<scratches beard>
I was in my twenties when I heard the news that John Lennon had been shot and killed by a deranged fan. John was such an icon to me and many people of my generation, so I can tell you that I (along with millions more) was heartbroken.
John Lennon had many human flaws (don't we all), but he also had some very admirable qualities, and he was a musical genius.
His music, and especially his sometimes biting, sometimes political, and almost always deeply personal and lovely lyrics, transformed pop music forever...
Some of you younger folks were really into Kurt Cobain and Nirvana, and quite honestly I cried when he took his own life too, however it was different because John Lennon had been in seclusion for several years spending time with his children, and was just coming out with an entirely different attitude and form of music when he was slain.
I would have loved to hear what music he would have put out in the future...
John wrote many great lyrics to some wonderful songs, however one that always strikes a chord with me is "Working Class Hero":
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 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.
- John Lennon
RIP John...you will never be forgotten...
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