Released: October 29, 1973

Songwriter: John Lennon

Producer: John Lennon

[Intro]
All right boys, this is it!
Over the hill

[Verse 1]
We don't care what flag you're waving
We don't even want to know your name
We don't care where you're from or where you're going
All we know is that you came

[Verse 2]
You're making all our decisions
We have just one request of you
That while you're thinking things over
Here's something you just better do

[Chorus]
Free the people now (do it, do it, do it now)
Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it now (do it, do it, do it)
Free the people now (do it, do it, do it now)
Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it now

[Verse 3]
Well, we were caught with our hands in the air
Don't despair, paranoia is everywhere
We can shake it with love when we're scared
So let's shout it aloud like a prayer

[Chorus]
Free the people now (do it, do it, do it now)
Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it now (do it, do it, do it)
Free the people now (do it, do it, do it now)
Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it now

[Verse 4]
We understand your paranoia
But we don't want to play your game
You think you're cool and know what you are doing
666 is your name

[Verse 5]
So while you're jerking off each other
You better bear this thought in mind
Your time is up, you better know it
But maybe you don't read the signs

[Chorus]
Free the people now (do it, do it, do it now)
Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it now (do it, do it, do it, do it)
Free the people now (do it, do it, do it now)
Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it now

[Verse 6]
Well, you were caught with your hands in the kill
And you still got to swallow your pill
As you slip and you slide down the hill
On the blood of the people you killed

[Chorus]
Stop the killing now (do it, do it, do it now)
Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it now (do it, do it, do it)
Stop the killing now (do it, do it, do it now)
Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it now

[Outro]
Free the people now (do it, do it, do it now)
Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it now (do it, do it, do it, do it)
Free the people now (do it, do it, do it now)
Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it now
Free the people now (do it, do it, do it now)
Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it now (do it, do it, do it, do it)
Free the people now (do it, do it, do it now)
Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it now

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.