Learn How To Smile As You Kill

Like everything else John Lennon wrote or did, the song Working Class Hero is controversial.

Not so much for the cursing, which was obscured when the lyrics were published, but because Lennon was seen as anything but working class, having mostly grown up with a middle class aunt.

However, beyond the cursing and the dodgy proletarian credibility, this is a powerful song.

The words are raw and direct.

And they speak for themselves.


Alberico Collina



Working Class Hero by John Lennon

As soon as your 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
Working Class Hero is something to be
Working Class Hero is something to be

They hurt you at home and they hit you at school
They hate you if you're clever and despise a fool
Till you're so fu**ing crazy you can't follow their rules
Working Class Hero is something to be
Working Class Hero is something to be

When they've tortured and scared you for 20 odd years
then they expect you to pick a career
When you can't really function you're so full of fear
Working Class Hero is something to be
Working Class Hero is something to be

Keep you doped with religion, sex and T.V.
and you think you're so clever and classless and free
but you're still fu**ing peasants as far as I can see
Working Class Hero is something to be
Working Class Hero is something to be

There's room at the top I'm 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
Working Class Hero is something to be

Yes , A Working Class Hero is something to be
If you want to be a hero well just follow me
If you want to be a hero well just follow me