“stay in bed and grow your hair out”: the john lennon peace … · 2019. 11. 5. · in the late...
TRANSCRIPT
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“Stay in bed and
grow your hair out”:
The John Lennon
Peace Movement
Nathan Perschbacher Paper Junior
1,675 words
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In the late 1960's, former Beatles star, John Lennon, and his newlywed, Yoko
Ono, started protests due to the Vietnam War. Lennon realized his fame, so he used his
popularity to spread peace throughout the U.S by writing music and hosting one of the
most abnormal protests to date.
Lennon before the Fame
John Winston Lennon was born on October 9, 1940 in Liverpool, England. He
had a tough childhood, as his parents left him when he was a toddler. His aunt, Mary,
raised him, with occasional visits from his mother and her new husband. Lennon was a
prankster and was known to get into trouble. Lennon got bad grades, but had artistic 1
talent. His school master suggested he go to an art school for college, because he had
talents and the work ethic.
John Lennon and the Beatles
Lennon first achieved fame from his well-known band
that included Paul Mccartney, Richard Starkey (Ringo
Starr), George Harrison, and Pete Best. The Beatles
started in 1962. John Lennon was originally in a band called “The Quarrymen”, in the
summer of 1956. The name began due to Lennon attending The Quarry Bank Grammar
school. The Quarrymen first performed at a church, and Lennon meets Paul Mccartney,
1 "The Life Of John Lennon." John-Lennon.com - The Life Of John Lennon . N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Jan. 2017. This site stated John Lennon's life before he was famous, and the struggles he went through.
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(after their first performance) and asks him to join their band. Mccartney agrees to this
and George Harrison also agrees a year later.
Two years pass by and Lennon’s friend, Stuart Sutcliffe, is introduced to the band
as a manager. They then change their name to “The Silver Beetles”, and then later to
“The Silver Beatles”. In the August of 1960, Pete Best joined the band and they officially
change their name to “The Beatles”. 2
In the fall of 1961, Brian Epstein joins The Beatles. He becomes their manager,
as Stuart Sutcliffe quit the band just a couple months
beforehand.
The next year, Pete Best leaves the band due to
health reasons. Richard Starkey then joins the band.
The Beatles sign their first record label. After a couple
months, they write their first song “Love Me Do”, and it
peaks to the #17 on the British charts. Their popularity as a band spreads, and they
release their first album “Please Please Me” is written, and it included “Love Me Do”.
The album is at tops of charts everywhere and it holds its ground at the top. The
Beatles achieve fame and perform their music for royalty, like Queen Elizabeth ll. The
2 "Please Please Me." The Beatles . N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Jan. 2017. . This site showed The Beatles first album.
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Beatles also recorded movies, like “Help!” and “A Hard Day’s Night”. These movies
achieve popularity and are loved by music fans and critics everywhere. The soundtracks
are hits too, as “Yellow Submarine” from the movie “Yellow Submarine is at the top of
charts as well.
The Beatles are at the top of charts for the majority of the 1960’s, but in
September of 1969, John Lennon leaves the Beatles because he wants to spend more
time with his newlywed, Yoko Ono. Ono, is famously known for splitting the band up, as
Lennon used to bring her during times when the Beatles were planned to record.
Lennon, starts protesting the Vietnam War. Paul Mccartney leaves the band a year
later, and that was the official end of The Beatles.
Lennon’s protests and divorce papers
John Lennon faced many problems before the protests, such as
divorce papers with his past wife, Cynthia. Cynthia and John had
married in 1962, just a couple weeks before the Beatles’ first melody
released. When the Beatles achieved more popularity, Cynthia had to 3
pretend she wasn’t married to John. Cynthia and John believed that if John was
married, it would take away success from The Beatles. Cynthia would wear oversized,
blousy clothes to avoid suspicion of their marriage. When their son (John Charles
“Julian” Lennon) was born, it was hard for both Cynthia and Julian. John was either on
3 Charlton, Corey. "Yoko Pays Tribute to Cynthia, the Secret Wife John Lennon Treated so Very Cruelly: How the Beatles Star's Late Wife Watched in Silence as He Hid Her from the World and Had Affairs on the Road." Daily Mail Online . Associated Newspapers, 02 Apr. 2015. Web. 10 Jan. 2017.
