Revolution, The Beatles

[Zangetsu]

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




My friend directed me to this song, he is someone i speak to fairly frequently... one of my less progressive aquaintances (I believe he still harbours delusional ideas about the world being a fairly bright and happy place where the good guyz find their way ontop eventualy). To put it bluntly i disliked this song. Full of conservative views (how its so sceptical of "revolution", perhaps that is reading too deap into it, but this song isnt entitled; "that one group of revolutionary jerks i find unacceptable and this is the shit they need cleared up...")

-Non-violent conservative propaganda... if the ANC had never shown that it was willing to fight for the freedom of the disenfranchised... would have Apartheid eventualy collapsed out of pity for the plight of those it marginalized!?

-With the rest of what is packaged in this song, i just interpret this non-violent view as an ideal convienantly placed to burden 'revolutionaries'. So oppressors are pretty free to do whatever they want aslong as it would require actual armed struggle to dipose them. What a wonderful world it must be to live in with this belief set; that which needs to change can be changed through peacful means, and that which we cannot change through peaceful means... err violent resistance is the devil.

-WTF is wrong with changing the American constitution!? I'm not American, but im sure theres a lot room for that document to be reworked into something vastly more fair in the way of workers rights, and the rights of those who are not blessed with the virtue of capital.

he can bash Mao... i'm not phased about that.




What do you think, gotta run, brb to edit this and see whats happening :P

[The Floyd]

My interpretation:

I'm pretty sure that what he is trying to outline is the inability to achieve some of the socialist ideals because they seem so farfetch'd, which in reference to what Lennon is referring to, they are kind of farfetch'd. There is no progrssive movement towards this society, he's saying that if you want it like this right away right now, then it's gonna be hard and near impossible and quite possibly it's gonna throw us back further than where we started from.

Some examples of this:


But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out

There's gonna be hardship and violence, and really he wants nothing to with that cuz there shouldn't have to be violence. It can be alright without it.


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

He'd love to help, and he is, but if we do it too fast and push things too hard, the people who we are essentially against, will get more of what they want. So instead brother, let's just wait it out and take it slow. The reference as brother implies a sense of community and togetherness.


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


If you go around portraying yourself as an insane RADICAL, no one will listen. you have to try and broadcast your message and your desires in a way that appeals to everyone so that everyone can feel like it's a beneficial idea. If you just start carrying pictures of heads-of-communist-states such as Mao, people will only frown upon you. Also remember this song was written in the 60's, there was still a large fear of communism at the time and Mao was obviously or at least recognized as a communist dictator.


Anyway that's my interpretation of the song... Not really a conservative song, but more of a hopeful message of enlightenment to fellow socialists such as himself (John Lennon).

Edit: I just corrected a typo at the beginning of the last paragraph. Wrote "Any" as oppose to "Anyway"

[Roses in the Hospital]

I don't see what's so wrong with this song. It's in no way conservative, and it's not an attack on the left, it's an attack on some sections of the left.
If you want a truely great Leftist Lennon song check out Working Class Hero (see my sig...)

[Zangetsu]

You say you got a real solution
Well, you know
We'd all love to see the plan

---I percieved that as scepticism about a socialist/communist outcome in general


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

--- looked like irony to me, he says "wait" when he really means 'no', he says "brother" i thought this really meant something else...


You say you'll change the constitution
Well, you know
We all want to change your head
--- WTF

You tell me it's the institution
Well, you know
You better free you mind instead
--- WTF


I obviously know very little about John Lennon :P, but why is he such a staunch supporter of the US constitition, this conservative view is what made me examine the rest of these lyrics in perhaps a overly sensitive fasion.

"Don't you know it's gonna be all right"
---perhaps optimism, perhaps a declartion that its not all right at the moment, but in the context im reading, it looks to me like; 'Its OK, dont worry, dont fight'.


I will go find working class hero right now!

[farleft]

It's a lovely song, but ultimately it's idealistic nonsence and not realistic.

If this way would actually work then it would be great, but unfortunately violence is needed.

Working Class Hero is a much better song. Maybe Revolution had too much McCartney influence in it.

[Forward Union]

As soon as your 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 peasents 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.

[Shredder]

But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out

Interesting fact about this: Lennon originally wrote "you can count me in." He then couldn't decide what he wanted to put in the recorded version, especially since he would be attacked for advocating destruction, so he settled on this.

[farleft]

Originally posted by [email protected] 9 2005, 09:43 PM

But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out

Interesting fact about this: Lennon originally wrote "you can count me in." He then couldn't decide what he wanted to put in the recorded version, especially since he would be attacked for advocating destruction, so he settled on this.
Really? is that true?

Don't suppose you have any links about that do you? Just that's really interesting.

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

This was recorded in '68, which I suspect this was before John became more militant like he was in the 70s
I doubt he would have been so skeptical of revolution around the time of Imagin and Working Class Hero

[tambourine_man]

But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out



Interesting fact about this: Lennon originally wrote "you can count me in." He then couldn't decide what he wanted to put in the recorded version, especially since he would be attacked for advocating destruction, so he settled on this.


