The Ballad of John and Yoko - wikipedia The Ballad of John and Yoko This article is about the song. For the autobiography by John Lennon, see Skywriting by Word of Mouth. `` The Ballad of John and Yoko '' US picture sleeve Single by the Beatles B - side `` Old Brown Shoe '' Released 30 May 1969 Format 7 - inch record Recorded 14 April 1969 EMI Studios, London Genre Rock and roll Length 2 : 59 Label Apple Songwriter ( s ) Lennon -- McCartney Producer ( s ) George Martin The Beatles singles chronology `` Get Back '' ( 1969 ) Get Back 1969 `` The Ballad of John and Yoko '' ( 1969 ) The Ballad of John and Yoko1969 `` Something '' / `` Come Together '' ( 1969 ) Something Come Together 1969 `` The Ballad of John and Yoko '' is a song written by John Lennon, attributed to Lennon -- McCartney as was the custom, and released by the Beatles as a single in May 1969. The song, chronicling the events associated with Lennon 's marriage to Yoko Ono, was the Beatles ' 17th and final UK No. 1 single. Contents 1 Writing 2 Recording 3 Release 4 Reception 5 Cover versions 6 Personnel 7 Charts and certifications 7.1 Charts 7.2 Certifications 8 Notes 9 References 10 External links Writing Authored by Lennon while on his honeymoon in Paris, it tells of the events of his marriage, in March 1969, to Ono, and their publicly held honeymoon activities, including their `` Bed - In '' at the Amsterdam Hilton Hotel and their demonstration of `` bagism ''. Lennon brought the song to McCartney 's home on 14 April 1969, before recording it that evening. Recalling the controversy engendered by Lennon 's `` more popular than Jesus '' remark in 1966, McCartney was alarmed at the references to Christ in the new song but agreed to assist Lennon. Ono later said : `` Paul knew that people were being nasty to John, and he just wanted to make it well for him. Paul has a very brotherly side to him. '' Recording The song was recorded without George Harrison ( who was on holiday ) and Ringo Starr ( who was filming The Magic Christian ). In Barry Miles ' biography, McCartney recalls that Lennon had a sudden inspiration for the song and had suggested that the two of them should record it immediately, without waiting for the other Beatles to return. Reflecting this somewhat unusual situation, the session recordings include the following exchange : Lennon ( on guitar ) : `` Go a bit faster, Ringo ! '' McCartney ( on drums ) : `` OK, George ! '' The session marked the return of Geoff Emerick as recording engineer at a Beatle session after he had quit working with the group during the tense White Album sessions nine months earlier. Commenting in the Beatles Anthology book, Harrison said : `` I did n't mind not being on the record, because it was none of my business... If it had been ' The Ballad Of John, George And Yoko ', then I would have been on it. '' Release Ono and Lennon leaving Amsterdam in March 1969 Backed with Harrison 's `` Old Brown Shoe '', the single was released in the United Kingdom on 30 May 1969. Lennon and Ono were performing a second Bed - In at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal at the time. The United States release followed on 4 June. In the UK and Europe, it was the first Beatles single to be released in stereo. It was therefore the first release not given a mono mix. The song has been included on several compilation albums : Hey Jude ( US, 1970 ), 1967 -- 1970 ( 1973 ), 20 Greatest Hits ( UK, 1982 ), Past Masters ( 1988 ) and 1 ( 2000 ). An uncredited 20 - second sample of the song is used in the title track of Timothy Leary 's 1970 album You Can Be Anyone This Time Around, with Leary 's words : `` You can be anyone this time around ; John and Yoko this time around '' spoken over the sample. Reception Several US radio stations declined to broadcast the song because of what they saw as sacrilegious use of the words `` Christ '' and `` crucify '' in the chorus : Christ, you know it ai n't easy, You know how hard it can be, The way things are going, They 're gon na crucify me. `` The Ballad of John and Yoko '' never appeared on the surveys of WLS in Chicago or WABC in New York, two of the largest Top 40 stations in the US. In 2012, the song was ranked as the 404th best classic rock song of all time by New York 's Q104. 3. The Spanish government under Franco objected to the song because of its statement, `` Peter Brown called to say, ' You can make it OK, you can get married in Gibraltar near Spain. ' '' The status of Gibraltar is a long - running subject of debate between Spain and the United Kingdom. The single became the Beatles ' 17th and final UK No. 1 ; it reached No. 8 in the US. When cartoonist Al Capp visited John Lennon and Yoko Ono at their 1969 Bed - In for Peace in Montreal, Capp pointedly asked Lennon about the meaning of the lyrics of the song. Their testy exchange later appeared in the 1988 documentary film Imagine : John Lennon. On Capp 's exit, Lennon sang an impromptu version with a slightly revised, but nonetheless prophetic lyric : `` Christ, you know it ai n't easy / You know how hard it can be / The way things are goin ' / They 're gon na crucify Capp ! '' Cover versions Finnish singer - songwriter Kari Peitsamo recorded a Finnish version of the song called Balladi Kari Peitsamosta in 1978. Brazilian rock band Titãs recorded a Portuguese language version of the song for their 1984 self - titled debut album. Dave Edmunds at John Lennon tribute concert in Liverpool 1990 Beatallica recorded a mashup of the song and Metallica 's `` Battery '' titled `` The Battery of Jaymz and Yoko '', on their 2009 album Masterful Mystery Tour. Israeli singer Arik