Standing in the dock at Southampton
Trying to get to Holland or France
The man in the mac said
You've got to go back
You know they didn't even give us a chance

Christ you know it ain't easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They're going to crucify me

Finally made the plane into Paris
Honeymooning down by the Seine
Peter Brown call to say
You can make it O.K.
You can get married in Gibraltar near Spain

Christ you know it ain't easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They're going to crucify me

Drove from Paris to the Amsterdam Hilton
Talking in our beds for a week
The newspapers said
Say what're you doing in bed
I said we're only trying to get us some peace

Christ you know it ain't easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They're going to crucify me

Saving up your money for a rainy day
Giving all your clothes to charity
Last night the wife said
Oh boy when you're dead
You don't take nothing with you but your soul, think

Made a lightning trip to Vienna
Eating chocolate cake in a bag
The newspapers said
She's gone to his head
They look just like two gurus in drag

Christ you know it ain't easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They're going to crucify me

Caught the early plane back to London
Fifty acorns tied in a sack
The men from the press
Said we wish you success
It's good to have the both of you back

Christ you know it ain't easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They're going to crucify me
The way things are going
They're going to crucify me



Lyrics submitted by Ice, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Track duration: 03:00

"The Ballad of John and Yoko" as written by John Lennon, Paul James Mccartney

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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The Ballad of John and Yoko song meanings
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48 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:Basically this song is pretty much about John and Yoko getting married. It's got a lot of strange lines in it tho.. the 50 acorns tied in a sac I have never understood, ever. and there are a few more, but they all seem to fit into the press nagging John and Yoko, and the real life incident where they stayed in bed for a week.. for peace... I really think that their love was beautiful despite what all you idiots out there think.
    Flag PTCGAZon December 31, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I'm not sure but I was wondering if the line 'they're going to crucify me' had something to do with the comment that John made about The Beatles being more popular than Jesus.
    Flag Spanners97on September 08, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The "Christ" reference in the song actually refers to the press conference in Chicago after John had to apologize for his "Beatles are bigger than Jesus" comment. After John apologized in front of the press, one of the reporters tried to trip John up by asking: "Do you think the press is trying to crucify you?" John didn't fall for it. His reply: "No, I WOULDN'T say THAT!"
    Flag svjunioron May 31, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Of course Yoko was single-handedly responsible for breaking up the Beatles!


    I mean...

    The fact they all had different ideas of what sort of music they wanted to take.
    John's arrogant belief that Paul and George were awful songwriters compared to him.
    Paul's overbearing controlling nature regarding the band's direction and management.
    Ringo's alcoholism.
    Paul wanting Linda to be creatively involved in his music despite her lack of musical ability.
    John not wanting Linda around despite wanting Yoko present all the time.
    Ringo quitting the band during the recording of The White Album.
    George having an affair with Ringo's wife.
    The fact they couldn't seem to turn around without one of them causing controversy.
    Their collective disillusionment with the world in general, post-Maharishi.
    The fact they'd been working together nonstop for the better part of a decade whilst living under the pressure of being the most famous people alive.

    ...none of those things contributed to the band breaking up in the slightest. It was 100% Yoko's fault.
    Flag stygimolochon July 13, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:...always wondered about "50 acorns tied in a sack"....

    At first I thought it was a metaphor for packing a load of people into a plane (so much so they're bulging at the edges), but it appears there is another meaning to this.

    Love the guitar bit right at the end.
    Flag dmad79on June 13, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:John loved Yoko immensely and was happy with her, that is all that matters.

    Did anyone ever consider if amazing songs such as "Imagine" "Mind Games" etc would have existed if not for Yoko? If you're going to criticise her for changing John then you need to also give her a lot of credit.

    This is a great song about the troubles they had getting married and then the trouble they had with the bed in for peace. I just love the bass line in this, so powerful.
    Flag originlon June 11, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:There is way too much hate for Yoko. I could go on forever defending her.

    This is a damn good song, and I can definitly see the way it mirrors Chuck Berry's "you never can tell!" I can't help but feel that despite Paul's work on it, this song feels 100% John Lennon. If you compare it to his later work, it sounds very similar but distinctively different to John's work in the Beatles. Anyone else see it?
    Flag clockworkdollyon April 04, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:U people crack me up...u either like the song or u dont..comment the song..i dont understand why u people get into their damn personal lives who the fuck cares...cuz the truth is u guys dont know shit about anything..u dont know yoko or john or anyone so just worry about ur own lives and quit arguing over people u dont know....GAWDDDD!
    Flag spideywidey100on October 17, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Yoko exploited Johns insecurities, Argument over - look it up.
    Flag Tepesson October 09, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:John payed as much attention to Sean as he did to Julian until 5 weeks before his death were they spent almost every minute together b/c john was in a rut with his music.
    (or so i heard, so don't blame me if I'm wrong)
    Flag BAMxitsxKatie17on August 06, 2009   Link

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