Fifty years ago today “The Beatles” released the single The Ballad Of John And Yoko in the US.
I put their name in quotes because it was actually just John and Paul making all the vocal and instrumental tracks.
The cover photo for the single was striking. The lads had changed so much in appearance in such a short time. John looked like a guru in drag. Paul was so much more macho with his beard.
But mostly, the Beatles were rumored to be breaking up. After The White Album, everyone went his own way for a while. Ringo walked out because of all the tension and fighting, but they talked him into coming back a few days later. George rebelled against Paul’s authoritarian actions in the studio. John had retreated with Yoko … and who knew what they were doing?
And yet, out of all this tension and conflict, some of their best musical creation and performance rose.
The first time I heard the song was on the news. I was 13, my family lived in a small town in a rural area, and there wasn’t as much entertainment news as we have today. But The Beatles made news — usually when they outraged the older generation, got into trouble, or made a fabulous work or art or appearance.
I loved the song at first listening — not unusual for my experiences with Beatles’ songs. Also, I had started strumming the guitar, trying to learn some chords, and it was a relatively simple song to pick up.
John and Yoko took off to evade the press and ended up in Amsterdam sequestered in a hotel room. They allowed the press to come in and interview them and gave the typical non-sequitur hippie answers the were known for. Yoko turned John Avant-Garde, which didn’t settle well with anybody. But it was great for press coverage.
When the ordeal was over, John wrote the song on April 14 and took it over to Paul’s house, where (according to interviews) “they finished it.” Nobody mentioned what Paul added to the song, but it was probably musically rather than any lyrics.
This was unusual because they had parted badly after the “Let It Be” sessions (which were filmed for a movie of the same name and became the last time they played together as a band). But they always rallied together around the music.
What I remember from the version I heard on the nightly news was that one of the words in the chorus was censored. They didn’t bleep it out, they actually cut it — so the musical phrase didn’t have enough beats.
“{Christ} you know it ain’t easy, you know hard it can be.
“The way things are going, they’re gonna crucify me.”
I discovered (internet research) that this was not unusual. Many countries either censored it or outright banned the song.
For historical context, the Beatles were very unpopular with the older generation — The Establishment — in America ever since Lennon had made his statement that among young people, The Beatles were more popular than Jesus Christ. That caused an uproar, as well as album burnings, banning of long hair in schools, and all kinds of reactions.
Lennon told his publicity department: “Tony – No pre-publicity on Ballad Of John & Yoko especially the ‘Christ’ bit – so don’t play it round too much or you’ll frighten people – get it pressed first.”
The song is legendary — one of the group’s greatest hits. And on a personal note — one of my Karaoke Faves.
It was fifty years ago today — and already a legend.
THE BALLAD OF JOHN AND YOKO
Standing in the dock at Southampton
Trying to get to Holland or France
The man in the mac said
You’ve got to go back
You know they didn’t even give us a chance
Christ you know it ain’t easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They’re going to crucify me
Finally made the plane into Paris
Honeymooning down by the Seine
Peter Brown call to say
You can make it O.K.
You can get married in Gibraltar near Spain
Christ you know it ain’t easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They’re going to crucify me
Drove from Paris to the Amsterdam Hilton
Talking in our beds for a week
The newspapers said
Say what’re you doing in bed
I said we’re only trying to get us some peace
Christ you know it ain’t easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They’re going to crucify me
Saving up your money for a rainy day
Giving all your clothes to charity
Last night the wife said
Oh boy when you’re dead
You don’t take nothing with you but your soul, think
Made a lightning trip to Vienna
Eating chocolate cake in a bag
The newspapers said
She’s gone to his head
They look just like two gurus in drag
Christ you know it ain’t easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They’re going to crucify me
Caught the early plane back to London
Fifty acorns tied in a sack
The men from the press
Said we wish you success
It’s good to have the both of you back
Christ you know it ain’t easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They’re going to crucify me
The way things are going
They’re going to crucify me
Songwriters: JOHN LENNON,PAUL MCCARTNEY
© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
For non-commercial use only.
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