More Proof that Nobody Pays Attention (Working Class Hero)

[Matt Till]

So, as you may already know, I work 3rds at Wal*Mart, and late at night they "cut loose" by playing rock songs, at midnight, it turns to requests. For the past few days, Green Day's cover of John Lennon's Working Class Hero has played the 5 minutes before the requests... it's a choice of Wal*Mart.


It's been rather common: Regan using Born In The USA, some jean company using CCR's Fortunate Son. Hooray America, right? Hooray for only paying attention the chorus. I'm so inspired to be a Working Class Hero now!!

It's actually a really depressing way to start the shift considering how "**** the system" the song really is. It's a real bring down right off the bat. It's an absolutely amazing song, and though I'm not big on Green Day, a solid cover. Normally, I'm not too big on Lennon's lyrics and found myself angered when he was referred to as a lyrical genius (I am the Walrus? Yeah, well, go **** yourself buddy), but he is dead on with this song.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njG7p6CSbCU

As soon as you're 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

A working class hero is something to be
A 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 they despise a fool
Till you're so ****ing crazy you can't follow their rules

A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

When they've tortured and scared you for twenty odd years
Then they expect you to pick a career
When you can't really function you're so full of fear

A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV
And you think you're so clever and class less and free
But you're still ****ing peasants as far as I can see

A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

There's room at the top they are 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

A working class hero is something to be
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





Mmm, makes me want to put some boxes on some shelves, bitches!

[Matt Till]

Please don't take this as political in spite of it being a political song. I'm talking more of the issue of people only listening to Choruses and completely misinterpreting the song.

[TheDarkReaver]

wow, Wal*MArt sure do have a sense of humour don't they.

[Joe Gress]

I actually got a good laugh from this. Thanks matt.

[Marcury]

Wow! That is either an act of the purest stupidity or absolute cruelty.

[Georynn]

I vote cruelty, someone has to have heard those lyrics...

[Philbiker]

This song, as well as Roger Waters' "Dogs" (and pretty much all of the album "Animals"), is a big load of BS about how horrible the life of the common man (blue collor in Lennon's song, white collar in Waters') is by someone who is so far away from the common man that they can't begin to comprehend it. It's not horrible in the working class as Lennon naively makes it out to be, just as Waters' commentary on business is completely off the mark (most businesses aren't as sleazy as the music business which Waters was exposed to).

Great songs though. Guess when you're living the good life of a rock star in your 30s you have to go searching for angst since all yours is used up.

[Matt Till]

Speaking of, has anyone seen Green Day's video? It deals with the issues in Darfur mainly, people talking about people being shot and raped. It's really sad, but... what does it have to do with the song?

[Atoz]

Those are kind of dumb lyrics, actually. Not John's best work.

[JimmyM]

Tin Machine (David Bowie's 80's rock band project) did a great version of that song.

[peaveyuser]

Originally Posted by Philbiker

This song, as well as Roger Waters' "Dogs" (and pretty much all of the album "Animals"), is a big load of BS about how horrible the life of the common man (blue collor in Lennon's song, white collar in Waters') is by someone who is so far away from the common man that they can't begin to comprehend it. It's not horrible in the working class as Lennon naively makes it out to be, just as Waters' commentary on business is completely off the mark (most businesses aren't as sleazy as the music business which Waters was exposed to).

Actually the album "animals" is based on the George Orwell book "animal farm". It relates to how the dogs are the business men and protectors of the pigs (politicians). I would actually love to talk about this but Its late and I'm lazy to type, besides it would hijack the thread.

It does very well have a point that is valid and not BS but its just a certain aspect to a situation as a whole. Also interpretation to the song has a role too. It also is not really calling them all sleaze bags but focuses on a general aspect of society and how it runs, based on Orwells book.


Lennons song, well I interpret it not as a negative view on blue collar workers. I think the point he is trying to get across is everybody tells you "you have to do this" "you have to be like them" "you have to make something of yourself this way". Not even specifically on blue collar workers. Basically just saying how everybody raises you to be successful to the point where its like if you aren't like them if you don't succeed you are worth nothing. Its mainly about society pressuring you to follow the crowd in my opinion and follow the "working mans lifestyle". Almost like the American dream, wife, nice house, kids, nice car.

[Philbiker]

Originally Posted by peaveyuser

Lennons song, well I interpret it not as a negative view on blue collar workers. I think the point he is trying to get across is everybody tells you "you have to do this" "you have to be like them" "you have to make something of yourself this way". Not even specifically on blue collar workers. Basically just saying how everybody raises you to be successful to the point where its like if you aren't like them if you don't succeed you are worth nothing. Its mainly about society pressuring you to follow the crowd in my opinion and follow the "working mans lifestyle". Almost like the American dream, wife, nice house, kids, nice car.

I interpret it the same way and it's complete and utter BS. I guess when you get older and start actually living the dream it gets more attractive.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Philbiker

I interpret it the same way and it's complete and utter BS. I guess when you get older and start actually living the dream it gets more attractive.

