&quot;Working Class Hero&quot; is a song from John Lennon's first post-Beatles  solo album, 1970's John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band.   The song is a take on the class split of the 1940s and 1950s, and of the 1960s in which he was famous. The song appears to tell the story of someone growing up in the working class of capitalism. According to Lennon in an interview with Jann S. Wenner of Rolling Stone magazine in December 1970, it is about working class individuals being processed into the middle classes, into the machine.

Plastic Ono Band

Main Riff:

Am      G          Am
As------make---- small
         G          Am
By----instead----- all
            G        Am
Till-----nothing---- all
    
Chorus:

    Am                G           Am
A working class hero is something to be X2

[Am] As soon as you're born they [G] make you feel [Am] small
[Am] By giving you no time in[G]stead of it [Am] all
[Am] Till the pain is so big you feel [G] nothing at [Am] all
[Am] A working class hero is [G] something to [Am] be
[Am] A working class [G] hero is [D] something to [Am] be
[Am] They hurt you at home and they [G] hit you at [Am] school
[Am] They hate you if you're clever and they [G] despise a [Am] fool
[Am] Till you're so fucking crazy you can't [G] follow their [Am] rules
[Am] A working class hero is [G] something to [Am] be
[Am] A working class [G] hero is [D] something to [Am] be
[Am] When they've tortured and scared you for [G] twenty odd [Am] years
[Am] Then they expect you to [G] pick a ca[Am]reer
[Am] When you can't really function you're [G] so full of [Am] fear
[Am] A working class hero is [G] something to [Am] be
[Am] A working class [G] hero is [D] something to [Am] be
[Am] Keep you doped with religion and [G] sex and T.[Am]V.
[Am] And you think you're so clever and [G] classless and [Am] free
[Am] But you're still fucking peasants as [G] far as I can [Am] see
[Am] A working class hero is [G] something to [Am] be
[Am] A working class [G] hero is [D] something to [Am] be
[Am] There's room at the top they are [G] telling you [Am] still
[Am] But first you must learn how to [G] smile as you [Am] kill
[Am] If you want to be like the [G] folks on the [Am] hill
[Am] A working class hero is [G] something to [Am] be
[Am] A working class [G] hero is [D] something to [Am] be
[Am] If you want to be a hero well [G] just follow [Am] me
[Am] If you want to be a hero well [G] just follow [D] me [Am]

Working Class Hero

Am                       G             Am
As soon as you're born they make you feel small
   Am                    G          Am
By giving you no time instead of it all
         Am                      G          Am
Till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all
  Am                    G            Am
A working class hero is something to be
  Am            G       D            Am
A working class hero is something to be
---------------------------------------------------------
     Am                        G          Am
They hurt you at home and they hit you at school
     Am                                 G         Am
They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool
            Am                         G            Am
Till you're so fucking crazy you can't follow their rules
  Am                    G            Am
A working class hero is something to be
  Am            G       D            Am
A working class hero is something to be
---------------------------------------------------------
             Am                          G          Am
When they've tortured and scared you for twenty odd years
Am                      G        Am
Then they expect you to pick a career
         Am                           G          Am
When you can't really function you're so full of fear
  Am                    G            Am
A working class hero is something to be
  Am            G       D            Am
A working class hero is something to be
---------------------------------------------------------
         Am                      G         Am
Keep you doped with religion and sex and T.V.
        Am                         G             Am
And you think you're so clever and classless and free
           Am                        G            Am
But you're still fucking peasants as far as I can see
  Am                    G            Am
A working class hero is something to be
  Am            G       D            Am
A working class hero is something to be
---------------------------------------------------------
        Am                       G           Am
There's room at the top they are telling you still
    Am                          G            Am
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill
       Am                  G            Am
If you want to be like the folks on the hill
  Am                    G            Am
A working class hero is something to be
  Am            G       D            Am
A working class hero is something to be
---------------------------------------------------------
       Am                     G           Am
If you want to be a hero well just follow me
       Am                     G           D          Am
If you want to be a hero well just follow me

C   
Jaja, okay okay
                  F
Ya sé qué pasa aquí
   A#                            C
Encuentras la grandeza frente a ti
             C
Y no sabes bien qué sentir
       F            A#                      C
Es adorable, que jamás los humanitos cambiarán
           C       F
Despierta ya, oye bien, 
           A#                   C
este como ves es Maui, de verdad
             C                F
Sé que como yo no encuentras dos
        A#          C
Lo que miras es un semi Dios

