirts and having sex distracted a major part of the baby boomer youth from much more important issues.

[Sarah Palin]

I think Lennon was different things at different times. Imagine was probably written by a communist, and sung live by a reactionary (changing "Imagine no religion" to "Imagine no immigration" and so on when sung live.) The Play Boy interview from just before he died, I can't see as being from any kind of leftist.

There's more...


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

Perhaps my new favorite lyrics...

[redflag32]

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/3354/poster88.jpg (http://img196.imageshack.us/i/poster88.jpg/)http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/poster88.jpg/1/w857.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img196/poster88.jpg/1/)

[Misanthrope]

He was anti-theist, internationalist ect but not a leftist in the sense we all see Leftism.

"A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world..."

From Imagine.

[Hoggy_RS]

Nah he wasn't a leftist, your thinking of Lenin; now that guy was a leftist.

Brilliant:lol:

[leveller]

I've always been led to believe that Lennon was very friendly with Tariq Ali and that he gave money to the International Marxist Group, and it was partly due to his friendship with Tariq that the song Imagine came about.

The Sometime in New York City album is very political, so i think its quite clear he at least had a marxist phase in his late 20s and early 30s.
And even McCartney may have had some leftist feelings around this time - remember 'Give Ireland back to the Irish' possibly the nicest protest song ever written

On the RINGO album Lennon is drawn holding a red star, and i read David Bowie describing him as 'the most earnestly socialist man he had ever met.'

[The Situationist]

I've also seen a spread in an old magazine where John Lennon dressed up as Che Guevara to lament his death.

I think it is clear than he was a leftist - although clearly with no Marxist education as a foundation.

[Led Zeppelin]

I've also seen a spread in an old magazine where John Lennon dressed up as Che Guevara to lament his death.


Yeah, you just said in another thread that Mousavi also used to be an admirer of Che Guevara (http://www.revleft.com/vb/showpost.php?p=1509138&postcount=7).

Perhaps all these things happened in your own head as opposed to the real world? Do you get such "this person liked Che Guevara" flashbacks often?

[Tomhet]

I thought he lived in a large mansion?
going to have to say no