Working Class Hero
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| “Working Class Hero” | |||||
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| Song by John Lennon with the Plastic Ono Band | |||||
| Album | John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band | ||||
| Released | 11 December 1970 | ||||
| Recorded | September 26 - October 9, 1970 | ||||
| Genre | Acoustic rock Alternative rock |
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| Length | 3:48 | ||||
| Label | Apple/EMI | ||||
| Writer | John Lennon | ||||
| Producer | John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Phil Spector | ||||
| John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band track listing | |||||
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"Working Class Hero" is a song from John Lennon's first post-Beatles solo album, 1970's John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band.
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[edit] Interpretation
Regarded as one of John Lennon's most caustic and overtly political songs, "Working Class Hero" explores themes of alienation and social status from childhood to adulthood, and comments on elements that "distract you from your fate":[1]
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.
[edit] Controversy
U.S. Representative Harley Orrin Staggers heard the song on WGTB and lodged a complaint with the FCC. The manager of WGTB faced a year in prison and a $10,000 fine, but defended his decision to play the song saying, "The People of Washington are sophisticated enough to accept the occasional four-letter word in context, and not become sexually aroused, offended, or upset."[2] Other U.S. radio stations like WBCN banned the song for its use of the word "fucking".[3] In Australia, the album was released with the expletive removed from the song, with the lyrics censored on the inner sleeve.[4]
[edit] Notable cover versions
| “Working Class Hero” | |||||
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| Single by Green Day from the album Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur |
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| Released | May 1, 2007 | ||||
| Format | Digital download | ||||
| Genre | Alternative rock | ||||
| Length | 4:25 | ||||
| Label | Warner Bros./Amnesty International | ||||
| Writer(s) | John Lennon | ||||
| Producer | Green Day | ||||
| Green Day singles chronology | |||||
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| Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur track listing | |||||
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[edit] Green Day cover
In 2007, Green Day contributed a cover of the song to the Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur, which was released on June 12, 2007, proceeds from which help support Amnesty International's campaign to focus attention on the conflict in Darfur, Sudan. The song was subsequently released as a single and has an accompanying video for the track with director Samuel Bayer.[5] The single was released to radio on April 30, 2007[6] and on iTunes on May 1, 2007.[7]
When asked why they chose the song, frontman Billie Joe Armstrong said, "We wanted to do 'Working Class Hero' because its themes of alienation, class, and social status really resonated with us. It's such a raw, aggressive song -- just that line: 'you're still fucking peasants as far as I can see' -- we felt we could really sink our teeth into it. I hope we've done him justice."[7]
Green Day performed it live at the American Idol Season 6 finale (dropping the offensive words). In accounts of the show, the Associated Press repeatedly and inaccurately called the song "A Working Class Hero Is Something to Be." Since then, the Green Day cover has been nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance By a Duo/Group w/ Vocals.
[edit] Other covers
- Cyndi Lauper covered it live on Lennon: A Tribute in 1991.
- David Bowie's band Tin Machine recorded a version of the song on its 1989 debut album.
- Elbow covered the song for Q magazine in 2005.
- Jerry Williams covered the song in 1984 on his album Working Class Hero.
- Manic Street Preachers recorded a cover of the song on its 2007 Send Away the Tigers.
- Marianne Faithfull covered the song on her 1979 album Broken English.
- Then-New Zealand politician Marilyn Waring covered the song as a single in 1980.[8]
- Noir Désir, on the record "En route pour la joie" (2000).
- Ozzy Osbourne recorded a version for his 2005 collection Under Cover.
- Richie Havens covered the song for his 1987 album Richie Havens Sings Beatles and Dylan.
- Roger Taylor covered the song on his 1998 album Electric Fire.
- The Academy Is... covered the song in 2006 on its From the Carpet EP.
- Tina Dickow covered the song for Amnesty International's 'Make Some Noise'-campaign (In Denmark)
- Marilyn Manson covered the song on b-side of Disposable Teens single
[edit] References
- ^ Allmusic.com
- ^ Blecha, Peter (2004). Taboo Tunes: A History of Banned Bands & Censored Songs. Backbeat Books, 160-161. ISBN 0879307927.
- ^ Schechter, Danny (1997). The More You Watch, the Less You Know: News Wars/Submerged Hopes/Media Adventures. Seven Stories Press, 106. ISBN 1888363800.
- ^ Blaney, John (2005). John Lennon: Listen To This Book. Paper Jukebox, 59. ISBN 095445281X.
- ^ SHOT: Green Day - Samuel Bayer, director. Video Static at Videostatic.com (2007-05-03). Retrieved on 2007-05-13.
- ^ Working Class Hero tomorrow. Green Day Authority at GreenDayAuthority.com (2007-04-30). Retrieved on 2007-05-13.
- ^ a b Green Day Included in All-Star Line-Up of Artists Featured on "Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur". Market Wire at Marketwire.com (2007-05-01). Retrieved on 2007-05-13.
- ^ gemm.com
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