John Lennon was a British and American singer, composer, artist, songwriter, and social campaigner who ascended to global fame as the Beatles’ creator, co-composer, co-lead singer, and guitar player. He was known for his fighting spirit and sharp sarcasm in his art, poetry, music, illustrations, movies, and discussions. The song “Working Class Hero” was written and performed by John Lennon. In addition, it was included in the debut album after the collapse of the musical group the Beatles “John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band.” “Working Class Hero” was initially released in 1971 and later received several covers from other famous artists, specifically David Bowie, Marilyn Manson, and Green Day (London, para. 8-10).
I argue that although John Lennon comes from the middle class, his song “Working Class Hero” conveys the conflict and inequality between the wealthy bourgeoisie and poor workers presented by the Marxist perspective.
John Lennon co-wrote and co-produced the musical work “Working Class Hero” with Phil Spector and Yoko Ono, who was his beloved woman and whom he wedded in 1969. Furthermore, Lennon is considered to be the song’s single vocalist and, moreover, its accomplished solo musician. In this masterpiece, the ex-Beatle English singer used an acoustic guitar. In addition, John Lennon was believed to be proud of the work, performing and recording it over one hundred times till he was certain that “Working Class Hero” was just how he intended it.
Nevertheless, it has been said that he was so furious when recording this musical work that no version sounded good to him. In reality, the final result is a hybrid of two completely distinct approaches. As an “Apple Records” element, “Working Class Hero” was announced on August 11, 1971. In 2005, a John Lennon cover record named “Working Class Hero: A Tribute to John Lennon” was released. This fact demonstrates how essential the musical work is in his enormous discography.
In regards to some of the vocabulary utilized, this masterpiece was considered to be innovative and revolutionary at the time. Several broadcasters and radio stations refused to air it due to Lennon’s use of profanity and foul language words, which, for the record, occurred in none of the Beatles’ compositions. The United States of America Senator Harley Staggers attempted to have the song prohibited by the Federal Communications Commission but was unsuccessful in provoking such action. However, Yoko Ono, John Lennon’s wife, subsequently said that Lennon adopted the vulgar phrases since he assumed that was exactly how ordinary working-class individuals spoke.
“Working Class Hero” is a composition that criticizes the social stratification of society, in which representatives of the working class are constantly oppressed. The work also emphasizes the difficulties for people to achieve social mobility and go beyond the category in which they were born. Constant pressure and manipulation do not allow individuals to improve their quality of life and inspire fear.
The official video, which accompanies the performance of Lennon himself, is dedicated to his memory. It may be relevant to the topic because the singer correlated himself more with the workers, even though he came from the middle class and wanted to warn of injustice. Green Day’s video on this song, in turn, shows representatives of Sudan, which is more relevant since there is a conflict, in which there is also a struggle for the economic advantage causing oppression. The musical work sparked much debate, with critics claiming that John Lennon was reared in an upper-middle-class family by his aunt and had no authority to proclaim himself a working-class idol.
Karl Marx was a German author, sociologist, economist, philosopher, political scientist, publicist, and socialist activist who lived from 1818 to 1848. The Manifesto of Communism, elaborated in 1848, and the multiple-volume Das Kapital are two of his most famous works. Later, Marx’s scientific and cultural ideas enormously shaped academic, financial, and global political history. Marxism is related to a set of critical views about community, economy, and government that claims that social systems evolve with the help of a class struggle.
According to Marx’s approach, society is divided into the bourgeoisie (owners) and the proletariat (workers), and the first dominate the other group, generating inequality. Marx and Engels argue that, although a minority, the ruling class has more power and can suppress workers. At the same time, the ideas of representatives of the authorities become dominant in society since the rich have the opportunity and time to develop them (Marx and Engels 65). Workers, in turn, become passive and receptive because they have less time to create ideas and illusions about themselves. Manstead (267) argues that class, and accordingly material conditions, where a person is born and grew up affects behavior, ways of thinking, and life. Differences make it difficult for the working class to obtain benefits and opportunities to improve social mobility.
The theory of conflict, taking its origins in the works of Karl Marx, is suitable for analyzing the “Working Class Hero” song. John Lennon laid down in some parts of the text of the musical work the theses of the main social problems, which are based on the inequality of people. The song begins with the words, “As soon as you’re born, they make you feel small,” indicating class inequality from birth (“Working Class Hero” 00: 06-00: 10). The author, in the fourth verse, depicts manipulation through television and other measures to make the oppressed think that they are free, but this does not abolish their position as “peasants” (“Working Class Hero” 02:05 – 02:32).
The difficulties of social mobility, gaining power, and critiques are transmitted in the sixth verse claiming that it is necessary to change self and learn “how to smile as you kill” to become influential (“Working Class Hero” 02: 46-03: 04). The song, in its main base, consists of the author’s thoughts regarding social situations that take on a mass character and in front of which ordinary people are defenseless.
Through criticism of the social stratification, “Working Class Hero” draws attention to the inequity problem, arguing that powerful group establishes social rules and relations, making the working class and its oppression, constant phenomena. As part of the theory of conflict, sociologists consider music as a measure of a dominant group to keep others subordinate or as a resistance of an oppressed group (Kotarba 5). Considering “Working Class Hero,” the song is a vivid example of protest against economic inequality.
In conclusion, the song “Working Class Hero,” originally released by John Lennon, presents criticism of social stratification and inequality, correlating with the Marxist perspective on conflict theory. Considering Marx’s philosophy, society is divided into the owners and the workers, and the first group dominates and controls the second, generating inequality. The musical composition emphasizes that the working class is suppressed by the group that has more power. In addition, the song points to manipulation towards society and difficulties in achieving social mobility. The ideas and problems raised in “Working Class Hero” are relevant for the modern society and are being investigated by sociologists.
Works Cited
Kotarba, Joseph A. Understanding Society Through Popular Music. Routledge, 2017.
London, Amanda. “John Lennon’s “Working Class Hero” Lyrics Meaning.” Song Meanings and Facts. 2020. Web.
Manstead, Antony S. R. “The Psychology of Social Class: How socioeconomic Status Impacts Thought, Feelings, and Behaviour.” British Journal of Social Psychology, vol. 57, no. 2, 2018, pp. 267-291.
Marx, Karl, and Frederick Engels. The German Ideology. Edited by C. J. Arthur, Lawrence & Wishart, 1970. Web.
“Working Class Hero. (Ultimate Mix, 2020) – John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (official music video HD).” YouTube, uploaded by johnlennon. 2016. Web.