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tour or in the recording studio. When John was home, he was depleted from recording
all day. Cynthia was sceptical about their relationship, as he was not a very good
husband, nor a good father.
During the mid 1960’s, John admitted to Cynthia that he had affairs with other
women on tour. He swore to her that he loved her. After the confession, their
relationship had obstacles. In 1968, they divorced and Cynthia had obtained full custody
of Julian. Paul Mccartney (John’s friend from The Beatles), wrote the famous song “Hey
Jude” for Julian to cope with this change.
Lennon falls in love with Yoko Ono
After the divorce, John Lennon went to live with
Avant-garde artist and female songwriter, Yoko Ono.
Lennon had met Ono a few years prior to this at an
art gallery. They were soon to be friends as they
shared the same beliefs. Once Lennon’s divorce was
finalized, they made plans to get married. 4
Lennon and Ono, were supposed to marry in Paris on a cross-channel ferry, but
Ono couldn’t board the boat since she wasn’t English. They got on an airplane a few
days later and married in Gibraltar, where Peter Brown (a friend), had suggested.
4 "The Day John Lennon Married Yoko Ono." Ultimate Classic Rock . N.p.,n.d.Web. 08 Jan. 2017. This site showed dates and a picture on John Lennon and Yoko Ono's marriage.
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Lennon changed his middle name from Winston to Ono for Yoko. The marriage was
low-key, as they had planned. The main publicity stunt was their honeymoon - a very
abnormal one.
The Vietnam War and its Importance
The Vietnam War started on November 1, 1955, due to the Vietnamese choice to
spread communism. As tension spread and more people were dying, protestors grew.
There were anti-war marches, gatherings, and other forms of protests. The movement
divided Americans harshly.
On November 15, 1969, the biggest anti-war
protest in American history took place. Two
hundred and fifty thousand people were gathered
in Washington D.C, asking for a withdrawal of
fellow troops from Vietnam . These citizens were 5
protesting the shocking statistics of the Vietnam
War. A grand total of 58,200 Americans died in the Vietnam War and an estimated 3
million Vietnamese citizens passed away as well. One out of ten Americans drafted
were either killed or injured.
5Apictureofpolitics . N.p., 19 Apr. 2012. Web. 14 Dec. 2016. This website showed a picture of Vietnamese war protests.
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Protests were scattered beforehand, not consistent until 1968, when United
States soldiers massacred 400 unarmed Vietnamese citizens. Muhammad Ali is another
famous protester, who stated that he would not be drafted until the Vietnam War ended.
John Lennon also was a famous protester who wrote songs and held anti-war peace
rallies. Lennon's famous quote, “Stay in bed and grow your hair out”, was his statement
because he believed everyone can sit in bed and grow their hair out for peace.
The 1969 Amsterdam Bed-in
In the late 1960’s, John Lennon and his new bride, Yoko Ono, decided to start
protesting the Vietnam war. They hosted a bed-in for peace where essentially they
stayed in bed for for a long period of time to make a
statement. This was their honeymoon, as they 6
were wedded just a few days beforehand. They
reserved a presidential suite in the Hilton
Amsterdam. Reporters, cameras, lights,
interviewers, and other fellow protesters filled up the room. They believed Amsterdam
was a good place to protest, as it had a “fresh and alive interest”. The absurdity of these
protests was one of the multiple reasons why the couple wanted to protest in this
manner. They knew it would make headlines, front pages, and maybe even be a
laughing stock. Either way, the word would reach the public. The suite that they stayed
6 “John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Bed-In - Photo Essays.” Time , Time Inc., http://content.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1887244_1860957,00.html. This site showed a picture of Yoko and John's Bed-in.
