If you answered (a) to the question in the header of this post, you would have been right – but only for the period between August 11, 1968 and November 22, 1968.
The famous Beatles song “Revolution” was written by John Lennon, after he watched the news about the student riots in Paris in May of 1968.
The well-known lyrics Lennon wrote for the song as it was originally released said:
“You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world…
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out.”
The first version of “Revolution,” with the “count me out” lyrics, was released on August 11, 1968. It was the B-side of the single record with “Hey Jude” on the A-side.
On November 22, 1968, the Beatles released their famed double album with the white cover, usually called The White Album. (The actual original title was The Beatles.)
On the album, “Revolution” was retitled “Revolution 1,” reflecting the fact that it used a slower musical take of the song that was actually recorded first, before the single version. In the final audio edit of “Revolution 1,” Lennon added the word “in” after “out,” so we hear:
“But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out — in!”
Why the change? Because after the single version of the song was released in August, Lennon received heavy flak from many radical leftist leaders and groups, who felt “Revolution” dissed their efforts to change the world – by violent revolution, if necessary.
Lennon agreed with many key positions of the leftists, such as their opposition to the Vietnam War and racism. So, after being criticized by them, he felt conflicted.
As noted in an excellent article about Lennon’s music by Jon Wiener, in the December 18, 2000 edition of The Nation, Lennon explained the “out — in” version this way: “I put both in because I wasn't sure.”
Then, in 1971, after the Beatles had broken up, Lennon wrote the song “Power to the People,” a phrase borrowed from the Black Panthers and other radical groups that actually did sometimes espouse violent revolution.
In the lyrics of that song, recorded by Lennon, Yoko Ono and The Plastic Ono Band, Lennon says:
“Say you want a revolution
We better get on right away...
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.”
On the record jacket for “Power to the People,” there’s a picture of Lennon with his fist raised in a revolutionary-style power salute.
So, is the answer is to the Beatles quiz posed at the beginning of this post (a), (b) or (c)?
I’m not sure. You decide. Power to my readers!
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