This week, Jim is looking for a song about any of various forms of protest. My immediate idea was Jefferson Airplane’s ‘We Can Be Together’. Looking back, however, I saw that I had already deployed it, albeit back in 2018. Sixties protest songs by Bob Dylan, or maybe Joan Baez, were obviously another potentially rich seam.

In the end, I decided on something a little more raucous and certainly less earnest. Contractually, ‘Revolution’ is credited to Lennon & McCartney, but there’s no question as to who actually wrote it.

The Wikipedia entry for the song sums up the background pretty well: “Inspired by political protests in early 1968, Lennon’s lyrics expressed sympathy with the need for social change but doubt in regard to the violent tactics espoused by some members of the New Left.

You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it’s evolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world

But when you talk about destruction
Don’t you know that you can count me out

Don’t you know it’s gonna be alright
Alright, alright

You say you got a real solution
Well, you know
We’d all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well, you know
We’re all doing what we can

But if you want money for people with minds that hate
All I can tell you is brother you have to wait

Don’t you know it’s gonna be alright
Alright, alright, al…

You say you’ll change the constitution
Well, you know
We all want to change your head
You tell me it’s the institution
Well, you know
You’d better free your mind instead

But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao
You ain’t gonna make it with anyone anyhow

Don’t you know it’s gonna be alright
Alright, alright

Written by John Lennon

Song Lyric Sunday 27 September 2026