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at is now called the “John and Yoko suite” and is now rentable. The current rate is
$2,400 per night.
Two months following the first protest, Lennon and Ono held another bed-in, in
the Queen Elizabeth hotel in Montreal. They shared the suite with a handful of invited
guests. Lennon wrote famous songs “Imagine” and “Give Peace a Chance” in the hotel
room. Lennon recorded this music during the bed-in, as when the chorus plays in Give
Peace A Chance, you can hear other voices in harmony singing “All we are saying, is
give peace a chance”. Lennon also held his very famous “Bed-in for Peace”, where he
and Yoko Ono sat in bed in an Amsterdam hotel and protested the Vietnam War.
Lennon gets deported
In 1972, Richard Nixon was running for reelection. John
Lennon, Yoko Ono and many other Americans had been
protesting the war, as Lennon and Ono sang “Give Peace
a Chance” at many anti-war rallies. He had also told the 7
United States to refrain from voting for Nixon, as it would “give the U.S peace”. These
songs and protests got the word out and made people realize why this was important
and worth acknowledging.
7 Wildes, Leon. “Meet the Lawyer Who Saved John Lennon and Yoko Ono.” Newsweek , 17 Sept. 2016,www.newsweek.com/2016/09/23/john-lennon-yoko-ono-lawyer-leon-wildes-497152.html.This site showed a picture of John Lennon's deportation case.
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Nixon responded to these protests and beliefs by ordering Lennon deported. Nixon also
helped rest his case by stating that Lennon had been found with cannabis possession in
London of 1968 and the immigration laws at that time had banned anyone from
admission convicted of a drug offense. Lennon and Ono had purchased a apartment
just a year prior to this case and Lennon had fallen in love with New York, so he had
reason to stay. Lennon had obtained many friends from his rock career, including Bob
Dylan and Joan Baez, which also helped his case. Lennon and Ono won this debate
and they were free to reside in their apartment in New York.
John Lennon will be forever known for his infamous music career, but he may be
forgotten for his actions in his attempt to end the Vietnamese War. He had very smart,
yet abnormal ways to protest. He knew that if he wrote music for this fight his words
would be heard. Lennon was assassinated in 1980 by a crazed fan, because Lennon
had stated twenty years prior, “The Beatles were more popular than Jesus”. Fans
around the world were grief stricken over the loss of their beloved Beatle. Lennon’s
actions and war protests were also an inspiration for many Americans and he will never
be forgotten for the usage of his fame as one of our great anti-war activists.
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“Stay in bed and
grow your hair out”:
The John Lennon
Peace Movement
Nathan Perschbacher Bibliography
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Primary sources
“Album Covers for John Lennon.” John Lennon Album Covers , www.onemusicapi.com/artists/album-covers/John-Lennon.html. This site showed John Lennon album covers.
Apictureofpolitics . N.p., 19 Apr. 2012. Web. 14 Dec. 2016. This website showed
a picture of Vietnamese war protests.
By. "John-Lennon.com - John Lennon Quotes." John-Lennon.com - John Lennon
Quotes . N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2016. This website showed a quote said
by John Lennon about peace.
Charlton, Corey. "Yoko Pays Tribute to Cynthia, the Secret Wife John Lennon
Treated so Very Cruelly: How the Beatles Star's Late Wife Watched in
Silence as He Hid Her from the World and Had Affairs on the Road." Daily
Mail Online . Associated Newspapers, 02 Apr. 2015. Web. 10 Jan. 2017.
. This site showed John and Cynthia Lennon
pictures.
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""Give Peace A Chance"." N.p., n.d. Web.
. This site
showed the lyrics to "Give Peace A Chance"
History.com Staff. "Vietnam War History." History.com . A&E Television Networks,
2009. Web. 08 Jan. 2017. This site showed information on the Vietnam
war, and its relevance.
