Questions about Revolution (Beatles song)
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What is the Beatles song Revolution about?
"Revolution" by John Lennon and the Beatles expresses sympathy for the need for social change while rejecting the violent tactics promoted by parts of the New Left in 1968. Lennon's lyrics ask political activists to show him "the plan" for any proposed revolution, and repeatedly assert that things will be "all right". The song was inspired by the wave of student protests, street battles, and political upheaval in early 1968, including the Paris uprisings and demonstrations in London's Grosvenor Square.
How many versions of Revolution did the Beatles record?
The Beatles recorded three versions of "Revolution" in 1968. The slow, bluesy "Revolution 1" appeared on the White Album; the abstract sound collage "Revolution 9" grew out of an extended take of "Revolution 1" and also appeared on the White Album; and a faster, harder-rocking version was released as the B-side of "Hey Jude" and reached number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Why does the Beatles Revolution say count me out in?
Lennon recorded the ambiguous lyric "you can count me out, in" during overdubs for "Revolution 1" because he was genuinely undecided about whether to endorse revolutionary change. The single version released as the B-side of "Hey Jude" unequivocally used "count me out". Some student radicals who later heard the White Album version, unaware that "Revolution 1" had been recorded first, interpreted the added "in" as a sign that Lennon had partially changed his position.
How did the New Left respond to Revolution by the Beatles?
The New Left reacted with sharp disappointment. Ramparts labelled the song a "betrayal" of the cause, and the Berkeley Barb compared it to a hawk platform. The New Left Review in Britain called it "a lamentable petty bourgeois cry of fear", and Black Dwarf said it showed the Beatles to be "the consciousness of the enemies of the revolution". Radicals were particularly offended by Lennon's use of sarcasm and his insistence on seeing "the plan" before endorsing any revolution.
What was the Nike Revolution lawsuit about?
In 1987, Nike paid $500,000 to license "Revolution" for a television commercial, making it the first Beatles recording used in an advertisement. The three surviving Beatles, through Apple Corps, sued Nike, its advertising agency Wieden+Kennedy, and Capitol-EMI in July 1987. The lawsuit was settled out of court in November 1989, with the financial terms kept confidential.
Did John Lennon change his mind about the song Revolution?
Lennon reversed his position multiple times. In January 1971, he told activist Tariq Ali that "Revolution" had been "anti-revolution" and a mistake, then wrote "Power to the People" as an atonement. By 1972, he had retracted his lyrical rebuke of Mao Zedong as well. After withdrawing from radical politics following the 1972 US presidential election, he returned to the song's original pacifist stance and reaffirmed it in the final interview he gave before his murder in December 1980.