[Coro 1]
Am         F           C
  Yo solo sé decir de nada
        E7               Am
Por el mar, el cielo, el sol
                F            C
No hay de que agradecer, de nada
     E7                    C
Soy sólo un ordinario semi yo

[Estrofa 2]
C                                F  
Hey, ¿qué fortachón el cielo elevó?
                        A#
Cuando eras de esta altura, éste
C                  C
  Si la noche enfrió, 
                  F
¿quién fue quien fuego te llevó?
       A#          
¿Qué, alguien me nombró? 
C              C       F
  Oh, yo sólo lazo el sol
          A#                    C
De nada, para estirar tu diversión
          C       F
Brisa yo hago soplar, de nada, 
   A#           C
y así tus velas elevar

[Coro 2]
Am        F            C
  Yo sólo sé decir de nada, 
        E7                  Am
por las islas que traje del mar
              F                  C
No ruegues jamás, nunca más, de nada
         E7                     Am
¡Ha! Genial es mi manera de servir, 
    F
de nada, 
    C
de nada

[Parte Rap]
C
De nada dudes ya
Hey, honestamente te explicaré 
de natural modo cada fenómeno
El mar, el sol, el gas, 
oh, ese es Maui hablando de más
Anguilas que, yo las enterré, 
de la palmera los cocos creé
Un consejo, una lección te doy
No me molestes si en mi descanso estoy
Am
  El tapiz que en mi piel se ve, 
F
  es el mapa de lo que gané
C
  Por donde fui provoqué mil sucesos
E7
  Ve al pequeñín mini Maui nomás zapateando,
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ¡Hey!

[Coro 3]
Am          F              C
  Yo sólo puedo decir, de nada (de nada)
           E7              Am
Por el mundo especial que doy
                 F           C
No hay de que agradecer, de nada (de nada)
    E7                     Am
De nada hablaré, que ya me voy
          F            C
Te toca a ti decir de nada (de nada)
       E7             Am
Pues quiero esa barca ya
             F          C
Muy lejos navegaré, de nada (de nada)
       E7               Am
Pues Maui nada sabe de nadar
              F                 C  F C
(De nada) De nada (De nada) de nada
         C
Y gracias

De Nada

BAA BAA BLACK SHEEP


C         G
Baa, baa, black sheep,
F            C
Have you any wool?

F        C
Yes sir, yes sir,
G          C
Three bags full.

C           G
One for the master,
F           C
One for the dame,

F               C
And one for the little boy
G                  C
Who lives down the lane.

Baa Baa Black Sheep

G      Em
I found a love for me
               C                         D
Darling just dive right in, and follow my lead
                G                 Em
Well I found a girl beautiful and sweet
          C                                  D
I never knew you were the someone waiting for me

                                 G
Cause we were just kids when we fell in love
              Em                     C               G  D
Not knowing what it was, I will not give you up this ti-ime
                   G                         Em
But darling just kiss me slow, your heart is all I own
             C                  D
And in your eyes you’re holding mine

       Em   C            G          D              Em
Baby, I’m dancing in the dark, with you between my arms
C                G     D                Em
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song
          C                G                 D              Em
When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breath
         C                G        D             
But you heard it, darling you look perfect tonight

               G                    Em
Well I found a woman, stronger than anyone I know
                C                                        D
She shares my dreams, I hope that someday I’ll share her home
           G             Em
I found a love, to carry more than just my secrets
         C                              D
To carry love, to carry children of our own

                              G                     Em 
We are still kids, but we’re so in love, fighting against all odds
                  C               G  D
I know that we’ll be alright this ti-ime
               G                            Em 
Darling just hold my hand, be my girl, I’ll be your man
          C              D
I see my future in your eyes



       Em   C            G          D              Em
Baby, I’m dancing in the dark, with you between my arms
C                G     D                Em
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song
          C                G                 D               Em
When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breath
         C                G        D             
But you heard it, darling you look perfect tonight

G Em C D 


       Em     C            G          D              Em
Baby, I’m dancing in the dark, with you between my arms
C                G     D                Em
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song
          C                G                 D               Em
When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breath
         C                G        D             
But you heard it, darling you look perfect tonight


Perfect

Intro (2X):
Am	G	F	C

Verse 1:
                C	               Am		
There's so much craziness surrounding me
                F	 	             G		            
There's so much going on it gets hard to breathe
     Am     F		                          C
When all my faith has gone you bring it back to me
Am	         G	       F   C
You make it real for me