In Music| January 25th, 2008 1 Comment. "Stay in Bed & Grow Your Hair: John Lennon and Yoko Ono Protesting the Vietnam War." Open Culture. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Jan. 2017. This was a primary source from the Amsterdam bed-in, saying how Protesters grew their hair out for peace.
"John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Bed-In - Photo Essays." Time . Time Inc., n.d. Web.
18 Oct. 2016. This site showed a picture of Yoko and John's Bed-in.
Lennon, John, and Jann Wenner. Lennon Remembers: The Rolling Stone Interviews by
Jan Wenner . Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1972. Print. This book showed
interviews about John Lennon, from the Rolling Stone magazine
@openculture. "Stay in Bed & Grow Your Hair: John Lennon and Yoko Ono
Protesting the Vietnam War." Open Culture . N.p., 25 Jan. 2008. Web. 18 Oct.
2016. This website supplied a video about John Lennon talking about Peace and
why you should give it a chance.
"Please Please Me." The Beatles . N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Jan. 2017. . This site showed The Beatles
first album.
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Spangler, Jay. “John Lennon &Amp; Yoko Ono Interview: Apple Offices, London
5/8/1969 - Beatles Interviews Database.” John Lennon &Amp; Yoko Ono Interview: Apple Offices, London 5/8/1969 - Beatles Interviews Database, www.beatlesinterviews.org/db1969.0508.beatles.html. This site showed an interview and picture with John Lennon over peace.
"The Day John Lennon Married Yoko Ono." Ultimate Classic Rock . N.p., n.d.
Web. 08 Jan. 2017. This site showed dates and a picture on John Lennon
and Yoko Ono's marriage.
"The Life Of John Lennon." John-Lennon.com - The Life Of John Lennon . N.p.,
n.d. Web. 04 Jan. 2017. This site stated John Lennon's life before he was
famous, and the struggles he went through.
Wildes, Leon. “Meet the Lawyer Who Saved John Lennon and Yoko Ono.” Newsweek ,17 Sept. 2016,www.newsweek.com/2016/09/23/john-lennon-yoko-ono-lawyer-leon-wildes-497152.html.This site showed a picture of John Lennon's deportation case.
Secondary sources
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History.com Staff. "Vietnam War Protests." History.com . A&E Television
Networks, 2010. Web. 14 Dec. 2016. This site showed further information
on the Vietnamese War.
"In Her Life After John, Cynthia Lennon Didn't Stop Loving Him." NPR . NPR, n.d.
Web. 07 Jan. 2017. This site showed the breakup and past of John and
Cynthia Lennon's marriage.
Lifton, Dave. "The Story of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's 'Bed-In for Peace'."
Ultimate Classic Rock . N.p., Feb.-Mar. 2016. Web. 18 Oct. 2016.
. This site
showed a video, and also gave more information about the bed-in and
where it took place.
"The John Lennon Peace Movement." Website . N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2016.
.This site showed the basic outline of what first occured on the John Lennon
Peace movement.
"The Life Of John Lennon." John-Lennon.com - The Life Of John Lennon . N.p., n.d.
Web. 04 Jan. 2017. This site stated John Lennon's life before he was famous,
and the struggles he went through.
“The Wedding and Ballad of John and Yoko - Music History.” The Wedding and
Ballad of John and Yoko - Music History ,
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ww.iamthebeatles.com/article1316.html. This site elaborated on John and
Yoko's wedding.
Whitehead, John W. “Commentary.” The Rutherford Institute :: John Lennon: The Last Great Anti-War Activist , 8 Oct. 2012, www.rutherford.org/publications_resources/john_whiteheads_commentary/john_lennon_the_last_great_anti_war_activist.This site showed John Lennon’s legacy as a protestor.
Wildes, Leon. “Meet the Lawyer Who Saved John Lennon and Yoko Ono.” Newsweek , 17 Sept. 2016,www.newsweek.com/2016/09/23/john-lennon-yoko-ono-lawyer-leon-wildes-497152.html.This site showed a picture of John Lennon's deportation case.