The lyrics:
Revolution
by The Beatles
(1) You say you want a revolution
(2) Well, you know
(3) We all want to change the world
(4) You tell me that it's evolution
(5) Well, you know
(6) We all want to change the world
(7) But when you talk about destruction
(8) Don't you know that you can count me out
(9) Don't you know it's gonna be all right
(10) All right, all right
(11) You say you got a real solution
(12) Well, you know
(13) We'd all love to see the plan
(14) You ask me for a contribution
(15) Well, you know
(16) We're doing what we can
(17) But when you want money
(18) For people with minds that hate
(19) All I can tell is brother you have to wait
(20) Don't you know it's gonna be all right
(21) All right, all right
(22) Ah
(23) Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah...
(24) You say you'll change the constitution
(25) Well, you know
(26) We all want to change your head
(27) You tell me it's the institution
(28) Well, you know
(29) You better free you mind instead
(30) But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao
(31) You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow
(32) Don't you know it's gonna be all right
(33) All right, all right
(34) All right, all right, all right
(35) All right, all right, all right
The numbers in parentheses refer to the corresponding lines that stood out to us. Our thoughts after the jump:
3-6, Ella N. and Sascha L.
"We like all these lines because all of it is true. At one point, everyone wanted to change the world, and the world evolved into a different world. The women wouldn't be able to vote if the world did not evolve."
6-9, Darien, Alexa and Yaya
"We like it because you can try to change the world, but you have to make sure you're changing it in a good way or it's not really fixing it. Everybody has different opinions about what the world should be like, but you can't have all those different opinions. We also like it because it's basically saying that if you want to change the world, you don't always have to resort to violence. Try something peaceful and it will be all right."
6-8, Nils, Mikey and Colby
"We thought that if you want to make changes, you have to make the right ones. You should resort to something peacefully before you resort to something violent. We also thought people want to change the world, but without destruction."
8, Nils
"If it's about destruction, you can count me out, too."
7-8, Janeva and Julie
"You don't need to make destruction to make revolution."
7-8, Sasha A.
"Some people want peace instead of war."
7-8, Omri
"John Lennon is saying he wants peace and no destruction. He is also saying he hates destruction. I agree with him that destruction is not good."
11-13, Rema and Mila
"Everyone has a solution saying they can fix the world, but everyone has to vote because everyone needs a voice. Everyone has a right to know the plan and change it a bit before they pick what they want it."
11-13 Max
"These lines speak to me because it's talking about the (American) Revolution. It's also relating to the colonists because they had to create the Declaration of Independence at the First Continental Congress.
16-19, Denniz, Eliel and Chris
"We like these lines because if you're greedy, sometimes you don't get what you want."
17, Sascha L.
"It's sort of related to the American Revolution, because King George did the same thing to the colonists by collecting money from them even though the money was going to a bad cause (from the colonists's point of view)."
17-19, Sophia
"I like this part because it's saying that people who don't hate deserve to try to change the world before people who do hate."
23-25, Colby
"I picked these lines because it's saying that if you want to change something, you have to do it in a way so that nothing bad happens."
24, Eleanor
"I think it's important because the colonists wanted to make a constitution when they had their revolution because they wanted to have freedom instead of King George towering over them. Now it's important to change things in the Constitution, like letting women vote, because they weren't giving women the freedom to vote, which was unfair."
26, Jack and Charlie
"I like this line because it is very important to the Revolution because the colonists were trying to change King George's mind or the British governments mind because they wanted a lot of taxes taken off and them to think about things differently. In revolutions in general, some of us want to change people's minds."
30-31, Frey, Braden and Jessie
"It's a funny line, but it also makes a point because if you're carrying a picture of King George and you're a Patriot, you won't be considered loyal to your fellow Patriots."
30-31, Rose
"If you're trying to change the world, you're not going to get anywhere by preaching to someone about how great someone who's messing up is."
Great work using this song! Interesting fact: The Beatles recorded this song twice (for a 45rpm single and for "The White Album"), during a period when John Lennon was becoming increasingly politicized. In one version you can hear him sing "When you talk about destruction, you can count me out"--he still wanted to "see the plan" and was conflicted about the idea of violent revolution, but he WAS considering it's usefulness. In the other version you can hear "...count me out, in"--he was letting it be known that he was unsure which way to go on the issue of violent revolution. Some consider this song The Beatles most political record...
ReplyDelete----Lee (Frey's dad)