             C	             Am		
When I'm not sure of my priorities
               F	 	             G		
When I've lost sight of where I meant to be
     Am   F		            C
Like holy water washing over me 
Am	         G	       F   C
You make it real for me

Chorus:
    G	    Am	   F	             C
And IIIIIIIII'm running to you baby
G    Am	              F	           C
  Youuuuuuuuu are the only one who saved me
       G     Am	         F	               C
That's    whyyyyyyy I've been missing you lately
      Am	         G	       F   C
Cause you make it real for me 

Verse 2:
          C	                   Am		
When my head is strong but my heart is weak
              F	 	          G		
I'm full of arrogance and uncertainty
     Am      F				                          C
When I can't find the words you teach my heart to speak
Am	         G	       F   C
You make it real for me yeah

Chorus:
    G	    Am	   F	             C
And IIIIIIIII'm running to you baby
G    Am	              F	           C
  Youuuuuuuuu are the only one who saved me
       G     Am	         F	               C
That's    whyyyyyyy I've been missing you lately
      Am	         G	       F   C
Cause you make it real for me 

Bridge:
G                           F                 C
    Everybody’s talking in words I don't understand
G                                    F              C
    You got to be the only one who knows just who I am
Em                                    F	
    You’re shining in the distance I hope I can make it through
           D	                              G                                    
Cause the only place that I want to be is right back home with you 


Verse 3:
                 C	             Am		
I guess there's so much more I have to learn
               F	 	                       G		
But if you're here with me, I know which way to turn
        Am         F		                   C
You always give me somewhere, somewhere I can run
Am	            G	       F   C
   You make it real for me 

Chorus:
    G	    Am	   F	             C
And IIIIIIIII'm running to you baby
G    Am	              F	           C
  Youuuuuuuuu are the only one who saved me
       G     Am	         F	               C
That's    whyyyyyyy I've been missing you lately
      Am	         G	       F   C
Cause you make it real for me 
Am	         G	       F   C
You make it real for me

You Make It Real

Am      C              F              C
I had a dream, we were sipping whisky neat
        F              C                 G
Highest floor, the Bowery, and nowhere’s high enough
    Am              C                F             C
Somewhere along the lines, we stopped seeing eye to eye
         F               C           G
You were staying out all night and I had enough


      F           Am             F                    C       
No, I don't wanna know where you been or where you're goin’
      F               Am                 G
But I know I won't be home and you'll be on your own


            F                    C                G
Who's gonna walk you through the dark side of the morning?
            F                 C                 G
Who's gonna rock you when the sun won't let you sleep?
             F                C               G         E7   Am
Who's waking up to drive you home when you're drunk and all alone?
             F                    C                G
Who's gonna walk you through the dark side of the morning, it ain’t me


Am        C              G         F   
Ow-ow, ah-ah the Bowery, ow-ow, ah-ah whiskey neat
Am          C       G         G
Where y’go, I’m so, grateful, I (it ain’t me)

F         C              Am        G
Ow-ow, ah-ah the Bowery, ow-ow, ah-ah whiskey neat
F           C       G
Where y’go, I’m so, grateful, I (it ain’t me)

Am     C           G      F   
Ow-ow, the Bowery, ow-ow, the whiskey neat
Am          C       G         G
Where y’go, I’m so, grateful, I (it ain’t me)

F      C           Am     G
Ow-ow, the Bowery, ow-ow, the whiskey neat
F           C       G         G
Where y’go, I’m so, grateful, I (it ain’t me)


Am  C  Am       C              F           C
       I had a dream, we were back to seventeen
       F                   C            G
Summer nights and the Libertines, never growing up
Am             C          F                 C
I'll take with me the polaroids and the memories
        F              C                G
But you know I'm gonna leave behind the worst of us


             F                    C                G
Who's gonna walk you through the dark side of the morning?
             F                 C                 G
Who's gonna rock you when the sun won't let you sleep?
             F                C               G         E7   Am
Who's waking up to drive you home when you're drunk and all alone?
             F                    C                G               
Who's gonna walk you through the dark side of the morning

         F      C     G
It ain’t me, no-o, no-o
         F      C     G
It ain’t me, no-o, no-o
         F      C     G  E7  Am
It ain’t me, no-o, no-o
             F                    C                G                
Who's gonna walk you through the dark side of the morning, it ain’t me


Am     C           G      F   
Ow-ow, the Bowery, ow-ow, the whiskey neat
Am          C       G         G
Where y’go, I’m so, grateful, I (it ain’t me)

