some love for john lennon

I think it's on the downswing now as far as air time, but recently I've heard Green Day's new single Working Class Hero on the radio quite a bit. I liked it the first time I heard it and I'm still impressed with it. That's very unusual for me with respect to Green Day songs. Although I enjoy most of them, but I wouldn't call them "good" or list any among my favorites or must-hear-on-the-radio rotation. But this one is different in that the lyrics have a depth that goes beyond Green Day's usual ranting and/or singing about nothing at all. I figured maybe they finally hit on something more real than their usual punk flavor. Maybe they're another example of wisdom coming with age...?

Or not. The reason this one is different is it's a cover of a John Lennon song. I only found that out a few weeks ago. Now had anyone told me beforehand I'd like a Lennon song that much I'd have had strong reason to believe they knew nothing of my taste in music or my dislike for the Beatles and John Lennon. But this Lennon guy isn't too bad apparently, at least not in this song. I of course don't like all of the lyrics, which comes as no surprise to me given what little I know of Lennon, but overall he does well. And I really like the Green Day cover of it. (I've never heard the original.) That's probably because it strikes a chord with me in a way.

Anyway, enough of my talk. Here are Mr. Lennon's lyrics:

As soon as you're 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 ------- 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 ------- 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 all the folks on the hill
A working class hero is something to be
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

As I said, I don't agree with it all, but Lennon is getting at some truth there. I particularly like the third and fifth stanzas.