"Revolution"

Song: “Revolution”

Album: (Not released on LP, but the original version, "Revolution 1," appeared on The Beatles (1968), aka The White Album)

“Revolution” by Lennon was a re-working of “Revolution 1,” which would later appear on The Beatles LP. It was meant to be a more single-friendly version of the song, which John hoped to release as an A-side.  Paul was worried about the potential political controversy, though, and George thought it was too slow.  It ultimately served as the B-side to “Hey Jude.”

The song grew out of the political protests of the late 1960’s. The Beatles had previously avoided political songwriting, but John thought it was time to speak up, to stop avoiding tough questions. “Revolution” reflects John’s views at the time, which were anti-war but not anti-establishment, which basically made everyone angry. The far-right, already suspicious of the Beatles (and their possible communist sympathies), thought the song went too far and was subversive. The far-left, on the other hand, thought the song didn’t go far enough, citing songs like the Rolling Stones’ “Street Fighting Man” as more sympathetic to their cause.

In any case, it’s a good, hard rocker. A song that’s difficult not to tap your foot to.

And while John’s political views continued to evolve in the last decade of his life, he indicated, as late as 1980, shortly before he died, that "Revolution" still stood as a good representation of his views.  He would always stand against what he believed was wrong, but he would never do so in violence.