F      C           Am     G
Ow-ow, the Bowery, ow-ow, the whiskey neat
F           C       G         G
Where y’go, I’m so, grateful, I (it ain’t me)

Am     C           G      F   
Ow-ow, the Bowery, ow-ow, the whiskey neat
Am          C       G         G
Where y’go, I’m so, grateful, I (it ain’t me)

F      C           Am     G
Ow-ow, the Bowery, ow-ow, the whiskey neat
F           C       G         G
Where y’go, I’m so, grateful, I (it ain’t me)

Am     C           G      F   
Ow-ow, the Bowery, ow-ow, the whiskey neat
Am          C       G         G
Where y’go, I’m so, grateful, I (it ain’t me)

F            C           Am           G
No no, no no no, Bowery, no no, no no no, whiskey neat
F           C       G                     Am
Where y’go, I’m so, grateful, I, it ain’t me

It Ain't Me

E|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
A|------------------|---------0--------|-0-------0-----1--|-0----------------|
C|-0-------0--------|-0-----2-0--------|-0-----2-0--------|------------------|
G|------------------|------------------|------------------|-0----------------|

3x
E|-3---3---3----------------|
A|-------------0------------|
C|--------------------------|
G|-0-----------0---0---0----|

3x
E|--------------------------|
A|-0---0---0----------------|
C|-0-----------0---0---0----|
G|--------------------------|

E|------------------|------------------|
A|-0-----1-0--------|------------------|
C|---------0-----2--|-0----------------|
G|-0----------------|------------------|

E|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
A|------------------|---------0--------|-0-------0-----1--|-0----------------|
C|-0-------0--------|-0-----2-0--------|-0-----2-0--------|------------------|
G|------------------|------------------|------------------|-0----------------|

3x
E|-3---3---3----------------|
A|-------------0------------|
C|--------------------------|
G|-0-----------0---0---0----|

3x
E|--------------------------|
A|-0---0---0----------------|
C|-0-----------0---0---0----|
G|--------------------------|

E|------------------|------------------||
A|-0-----1-0--------|------------------||
C|---------0-----2--|-0----------------||
G|-0----------------|------------------||

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

G A7sus4 G Cadd9 x2

G            A7sus4
I don't mind stealing bread
G                  Cadd9
From the mouths of decadence

G A7sus4 G Cadd9

    G                   A7sus4
But I can't feed on the powerless
        G             Cadd9
When my cup's already overfilled

G A7sus4 G Cadd9

G        A7sus4
But it's on the table
    G           Cadd9
The fire is cooking

G           A7sus4
And they're farming babies
       G         Cadd9
While slaves are working
G        A7sus4
Blood is on the table
        G          Cadd9
And the mouths are choking
    G           A7sus4  G   Cadd9
But I'm growing hungry


G            Cadd9
I don't mind stealing bread
G                  Cadd9
From the mouths of decadence

G Cadd9 x2

    G                   Cadd9
But I can't feed on the powerless
        G             Cadd9
When my cup's already overfilled

G Cadd9 x2

G        A7sus4
But it's on the table
    G           Cadd9
The fire is cooking

G           A7sus4
And they're farming babies
       G         Cadd9
While slaves are working
G      A7sus4
And is on the table
        G          Cadd9
And the mouths are choking

G                  A7sus4
   But I'm growing hungry
            G        Cadd9
   (Growing Hungry...Yeah)

G                  A7sus4
   But I'm growing hungry
            G        Cadd9
   (Growing Hungry...Yeah)

G                  A7sus4
   But I'm growing hungry
            G        Cadd9
   (Growing Hungry...Yeah)

G                  A7sus4
   But I'm growing hungry
            G        Cadd9
   (Growing Hungry...Yeah)


D5-E5 D5-E5  Emadd9  x4


G Am Bm Cadd9 x2


G                  A7sus4
   But I'm growing hungry
            G        Cadd9
   (Growing Hungry...Yeah)

G                  A7sus4
   But I'm growing hungry
            G        Cadd9
   (Growing Hungry...Yeah)


D5-E5 D5-E5  Emadd9 x4


     G             A7sus4
Yeah I don't mind stealing bread
     G             Cadd9
    (Ooh           I don't mind)

     G             A7sus4
Yeah I don't mind stealing bread
     G             Cadd9
    (Ooh           I don't mind)

G                  A7sus4
   But I'm growing hungry
            G        Cadd9
   (Growing Hungry...Yeah)