Really? is that true?
Don't suppose you have any links about that do you? Just that's really interesting.


yes, you can actually hear him say "in" right after he says "out." (and you can see him say it, if you have the video). in a later interview he explained that at that time he wasn't completely sure that militancy is necessary, but was leaning towards the viewpoint that it is. i don't remember the name of the documentary i saw that in sorry...
this is for the version of "revolution" on the white album, not the one on pastmasters.

[The Floyd]

Originally posted by Roses in the [email protected] 9 2005, 02:25 PM
I don't see what's so wrong with this song. It's in no way conservative, and it's not an attack on the left, it's an attack on some sections of the left.
If you want a truely great Leftist Lennon song check out Working Class Hero (see my sig...)
Yes THAT TRULY is a leftists song, it's actually my favourite Lennon song... I didn't know so many other people loved that song, I only found out there's a lot of others that like that song in the past few days following the anniversary.


and @tambourine_man

I actually remember now hearing that story. I didn't think of it though when writing earlier yesterday morning. Cool nonetheless. I personally am still not sure whether the military is necessary but it's a realization I have to come to I suppose.

[visceroid]

heres a song i like better...


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 isnt hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for,
No religion too,
Imagine all the people
living life in peace...

Imagine no possesions,
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 Im a dreamer,
but Im not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.


Hmm. Communism anyone?

[MiniOswald]

bleedin self proclaimed jesus, he was just the bono of yesterday

[The Floyd]

bono is just a douche bag and has no clue of what he's talking about. people label him as a socialist cuz he takes his celebrity-esque talk about helping poor kids to a whole new level. he expects canada to do everything. If bono was really a revolutionary and caring celebrity trying to utilize his "powers" then he'd be attacking hte american government, but he wont cuz he's an asshole and thats where his money all comes from anyways.

at least john lennon was actually more headstrong on more issues than saving the animals and poor kids, he wanted to get to the source of the problem not just giving them more money. he woulda known that giving money to them would have been useless like it is right now.

so i'm sick of people arguing that if John Lennon was still alive and trying to make a difference we'd be telling him to shutup cuz he wouldnt know what he's talking about, cuz it would be the opposite, he'd be actually making a difference unlike bono. bono can't have one conversation with george bush that doesnt really tell bush that nearly all the current problems in the world are AMERICA'S FAULT... that and MONEY and CAPITALISM... and unfortuantely ameriKKKa has the power to do something but they live in their fantasy world...

god i think i went a little off topic but oh well fuck capitalism and fuck money.

[lovebombanarchy]

this song is an attack on the authoritarian "left," nothing else. lennon was, in my opinion, a libertarian-socialist throughout his life (perhaps even leaning towards anarchism?) furthermore, he was in favor of revolution... he comes out clearly in the song "Attica state" and says stuff like "free all prisoners everywhere" and "now's the time for revolution"...

also, listen to the cd Sometime in NYC, the songs Imagine (lennon's idea of an anarchist-communist utopia), Working Class Hero, Gimme some truth, God, and any number of other songs that are clearly leftist.
----
here's my interpretation of this particular song

You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world

[this is said earnestly, lennon obviously wants to change the world]

You tell me that it's evolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
[etc]
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out, in
[lennon clearly had great reservations about engaging in violence, but he wasn't completely against considering it.]
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
[earnest, but skeptical of any blueprint for change. lennon would probably think that revolution is about people taking control of their own lives, not adhering to a dogma.]
You ask me for a contribution
Well, you know
We're doing what we can
[earnest, but skeptical...lennon doesnt want to collaborate with authoritarian leftists]
But when you want money
for people with minds that hate
[aka, Maoists, stalinists, etc.]
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
[this is a clear and bitter attack on all authoritarianism. lennon's basically saying, there are so many political and religious people interested in brainwashing people..and you authoritarian "leftists" are doing the same fucking thing. people should think for themselves, and they shouldnt have to swallow bullshit out of the little red book or any other doctorine. hence the reference to mao later in the song]

You tell me it's the institution
Well, you know
You better free you mind instead

[same idea as above. lennon's saying, people dont want cultural revolutions, they want freedom.]

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

basically, the message is: fuck totalitarian leftism. we need a real libertarian revolution.

[lovebombanarchy]

this is a song about a prison massacre in attica, ny (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attica_Prison_riots )
by lennon... he gets into some deeper ideas though

Attica state

What a waste of human power
What a waste of human lives
Shoot the prisoners in the towers
Forty-three poor widowed wives


Attica State, Attica State, we're all mates with Attica State


Media blames it on the prisoners
But the prisoners did not kill
"Rockefeller pulled the trigger"
That is what the people feel


Attica State, Attica State, we're all mates with Attica State


Free the prisoners, jail the judges
Free all prisoners everywhere
All they want is truth and justice
All they need is love and care

Attica State, Attica State, we're all mates with Attica State


They all live in suffocation
Let's not watch them die in sorrow
Now's the time for revolution
Give them all a chance to grow

Attica State, Attica State, we're all mates with Attica State


Come together join the movement
Take a stand for human rights
Fear and hatred clouds our judgement
Free us all from endless night

Attica State, Attica State, we're all mates with Attica State


Attica State, Attica State, we all live in Attica State


Attica State, Attica State, Attica, Attica, Attica State

[Martyr]

Originally posted by [email protected] 11 2005, 05:52 AM
heres a song i like better...


