SONGBOOK
THE BALLAD OF JOHN AND YOKO/OLD BROWN SHOE
A-side:
The Ballad Of John And Yoko (Lennon-McCartney)
B-side:
Old Brown Shoe (Harrison)
Released: 30 May 1969 (Apple)
Highest chart position: 1
Weeks in chart: 14 (3 at number 1)
FAB FACT
As ‘The Ballad Of John And Yoko’ was an unscheduled release, their previous single ‘Get Back’ was still in the Top 10 when it reached the top spot.
FAB FACT
When John and Yoko got together, their lives became a perpetual art project. They collaborated on avant-garde albums and art shows, planted acorns for peace at Coventry Cathedral, gigged at Cambridge University where John accompanied Yoko’s freestyle wailing, and introduced Bagism, their version of ‘total communication’ at the Albert Hall in 1968. Their wedding, honeymoon bed-in in Amsterdam and Bagism event in Vienna documented in ‘The Ballad Of John And Yoko’ was their most high-profile project yet. Keen to use their platform to promote peace to a wide audience, their efforts were frequently panned by either a patronising or a hostile press who didn’t, or chose not to, understand that John and Yoko’s actions were deliberately provocative, playful and absurd. As John said to journalists, ‘We are happy to be the world’s clowns.’
FAB FACT
With Ringo away filming The Magic Christian with Peter Sellers, and George abroad, only John and Paul feature in the song. Despite their behind-the-scenes troubles with Apple and future manager Allen Klein, the song was recorded with great energy and in good spirits.
FAB FACT
John and Yoko would go on to host another bed-in later in 1969 in Montreal, where John composed and recorded ‘Give Peace A Chance’ (released with Yoko as Plastic Ono Band). Present at the recording of the song were, amongst others, Allen Ginsberg, Timothy Leary, Murray the K, Dick Gregory and Petula Clark. The song was attributed to Lennon-McCartney as a thank you to Paul for helping out with the composing and recording of ‘The Ballad Of John And Yoko’, and peaked at number two in the UK chart.
John and Yoko advertise peace outside the Apple offices in 1969. Alamy
