The Beatles – Revolution

“Revolution” – song by The Beatles from the album Past Masters, Vol. 2, released in 1968.

“Revolution” was John Lennon’s response to the popular calls for uprising in the US and Europe. It was a revision of a version already recorded for the White Album, and became the b-side of the ‘Hey Jude’ single.

Although taped after ‘Revolution 1’, this faster, louder version was the first to be released. The song was written in India while The Beatles were studying meditation in Rishikesh.

There are two very different versions of this song: a slow version that appears on The White Album, and a fast, loud version was released as a single. In the slow version, Lennon says “count me in” as well as “count me out” when referring to violence. This gives the song a dual meaning.

The fast version was released as the B-side of “Hey Jude” in August 1968, three months before the slow version appeared on The White Album. John Lennon wanted it to be the first A-side released on Apple Records, the label The Beatles started, but Paul McCartney’s “Hey Jude” got the honor.

There are so many versions of this song because Paul McCartney didn’t like it. Lennon really wanted this song to be the “A” side of the single instead of “Hey Jude,” and kept changing it around to come up with something that would make Paul see it his way. He basically wrote the song because he felt like he was being pulled in so many directions by different people, all of whom wanted his backing, politically. It was also him questioning his own belief in the revolution that was going on… whether he was “out” or “in.” In truth, he was writing about a revolution of the mind rather than a physical “in the streets” revolution. He truly believed that revolution comes from inner change rather than social violence. (This is discussed in the DVD Composing the Beatles Songbook).

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The Beatles - Revolution

The Beatles - Revolution03:28

“Revolution” este fața B, de la “Hey Jude”. Single-lul a fost lansat la 26 August 1968. Ca mai toate piesele lor, pe disc este creditată o compoziție Lennon -McCartney. Melodia este una cu tentă politică, inspirată de protestele din 1968 și războiul din Vietnam.
Video a fost filmat la 4 Septembrie 1968 la Twickenham Film Studios, sub regia lui Michael Lindsay-Hogg.

Original recording info:

Written by: John Lennon (100%) (credited as Lennon-McCartney)
Recorded: July 10-12, 1968 (Studio 2, Abbey Road Studios, London, England)
Mixed: August 2 and 6, 1968
Length: 3:21
Takes: 16
Musicians:
John Lennon: lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1965 Epiphone E230TD(V) Casino)
Paul McCartney: bass guitar (1963 Hofner 500/1), organ (Hammond B-2), handclaps
George Harrison: lead guitar (1957 Gibson Les Paul Standard)
Ringo Starr: drums (1963 Ludwig Black Oyster Pearl), handclaps
Nicky Hopkins: electric piano (Hohner Pianet N)

Lyrics:

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