John Lennon: Instant Karma Meaning

Instant Karma Lyrics

Instant Karma's gonna get you
Gonna knock you right on the head
You better get yourself together
Pretty soon you're gonna be dead
What in the world you thinking of
Laughing in the face of love
What on earth you tryin' to do
It's up to you, yeah...

1. anonymous

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   Mar 18th 2022 !⃝

   Why should it really matter to anyone as to why one decides to follow any kind of deity? Sheep? Sheep don't decide to follow their shepherd, they are trained to do so, and follow blindly. Humans are different in that we have the ability to be logical beyond being primal and choose to follow. US Americans are beyond fascinated with "celebrities" (actors, musicians, etc). How is that different?
   
   If having that connection and faith helps people get through this life and no one is being harmed in the process (like flying planes into buildings and The Crusades), how is that harmful to you, or to them as followers?
   
   The malcontents who make fun of the faithful in any religious or spiritual way are normally very dissatisfied with life. Essentially, they have a god complex because they don't want to follow a flock, but to lead one.
   
   Separately, I understand this song and greatly respect JL's writings. This song and the way he sings it are indicative of pain of some kind. He was a genius and always exploring in thought. I also don't agree with it being a slap against Harrison and Hinduism. Harrison plays on this song afterall.
2. anonymous

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   Aug 14th 2020 !⃝

   Peace and Love... I think he's referring to the arrogant, elitists in general, those that aren't humbled, Karma will eventually hit them in the head, those that are are blind to love,the arrogant can't see because they feel superior, they never realize the full meaning of life as a result. He's telling them they better recognize their brothers, everyone they meet, and most importantly,they need to WAKE UP. Those that have already will shine on without them...
3. anonymous

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   Jan 1st 2020 !⃝

   Lennon was hugely agnostic and had unbridled anger over people’s blind trust in a god who sat by while the world suffers famine, war, poverty, etc. Lennon lost his mom early on and probably never grieved properly because he was famous and rolling in fame and glory. His genius lyrics reflect his anger at religion, too, and instant karma was a slap at George, in my opinion, who was so enamored with Hindi. Same time frame as Instant Karma, John wrote: “God is a concept by which we measure our pain...wow! Think he wS right, by the way, weak people have faith in “god” because they are sheep and need to be led. They are sheep. Finally, Lennon stayed that the Beatles were more popular than Jesus. Haha, another slap at religion!
4. anonymous

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   Aug 11th 2019 !⃝

   If Lennon sing to Jesús Superstar surelly he gave answer to the question what on Earth do you think you are? Bye bye Lennon.
5. wotdoiknow

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   May 27th 2019 !⃝

   It's not true John. You were always optimistic, but we all won't shine on. You will, other people will in the hearts and memories of loved ones; but not all of us will shine on. You do
6. anonymous

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   Sep 17th 2016 !⃝

   "Why in the world are we here
   Surely not to live in pain and fear
   Why on earth are you there
   When you're ev'rywhere
   Come and get your share"
   
   I believe he's referencing a God that seems to be absent on the job...Come and get your share of the misery
7. anonymous

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   Dec 16th 2010 !⃝

   Anonymous above is clueless. It's not about a particular person, it was left that way to be universally recognizable to everyone.
8. anonymous

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   Jan 9th 2010 !⃝

   This song is in a way a culmination of many other Beatles songs. They were singing about 1 person. Blackbird, Jude, S. Sadie, JoJo, Fool on the Hill, and many others - all about 1 person. To this day, this has not been revealed. Instant Karma expresses the frustration with this unnamed person's response or lack thereof, to finding out that the Beatles were singing about him/her. How else to explain this line "what on earth do you think you are - a superstar? well all right you are...", or this line "And why on earth do you fear, when you are everywhere - come and get your share". it's amazing that not too many people have figured this out yet.

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