Released: October 11, 1971

Songwriter: John Lennon

Producer: Yoko Ono John Lennon Phil Spector

[Verse 1]
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

[Refrain]
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

[Verse 2]
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

[Refrain]
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

[Verse 3]
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

[Refrain]
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

[Verse 4]
Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV
And you think you're so clever and classless and free
But you're still fucking peasants as far as I can see

[Refrain]
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

[Verse 5]
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

[Refrain]
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

[Outro]
If you want to be a hero well just follow me
If you want to be a hero well just follow me

John Lennon

As the founding member of The Beatles, John Winston Lennon (1940-1980) is one of the most recognizable cultural icons of the 20th Century. He is also the other half of the Lennon-McCartney songwriting partnership, alongside fellow Beatle, Paul McCartney.

As a solo artist and through his relationship and collaboration with avant-garde artist Yoko Ono, he became just as recognizable for his political activism.

Lennon was murdered by Mark David Chapman on December 8, 1980, outside of his New York apartment, The Dakota. Since then, his music and message remain timeless.