G                  A7sus4
   But I'm growing hungry
            G        Cadd9
   (Growing Hungry...Yeah)

G                  A7sus4
   But I'm growing hungry
            G        Cadd9
   (Growing Hungry...Yeah)


D5-E5 D5-E5  Emadd9

Hunger Strike

Verse 1:
G                                    Em        G        Em
There was a girl who lived in London town.
G                                 Em                   G      Em
The scenes and sounds, they would only bring her down
C                                   D
She had polkadots and rubies in her dreams,
C                   D
French fantasies on cinema screens...
        C             G/B    Am     G
And she knew from the finish to the start
C      G/B      Am   G
It was bound to fall apart
C         G/B     Am   Em
Thanks to Cupid's lazy dart.
Em                                D
Wouldn't it be sweet if she could die from a broken heart?

G     Em      G      Em

Verse 2: (the same chords)
There was a boy who lived inside his head.
He couldn't face the world, so he turned his back instead.
He couldn't see in front of his eyes;
His fantasies of outlaws had him hypnotised...

And he knew from the finish to the start
It was bound to fall apart
Thanks to Cupid's lazy dart.                        F
Wouldn't it be sweet if he could die from a broken heart?

   C              G           F
Behold his golden wings
       C              G         F
And behold his bronze bow.
                 C             G         F
Can you hear his silver arrows sing?
       C               G     
As his gaylied favours glow.

(then go back to the normal verse bit)

There was a boy and girl who fell in love:
They both were in love with the stars and sky above,
Cinderella, cigarettes and scenes from the past
Were chasing them too fast for this love to ever last...

And they knew from the finish to the start
It was bound to fall apart
Thanks to Cupid's lazy dart.                         F
Wouldn't it be sweet if they could die from a broken heart? 

C   G    F    C    G

Repeat F  C  G until the end. End on G.

Arrows Of Eros

Am
There's a sadness all around us
          F                         C
There are words we're too afraid to say
                                        Am
The things that I thought would last forever
    F              G
Are changing every day

          Am
There's a hunger can't be satisfied
        F                       C
And the streets are filled with rage
C                       Am
It's time to dig deep inside ourselves
F                       G
And face the life we've made

Am
It's gonna take two of us
C                           Am
Ijust can't do it all on my own
F				  C
I see the day gettin' brighter
G                    F
Hold me a little bit tighter

C                      Am      F
Out of the darkness in hand in hand
     Am               F        G
Baby together we will make our stand
C                             Am      F
Reach out and touch me we can win somehow
       Am              F                G
I know there's nothing that can stop us now
F              Am                 G   C
Oh, baby, come with me out of the darkness

...

Out Of The Darkness

E|--------------|---------0----|-3-------0----|--------------|
A|-1---1---1----|-1---1--------|--------------|-1-------1----|
C|-0------------|-0---0--------|--------------|-0------------|
G|--------------|--------------|-2------------|--------------|

E|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|
A|-0------------|-0---0---1----|-0------------|--------------|
C|--------------|--------------|-0-------2----|-0------------|
G|-0-------0----|-0---0--------|--------------|--------------|

E|--------------|---------0----|-3-------0----|--------------|
A|-1---1---1----|-1---1--------|--------------|-1-------1----|
C|-0------------|-0---0--------|--------------|-0------------|
G|--------------|--------------|-2------------|--------------|

E|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|
A|-0------------|---------0----|-1-------1----|-1------------|
C|--------------|-0---2--------|-0-------0----|-0------------|
G|-0-------0----|--------------|--------------|--------------|

E|--------------|---------0----|-3-------0----|--------------|
A|-1---1---1----|-1---1--------|--------------|-1-------1----|
C|-0------------|-0---0--------|--------------|-0------------|
G|--------------|--------------|-2------------|--------------|

E|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|
A|-0------------|-0---0---1----|-0------------|--------------|
C|--------------|--------------|-0-------2----|-0------------|
G|-0-------0----|-0---0--------|--------------|--------------|

E|--------------|---------0----|-3-------0----|--------------|
A|-1---1---1----|-1---1--------|--------------|-1-------1----|
C|-0------------|-0---0--------|--------------|-0------------|
G|--------------|--------------|-2------------|--------------|

E|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|
A|-0------------|---------0----|-1-------1----|-1------------|
C|--------------|-0---2--------|-0-------0----|-0------------|
G|-0-------0----|--------------|--------------|--------------|

Working Class Hero

Chords

Rate tab

Comments (2)

John Lennon top tabs

Similar songs

Video covers