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 isnt hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for,
No religion too,
Imagine all the people
living life in peace...

Imagine no possesions,
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 Im a dreamer,
but Im not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.


Hmm. Communism anyone?
Utopian communism

[UltraLeftGerry]

For those of you who think Lennon is a bit wishy washy on the Revolution question, check out: Lennon interviewed by Tariq Ali and Robin Blackburn (http://counterpunch.org/lennon12082005.html) he's actually a bit sympathetic to Mao, but I suppose Maoism hadn't been totally discredited at the time this interview was done.


TA: What did you think was the reason for the success of your sort of music?

JL: Well, at the time it was thought that the workers had broken through, but I realise in retrospect that it's the same phoney deal they gave the blacks, it was just like they allowed blacks to be runners or boxers or entertainers. That's the choice they allow you--now the outlet is being a pop star, which is really what I'm saying on the album in 'Working class hero'. As I told Rolling Stone, it's the same people who have the power, the class system didn't change one little bit.

Of course, there are a lot of people walking around with long hair now and some trendy middle class kids in pretty clothes. But nothing changed except that we all dressed up a bit, leaving the same bastards running everything.

Robin Blackburn: Of course, class is something the American rock groups haven't tackled yet.

JL: Because they're all middle class and bourgeois and they don't want to show it. They're scared of the workers, actually, because the workers seem mainly right-wing in America, clinging on to their goods. But if these middle class groups realise what's happening, and what the class system has done, it's up to them to repatriate the people and to get out of all that bourgeois shit.

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

he wasn't very well-spoken, and I don't reckon he was very savvy on revolutionary leftist theory either

kind of a hack, no?

he may have had his "heart in the right place", but that was about all

[lovebombanarchy]

Originally posted by [email protected] 12 2005, 11:09 PM
he wasn't very well-spoken, and I don't reckon he was very savvy on revolutionary leftist theory either

kind of a hack, no?

he may have had his "heart in the right place", but that was about all
you know, some people think that art is beautiful in and of itself; it doesnt have to be propaganda.

you dont have to be savvy in revolutionary leftist theroy to be an interesting, signifigant person who offers something to humanity

[The Floyd]

Originally posted by lovebombanarchy+Dec 12 2005, 11:27 PM--> (lovebombanarchy @ Dec 12 2005, 11:27 PM)
[email protected] 12 2005, 11:09 PM
he wasn't very well-spoken, and I don't reckon he was very savvy on revolutionary leftist theory either

kind of a hack, no?

he may have had his "heart in the right place", but that was about all
you know, some people think that art is beautiful in and of itself; it doesnt have to be propaganda.

you dont have to be savvy in revolutionary leftist theroy to be an interesting, signifigant person who offers something to humanity [/b]
well said

[Glasgow]

Thats the Beatles for you they werent the Rollingstones writting Streetfighter Man in ssupport of the rioters in Parris. To Johns defence this has Paul written all over it and john did sing this song live as DONT YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN COUNT ME IN!! As apose to count me out which gives it a hole new twist.

[Revolutionary_Anti-Fascist]

To me and i stress me beause everyone can take anything from a song, it's not having a dig at the left or pushing it as an unachievable goal, it's indicating that people have warped the morals of the left, the sort of stalinesque appearance of communism etc.

[OkaCrisis]

Originally posted by [email protected] 11 2005, 10:43 AM
bleedin self proclaimed jesus, he was just the bono of yesterday
If Bono was anywhere near as politically outspoken, or influential as John Lennon, they'd have shot him too by now.


bono is just a douche bag and has no clue of what he's talking about. people label him as a socialist cuz he takes his celebrity-esque talk about helping poor kids to a whole new level. he expects canada to do everything. If bono was really a revolutionary and caring celebrity trying to utilize his "powers" then he'd be attacking hte american government, but he wont cuz he's an asshole and thats where his money all comes from anyways

This is all true. He uses his politics to sell records, certainly not to damn the system that makes him rich. John Lennon made leftist ideas popular through music that spoke of peace and revolution. U2 is a joke in comparison.

[celtopunk]

Originally posted by [email protected] 19 2005, 01:38 PM
Thats the Beatles for you they werent the Rollingstones writting Streetfighter Man in ssupport of the rioters in Parris. To Johns defence this has Paul written all over it and john did sing this song live as DONT YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN COUNT ME IN!! As apose to count me out which gives it a hole new twist.
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