‘Working Class Hero’ – John Lennon, 1970
I decided to post about this song today considering the current economic state of most countries in the Western World today due to the problems facing banks, stock markets etc – just turn on the tv and you’ll hear all about it. What turned me onto this song while hearing about all this was the continued arguments for and against the bailouts that a lot of the governments are planning and have already done to prevent the complete collapse of financial markets and banks.
The song is taken from his first album after the breakup of The Beatles and is called John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. I don’t believe it was ever released as a single. I guess the song could be considered a protest song, a protest against the way we are all robotically brought up within the constraints that society and government apply to its citizens in order to be prepared for the world in the way that we will be of benefit to society when we do grow up i.e. go to school/college and get a good job. Actually when the song came out there was some controversy in the use of the word fucking in the following lines
‘Till you’re so fucking crazy you can’t follow their rules‘
and later in the song….
‘But you’re still fucking peasants as far as I can see‘
Anyways everybody will probably know the song. In relation to the current economic climate as mentioned above whatever they do, I really hope its done with the best interests of normal people like you and me and not for the benefit of financial institutions alone, if they happen to be saved because of it then thats fine with me. Generally Im not a socialist, a capitalist or a materialist – Im probably a mismash of all three but I do truly believe in the fair treatment of everybody, rich and poor alike. Here’s a live version of the song.
Ah it feels good to rant sometimes…
