It’s one of those gorgeous summer Sundays, where the weather isn’t too hot and puffy white clouds accentuate a stunning, icy blue sky. Sandy and I are in his study, and we are working. It’s not the ideal way to spend half the weekend, but it has to be done and so, here we are. Sandy is working on his desktop computer and I’m opposite him with my trusty laptop. And, as usual, the radio is set to our favourite stations, and belting out a variety of songs.
Sandy is a huge John Lennon fan, and has every single piece he ever recorded. He actually sold me on Lennonism back when we were in high school, and I’ve become an admirer since. Not as big a fan as Sandy, but a fan regardless.
A few minutes ago John Lennon’s Working Class Hero came on, and the lyrics intrigued me enough to write them down.
As soon as you’re born they make you feel small
By giving you no time instead of it all
‘Til the pain is so big you feel nothing at all
A working class her 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
‘Til 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 really can’t 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
For the greater part it’s bleak, so bleak. And in too many ways, oh so true. We are swallowed up very young into the machine of Order, schooled, conformed into particular ways of thinking, then churned out upon the earth, expected to have all the answers to make it work.
It’s a lot of pressure for anyone, and the realization of all this “stuff” usually hits us later on, and not under the best circumstances. Sometimes, it’s when you’re floundering that the philosophy of life hits you square between the eyes.
All that said, I didn’t intend to write all this down just to depress you. My point doesn’t rest with the dreariness of the song’s message, but in the fact that it was written by John Lennon.
John Lennon is the god of music or at the very least, one of its top contenders. Though tragically taken from us before his time, he accomplished so much in his life, and touched millions of people. I’ve never heard of anyone not liking John Lennon.
John Lennon wrote this song all by himself, and we all know that the best songwriting is taken from life’s experiences and thoughts. In that case, it’s nice to know someone so artistic, famous and influential had the regular, scared thoughts of us little people, too.
Many of us get lost in the great blender of life, but the way to the martini shaker is always open and clear. Inside each and every one of us, there is a creative genius.
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4 comments:
Can I have an olive with my creative genius?
Man, could we toss some back or what, girl? lol
Although it was never clear whether or not his assassin hated him, I would go pretty far to say that you don't murder someone you like. Then, of course, there was the FBI... so I'd say there were a fair number of people who didn't like him. ;)
Andreanna, one day perhaps we shall. It's a date.
Saucy, while you strike a fine point, 1) assassins are either usually insane or under payment to do the job, and 2) the likeability factor of the FBI has never been compared to cuddly teddy bears. Generally speaking, it's not the job of the feds to be affectionate, but to be suspicious.
funny i was just thinking about this the other day - that after we have received education, comes the expectation of knowing everything there is to know. then there is the consolation of a lot of things we can never know. then there is the relentless pursuit of answers that ends up in frustration. then there is the laziness of not wanting to figure out the things that we have to know.
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