Beatles: Revolution Meaning

Song Released: 1968

Revolution Lyrics

You say you want a revolution
Well you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know you can count me out
Don't you...

1. anonymous

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   Nov 16th 2009 !⃝

   In The Beatles song "Revolution", and "Revolution 1", the original version says "count me out", and in the White Album says "But when you talk about destruction, don't you know that you can count me out, in", the lyrics mean that the student movements around the world in 1968, especially in France, Mexico, Brazil, Biafra, Martin Luther King's death, Robert Kennedy's death, Prague Spring, Vietnam War ragged on, etc.) in a violent revolution, and the growing upheavals of 1968 around the world in the counter-culture movement of the early worldwide Civil Rights Movement.

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2. anonymous

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   Oct 26th 2009 !⃝

   In The Beatles song "Revolution" has a reference to Mao in the lyrics, "But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao, you ain't gonna make it with anyone anyhow". The song means that many radicals like Lula da Silva in Brazil, Felipe Calderón, and many hippies where many protesting around the world in 1968 (in France, Mexico, Biafra, Brazil, Prague, Martin Luther King's death, etc.) carrying pictures of Chairman Mao, and many where dig against communism.
3. anonymous

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   Oct 26th 2009 !⃝

   Lennon said that he wants to change the world in 1968
   (in France, Mexico, Brazil, Vietnam, Biafra, Prague, Martin Luther King, etc.) The song was inspired by the May 1968 uprising in Paris.
4. har0462

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   Aug 28th 2009 !⃝

   I suspect the song is just a reflection of the times. I have been told, by a good athority however, that John was inspired by the song "Revolution" by the group Tomorrow in 1967. They were recording their one and only album in the studio at the same time as the Beatles. The Tomorow lyrics say "Have your own little revolution now!" John says "You say you want a revolution.

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5. pennylane287

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   Apr 5th 2009 !⃝

   This song is condemning radicals are close-minded about the issue that they are protesting.
6. anonymous

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   Jan 11th 2009 !⃝

   This is a song states that one needs to get it right, maintain a path that is correct. Free your mind of untruth. Don't fall for all of the bs. It pretty much shows that the guys were actually quite conservative. The fun thing about this song is to count the number of instraments you hear used in making the song. Then you realize how good these guys really were.
7. anonymous

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   Dec 12th 2007 !⃝

   The Beatles are sick of everyone saying they want change but not doing anything in order to change it. They want to change the world using peace not violence. They also say if you’re going to say something be able to back it up. The government wants to limit people’s freedom of speech in order to change people’s minds and get them to think what the government thinks but they should have their own ideas instead.
8. anonymous

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   Nov 2nd 2007 !⃝

   George Harrison wrote the song, John Lennon sang it. I think that it could very well be about the Communist Revolution, and how it was so violent. What George, John, and most likely everyone wanted was a peaceful revolution.

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9. anonymous

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   Sep 18th 2007 !⃝

   It's a song reflecting John's involvement in the counter-cultural/anti-war movement during the Nixon administration.
10. joe

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    Jul 27th 2007 !⃝

    I doubt this song really has much to do with Vietnam. And it's definitely not condemning communism. It's got a lot to do with the sixties. You're not going to get anywhere carrying pictures of chairman Mao. No one is going to listen to you if your praising a man that slaughtered millions.
    
    It's saying we want change with peace and love not violence and hate, and don't worry it'll work out.
11. SL339

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    Jun 20th 2007 !⃝

    Although many people believe this song is about the Vietnam War it is not it is actually about Chairman Mao Zedong and the spread of Communisim in China revolution being the communist revolution. Hes telling them yea we all want to make change but "if you go carring around pictures of chairman Mao you aint going to make it with anyone any how." This is basically what the song is about!
12. anonymous

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    Feb 12th 2007 !⃝

    cam, your interpretation seems a little weird. It was actually Lennon who sang lead for this song not harrison.
13. anonymous

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    Jan 22nd 2007 !⃝

    Holy crap, it wasn't John who sung this song it was George Harrison the coolest Beatle of all and i think it was supposed to say that the world is a bad place to live (not like there are any other places to live) but there are so many bad examples out there like war it sucks killing people is bad robbery that's bad and its making people like me miserable and it makes them want to go mug someone. and with pollution we are slowly destroying the earth
    
    I think it's saying that we could make the earth a better place to live like if the USA were not to retaliate in such a violent way when iraq bombed them or what ever the hell they during 9/11 the world would be better. as well as with the vietiam war and wwi and wwii. if those wars didn't happen the world would love each other more and the would be peace.
    
    I think Lennon also tried to explain that in his song " imagine " but then he was shot in the head by some ass hole in the 80's shot, come on he was trying to make peace and now that ass is hated for shottin lkennon and now if he's not dead now people are probably trying to kill him but then a fan of him and the Beatles goes and kills him and making it harder for the world to love.
    
    Love is the most important thing in the world if u didn't get any love u might as well pick a fight for breathing in your air.
    
    Love and peace is what the Beatles wanted as well as many other people but now were just killing everyone for fun .
    
    Therefor I am telling you this song is not about war and killing unlike goth rock its about peace and love on earth one day with out war would make my life awesome.
    
    cam

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14. anonymous

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    Nov 4th 2006 !⃝

    I think this was John's way of condemning communism
    "but if you go carrying pictures of chairmin mao, you ain't gonna make it with any one anyhow"
    and is against leaders that were like Mao and people should rise up and throw out bad leaders.
15. ringo

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    Jun 13th 2006 !⃝

    Anti Vietnam song. It inspired the Who to write "Won't Get Fooled Again."

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