John Lennon, Working Class Hero (1940–1980)

Op 8 december 1980, precies 30 jaar geleden, loste Mark Chapman in New York fatale schoten op zijn popidool. John Lennon was amper 40 jaar en, als ex-Beatle, bij leven al een legende. In de meeste mediaberichten over Lennon komen zijn radicale politieke ideeën maar zijdelings aan bod, terwijl ze een integraal en inspirerend onderdeel van zijn muziek vormden. Als eerbetoon plaatsen we op socialisme.nu een van zijn mooiste nummers – Working Class Hero – met hieronder de ijzersterke tekst.
8 december 2010

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 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