Revolution

Revolution is a song by the English rock band The Beatles, recorded in 1968 during The White Album sessions.

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 that you can count me out

Don't you know it's gonna be

All right?

All right

All right

You say you got a real solution

Well, you know

We'd all love to see the plan

You ask me for a contribution

Well, you know

We're all doing what we can

But if you want money for people with minds that hate

All I can tell you is brother you have to wait

Don't you know it's gonna be

All right?

All right

All right

You say you'll change the constitution

Well, you know

We'd all love to change your head

You tell me it's the institution

Well, you know

You better free your mind instead

But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao

You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow

Don't you know it's gonna be

All right?

All right

All right

All right

All right

All right

All right

All right

All right

All right

All right

History
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. While Revolution 1 found Lennon uncertain about whether to join the struggle, on the faster‘Revolution he emphatically demanded to be excluded.

The urgency of the new arrangement was a result of Paul McCartney’s resistance to Lennon’s hopes of Revolution 1’being The Beatles’ next single after Lady Madonna. With the backing of George Harrison, McCartney argued that the recording was too slow, inspiring Lennon to re-record it in an up-tempo, distorted and spontaneous outburst of anti-revolutionary fervor. After two years lost in an LSD haze, and newly energized in his love for Yoko Ono, Lennon gladly rose to the challenge he perceived.

Revolution featured the most distortion on any Beatles recording, particularly in the twin fuzz-toned guitars plugged directly into the Abbey Road desk and deliberately played loud to overload the meters. On July 9, 1968, following a remake of Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, The Beatles began the remake of Revolution, rehearsing the song and trying out the new arrangement.