“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”
— John Lennon, song lyrics from “A Working Class Hero”, 1970, English, singer, songwriter, musician, song lyrics, song quotes
“Working Class Hero” is a song by John Lennon from his 1970 album John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, his first album after the break-up of the rock band the Beatles, of which he was a founding member.
The song is a commentary/criticism on the difference between social classes. It tells the story of someone growing up in the working class. According to Lennon in an interview with Jann S. Wenner of Rolling Stone in December 1970, it is about working class individuals being processed into the middle classes, into the machine. source
“Working Class Hero”
By giving you no time instead of it all
‘Til the pain is so big you feel nothing at allA working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to beThey 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 f_____ crazy you can’t follow their rulesA working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to beWhen they’ve tortured and scared you for 20 odd years
Then they expect you to pick a career
When you can’t really function, you’re so full of fearA working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to beKeep you doped with religion, and sex, and T.V.
And you think you’re so clever and classless and free
But you’re still f_____ 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
Art of Quotation 