I couldn't care less about any of that. I like it because it was the first time I ever heard the F word in a song!

[Matt Till]

Originally Posted by Philbiker

I interpret it the same way and it's complete and utter BS. I guess when you get older and start actually living the dream it gets more attractive.

It doesn't surprise me some people are content with "the dream," but it pisses me off that there aren't any other options. Oh well, maybe I too will one day desire the 2.3 kids, the 2 car garage, and to give a **** what my neighbors think of my front lawn.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Matt Till

It doesn't surprise me some people are content with "the dream," but it pisses me off that there aren't any other options. Oh well, maybe I too will one day desire the 2.3 kids, the 2 car garage, and to give a **** what my neighbors think of my front lawn.

Listen, I'll call the city code enforcement board on you if you don't start mowing your lawn, you malcontent! You better not bring my property values down with shoddy lawn care. You may think you're a rebel, but in my neighborhood you better be a rebel who mows his yard and trims his bushes.

[Atoz]

Originally Posted by Matt Till

It doesn't surprise me some people are content with "the dream," but it pisses me off that there aren't any other options. Oh well, maybe I too will one day desire the 2.3 kids, the 2 car garage, and to give a **** what my neighbors think of my front lawn.

Personally, I don't care what you lawn looks like, just stay off mine!

(shakes fist)

[Lemoore-on]

Woha is me........... The world is against me


To the OP: you are right, Sheeple learn a catchy phrase sung to a catchy tune and turn it into an anthem without knowing what the message of the song is or even what the rest of the lyrics are.

[peaveyuser]

Originally Posted by Philbiker

I interpret it the same way and it's complete and utter BS. I guess when you get older and start actually living the dream it gets more attractive.

I don't contest that at all. I'm just saying the song has a point because that does happen, it's kind of fact.

That said I don't think there is anything wrong with the working class at all. Nothing wrong with the lifestyle its infact very good and comfortable.

I don't get what your saying fully I don't see the song in saying anything bad about being a working class man I see it more as making the point it may not be for everybody.

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by Matt Till

It doesn't surprise me some people are content with "the dream," but it pisses me off that there aren't any other options. Oh well, maybe I too will one day desire the 2.3 kids, the 2 car garage, and to give a **** what my neighbors think of my front lawn.

Well, what do you want? If you buy into the message of that song, that's what your life will be. I spend a lot of time in classrooms telling students about opportunities in life, and a lot of time behind the scenes working to shape public policy on education. There are countless pathways to living a fulfilling life, whatever you perceive it to be.

You can sit around and whimper or you can figure out what you want in life and go after it. I know a lot of happy people who didn't buy into "the dream," then went and lived life the way they wanted to. For me "the dream" works, even though I never had specific aspirations. I decided to accept society for what it is, the good and the bad, and sieze opportunities as they appeared.

Maybe you're not materialistic, and that's fine, but there's something to be said for knowing all of my family's needs and almost all of their wants are being met. Beyond that, I get to have some very nice toys, something I missed as a kid because there just wasn't enough money to go around.

So you can fret over the lyrics written by some drug-addled mind or you can be whatever you want to be. But don't expect anyone to come up and hand it to you ... it's not an entitlement. It's the product of good decisions and hard work.

Amen.

[chadds]

Well said all.

The average middle American has been used extensively by the upper class. Please give me some open minded reading here.
The Horatio Alger story in America is pull yourself up by your boot straps.
A subtle part of this is don't criticize the wealthy because you might be rich one day.
GM moved some of it's plants to Mexico. American jobs out because of cost savings. Yet the cars cost more the next year. The average American begins to hate the Mexican. "the Mexicans are taking our jobs." No anger is expressed toward the American GM CEO who continues to make his rather large salary. No Mexicans "snuck" across the border and picked up the plant and carried it south over night. Now GM is cancelling some health benefits to retires. These folks had an agreement that if they did worked for x years they would receive retirement and health benefits. What are these folks supposed to do now? GM didn't see the fuel efficiency thing coming? Small fuel efficient and hybrid cars have been selling like hot cakes for years. GM makes small cars and pickup trucks in Brazil that run on ethanol, gas or both. They can't import them because the Auto Workers Union resists. This Union is made up of these middle Americans. Would it take 4 years to tool up here? Then start making them here instead of closing plants because large SUV sales dropped off. Where's the imagination.
Americans are serfs in many ways. They have what they want. They want to pay $75. for a DVD player at WalMart. If they paid $150 or $250 their neighbor would have a job. Simplistic sounding ? Research this please. Then the guy buys one DVD player for each TV in his house say average, three.
He gives his kids to fight a war and we get $4.00 gas.
We have to learn to sacrifice for our young'un and the future.
We can't be led to believe that there is a threat where there isn't one and there isn't where there is. See that the White House changed the EPA's conclusions on climate change.
So the OP is saying the folks that sing that song's chorus aren't realizing that it's about them.
John Lennon was working class by the way.
Thanks all