The Beatles last No. 1 song in the UK – The Ballad of John and Yoko isn’t typical of their music and that’s what drew me to it. It sounds less polished, more blues and American country than their usual. I also like how the uptempo vibe builds in intensity throughout and the twang of John’s guitar sounds cool. It’s a far cry from the experimental sound that had come to define the Beatles’ later work; perhaps more of a nod to the roots music that both John and Paul admired.
John and Paul were flying solo on this one too, as George was away and Ringo was on the set of a movie. John fresh from his wedding to Yoko Ono, penned the song during their honeymoon in Paris, turning their unconventional nuptial tour into a famous musical travelogue. It’s a playful yet candid reflection on their frustration with the media frenzy surrounding their marriage and activism. According to Paul, it was written, recorded, and mixed in a single day – April 14, 1969.
Lennon handled lead vocals, rhythm and lead guitar, while McCartney played bass, drums, piano, and even provided backing vocals. It was one of those rare moments of camaraderie between John and Paul in the band’s final years. The Ballad of John and Yoko sparked controversy, particularly due to the lyric, “Christ, you know it ain’t easy.” Many radio stations in the UK and the US banned it, fearing it was blasphemous. Lennon, never one to shy away from pushing boundaries, dismissed the backlash.
And no discussion of Lennon and Ono in 1969 is complete without addressing the elephant in the room: If Yoko was responsible for breaking up the Beatles. In this time tensions were already high due to financial disputes, and personal and creative ambitions pulling them in different directions. Also, one could argue that The Ballad of John and Yoko offers a snapshot of John’s increasing separation from the group – not because of Yoko, but because he was forging a new identity outside of the Beatles. So some view the song as a symbol of the rift forming within the band while others see it as a testament to Lennon and McCartney’s ability to still come together, even in the twilight. Also it feels like a precursor to John’s solo work – personal, raw, and direct.
[Verse 1: John Lennon]
Standing in the dock at Southampton
Trying to get to Holland or France
The man in the mac said, “You’ve got to go back”
You know, they didn’t even give us a chance
[Chorus: John Lennon]
Christ, you know it ain’t easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They’re gonna crucify me
[Verse 2: John Lennon]
Finally, made the plane into Paris
Honeymooning down by the Seine
Peter Brown called to say, “You can make it okay
You can get married in Gibraltar, near Spain”
[Chorus: John Lennon]
Christ, you know it ain’t easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They’re gonna crucify me
[Verse 3: John Lennon]
Drove from Paris to the Amsterdam Hilton
Talking in our beds for a week
The news people said, “Say what you doing in bed?”
I said, “We’re only trying to get us some peace”
[Chorus: John Lennon]
Christ, you know it ain’t easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They’re gonna crucify me
[Bridge: John Lennon, John Lennon & Paul McCartney]
Saving up your money for a rainy day
Giving all your clothes to charity
Last night the wife said, “Poor boy, when you’re dead
You don’t take nothing with you but your soul”
Think!
[Verse 4: John Lennon, John Lennon & Paul McCartney]
Made a lightning trip to Vienna
Eating chocolate cake in a bag
The newspaper said, “She’s gone to his head
They look just like two gurus in drag”
[Chorus: John Lennon, John Lennon & Paul McCartney]
Christ, you know it ain’t easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They’re gonna crucify me
[Verse 5: John Lennon & Paul McCartney]
Caught the early plane back to London
Fifty acorns tied in a sack
The men from the press said, “We wish you success
It’s good to have the both of you back”
[Chorus: John Lennon, John Lennon & Paul McCartney]
Christ, you know it ain’t easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They’re gonna crucify me
The way things are going
They’re gonna crucify me
References:
1. The Ballad of John and Yoko – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
While it’s not necessarily among my top Beatles songs, I’ve always enjoyed “The Ballad of John and Yoko.”