Power to the People

John Lennon, Plastic Ono Band

About Power to the People

"Power to the People" is a song written by John Lennon, released as a single in 1971, credited to John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. It was issued on Apple Records (catalogue number R5892 in the United Kingdom, 1830 in the United States) and in the US peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 10 on the Cashbox Top 100. It also charted at number 6 on the British singles chart. The song's first appearance on album was the 1975 compilation Shaved Fish. The song was revived as a campaign theme song of the Bernie Sanders 2016 and 2020 presidential runs.  


Year:
1975
3:06
257 
#1

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Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on 

Say we want a revolution
We better get on right away
Well you get on your feet
And into the street 

Singing power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on 

A million workers working for nothing
You better give 'em what they really own
We got to put you down
When we come into town 

Singing power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on 

I gotta ask you comrades and brothers
How do you treat you own woman back home
She got to be herself
So she can free herself 

Singing power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on
Now, now, now, now 

Oh well, power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on 

Yeah, power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on 

Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on

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John Lennon

John Ono Lennon MBE, born John Winston Lennon (9 October 1940 – 8 December 1980) was an English musician, singer and songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as a founder, and member of the Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Together with Paul McCartney, he formed one of the most celebrated songwriting partnerships of the 20th century. Lennon left the Beatles at the end of the sixties soon after meeting Yoko Ono. He formed the Plastic Ono Band and continued a succesful solo career recording until 1975, when his second child Sean Lennon was born. In 1980, with the release of the LP "Double Fantasy," Lennon was once more in the publice eye. Lennon passed away after being shot b… more »

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Written by: John Lennon

Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Composition
"Power to the People" was written by John Lennon, one of the founding members of the Beatles. He penned down the song essentially as a political anthem, voicing many of the ideological facets of the singer.
Release Date
The song was officially released as a single on 12th March 1971 in the UK and five days later in the US, after Lennon left the Beatles.
Production
This song was produced by Lennon's wife, Yoko Ono, along with Phil Spector, who had a notable influence in the music industry throughout the ’60s and ’70s.
Backing Vocals
One of the key features of "Power to the People" is the robust vocal arrangement. These backing vocals were provided by the Harlem community choir, adding to the theme of unity in the song.
Chart Position
"Power to the People" reached No. 7 in the UK Singles Chart and peaked at No. 11 in the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.
Place in Cultural Movements
The song became an anthem of various political movements, including the civil rights and anti-war movements in the 1970s. Even today, it is an iconic song that resonates with any group seeking change or challenging authority.
Recording
Lennon recorded "Power to the People" at Ascot Sound Studios and Record Plant East, both of which he frequently used.
Art and Activism
"Power to the People" is an example of Lennon's focus on creating art as a form of political and social activism intersecting with popular culture.
Music Video
The promotional video for the song, filmed in New York City, showed a montage of protest footage corresponding to the song's themes. Lennon's son, Sean, can also be seen in the video as a baby.
Lennon's Inspiration
Prompted by the radical conversations of the time, Lennon said he wrote the song with the idea "that power should be given back to the people" in mind.
Re-issues and Covers
Since its original release, "Power to the People" has been covered by numerous artists and re-released on various John Lennon compilations such as the "Gimme Some Truth" box set in 2020.

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    Power to the People

    1.4M
    22,536     515

    Top Hot 100 Songs 1971

    Billboard #11


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