I have tried to explain what significance John Lennon had to me as a songwriter but it is hard unless you know me pretty well. He was an artist. He suffered much pain growing up. He was a terrible father to his first son and then a great Dad to Sean. Complicated, messy, life but simple message – all you need is love, peace not war. He lived large, but was still insecure. I think is how all artists feel. Do something grand, but is it good enough. In the end his legacy was long lasting not like a pop artist of today. His legacy lived on because his message was true, pure and innocent.
I identified with his music because how I grew up and how I lived my life. If you know me you know what I mean. His words and music were raw, honest, emotional, clever, and witty.
I think his best song, his most revealing song was Working Class Hero.
Rock on John. Love, Peace.
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 class less 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
T. Mitchell Bell - Singer-Songwriter 