John Lennon And Yoko Ono

Details

John Lennon And Yoko Ono
A rare and important hand-written letter from John Lennon to the readers of Disc And Music Echo magazine regarding the political situation in Ireland, 1972, the letter written on both sides of a sheet of Apple Memorandum headed stationery in black ink, To: Disc Readers, From: Johnandyoko, Date: Jan 18 [1972], Subject: EIRE, the letter beginning Dear Readers, We're glad if our song "The Luck Of The Irish" (all proceeds from this record will go to the Civil Rights Movement in Ireland), has caused you people to discuss what's going on there... and responding to comments on the situation in Northern Ireland from a reader as reader P. Wakeman says, how would we feel being occupied by Irish troops? I'm sure we could easily find "at least one million" people in England who would be glad if the situation was reversed...and it was those special Scots and English that were sent to "colonise" and "anglisize [sic] Northern Ireland in the last century that want to keep irland [sic] British when in fact IT IS IRELAND!, Lennon finishes the letter by sternly addressing one reader, a Mr. Stewart ...if you want to be British, Mr Stewart, I suggest you move to Britain, otherwise leave Ireland to the Irish, signed John Lennon + Yoko Ono, this signature scored out and a P.T.O. indicating a postscript on the reverse of the sheet of paper starting of course we sympathise with soldiers who are killed or wounded - anywhere, as we feel for the American soldiers forced to fight in Vietnam but our deepest sympathies must go to the victims of British and American imperialism... Lennon goes on to explain the meaning intended by the lyrics in the song our song says "blame it all on the kids and the I.R.A." which means let's not kid ourselves that the cause of the troubles in Ireland is the people of Ireland's fault, whether they be children, religious freaks or the I.R.A. - the real cause of the problems is British imperialism, as the song says "why the hell are the English there anyway?", the letter signed again love John Lennon, Yoko O' No, 1p.

Lot Essay

Lennon's song The Luck Of The Irish was written in late 1971 to accompany a documentary film about the political situation in Ireland. Lennon was a staunch supporter of the Republican movement, who wanted to see the province of Northern Ireland (then, as now, under British rule) integrated into the independent nation of Ireland. He appeared at several rallies and demonstrations in support of Republican organizations, and also contributed money to those who were campaigning to end discrimination against Catholics in Northern Ireland. Lennon had originally hoped to release The Luck Of The Irish as a single early in 1972, but this plan was abandoned because he was involved in a dispute with his music publishing company. The song was eventually released on the Lennons' June 1972 album Some Time In New York City, alongside another song inspired by events in Northern Ireland, Sunday Bloody Sunday.
Lennon subsequently re-used portions of this letter as a press release to explain his rationale behind writing the song.

More from Rock and Pop Memorabilia

View All