Einstein and The Churchills recorded a Hebrew version of the song that called `` Haya lanu tov, nihiya lanu ra '' ( היה לנו טוב נהיה לנו רע ). American jam band Widespread Panic has performed the song live on multiple occasions and an acoustic version is featured on their 2012 album Wood. Scottish band Teenage Fanclub released a cover of the song as a single ( 1990 ) and on their B - Sides and rarities compilation album Deep Fried Fanclub. Greek rock artist Pavlos Sidiropoulos recorded ( 1989 ) a live cover of this song with different lyrics in Greek. The song 's name is `` Tis Ethnikis Simfiliosis '' ( Της Εθνικής συμφιλίωσης ) with mostly political humorous content Personnel According to Ian MacDonald and Mark Lewisohn : John Lennon -- lead vocal, lead guitars, acoustic guitar, percussion Paul McCartney -- harmony vocal, bass, drums, piano, maracas Charts and certifications Charts Chart ( 1969 ) Peak position Australian Kent Music Report Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) Ireland ( IRMA ) Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) Norway ( VG - lista ) Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) US Billboard Hot 100 8 US Cash Box Top 100 10 West German Media Control Singles Chart Certifications Region Certification Certified units / Sales United States ( RIAA ) Gold 1,000,000 sales figures based on certification alone shipments figures based on certification alone Notes Jump up ^ `` The Beatles ' The Ballad of John and Yoko ' ''. AllMusic. Retrieved 23 November 2014. ^ Jump up to : Fontenot. ^ Jump up to : Smith 1980, JOHN : `` I wrote that in Paris on our honeymoon. It 's a piece of journalism. It 's a folk song. ''. ^ Jump up to : Official UK Charts 2009. Jump up ^ Guesdon & Margotin 2013, p. 542. Jump up ^ Smith 1988, PAUL : `` John came to me and said, ' I 've got this song about our wedding and it 's called The Ballad Of John And Yoko. ' He came around to my house, wanting to do it really quick. He needed to record it so we just ran in and did it. ''. Jump up ^ Harry 2003, ' B ' : `` On Monday 14 April 1969 John brought the number around to Paul 's house in Cavendish Avenue for him to aid in its completion. ''. Jump up ^ Miles 1997, p. 551 : `` John brought it round to Paul 's house on 14 April 1969 for him to help complete ''. Jump up ^ Guesdon & Margotin 2013, p. 544. Jump up ^ `` 48 - ' The Ballad of John and Yoko ' ''. 100 Greatest Beatles Songs. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 20 June 2012. ^ Jump up to : Miles 1997, p. 551. ^ Jump up to : Lewisohn 1988, p. 173. Jump up ^ The Beatles ( 2000 ). The Beatles Anthology. San Francisco, CA : Chronicle Books. p. 333. ISBN 0 - 8118 - 2684 - 8. Jump up ^ Lewisohn 1988, p. 200. Jump up ^ Fong - Torres 1969. Jump up ^ Cross 2005, pp. 539 -- 540. Jump up ^ `` The Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time : Dirty Dozenth Edition ''. Q1043.com. Jump up ^ Wallgren 1982, p. 55. Jump up ^ MacDonald 2005, p. 345. Jump up ^ Kent, David ( 2005 ). Australian Chart Book ( 1940 -- 1969 ). Turramurra : Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0 - 646 - 44439 - 5. Jump up ^ `` Austriancharts.at -- The Beatles -- The Ballad of John and Yoko '' ( in German ). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 16 May 2016. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- The Beatles -- The Ballad of John and Yoko '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 16 May 2016. Jump up ^ `` The Irish Charts -- Search Results -- The Ballad of John and Yoko ''. Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 May 2016. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- The Beatles -- The Ballad of John and Yoko '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Retrieved 16 May 2016. Jump up ^ `` Norwegiancharts.com -- The Beatles -- The Ballad of John and Yoko ''. VG - lista. Retrieved 16 May 2016. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- The Beatles -- The Ballad of John and Yoko ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 May 2016. Jump up ^ `` Archive Chart : 1969 - 06 - 17 '' UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 May 2016. Jump up ^ `` The Beatles -- Chart history '' Billboard Hot 100 for The Beatles. Retrieved 16 May 2016. Jump up ^ Hoffmann, Frank ( 1983 ). The Cash Box Singles Charts, 1950 - 1981. Metuchen, NJ & London : The Scarecrow Press, Inc. pp. 32 -- 34. Jump up ^ `` Offizielle Deutsche Charts '' ( Enter `` Beatles '' in the search box ) ( in German ). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 16 May 2016. Jump up ^ `` American single certifications -- The Beatles -- The Ballad of John and Yoko ''. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 14 May 2016. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH References `` Beatles - The Ballad of John and Yoko ''. Official UK Charts Company. 2009. Archived from the original on 12 November 2006. Retrieved 28 November 2009. Cross, Craig ( 2005 ). The Beatles : Day - by - Day, Song - by - Song, Record - by - Record. Lincoln : iUniverse, Inc. ISBN 0 - 595 - 34663 - 4. Fong - Torres, Ben ( 26 July 1969 ). `` Christ, They Know It Ai n't Easy ''. Rolling Stone. When ' Ballad ' was released in late May, dozens of stations immediately announced a ban. Program directors have called the casual reference to the deity ' profane, ' ' sacrilegious, ' ' offensive, ' and ' generally objectionable. ' Fontenot, Robert ( 2010 ). `` The Ballad of John and Yoko ''. About.com. Guesdon, Jean - Michel ; Margotin, Philippe ( 2013 ). All the Songs : The Story Behind Every Beatles Release. New York, NY : Black Dog & Leventhal. ISBN 978 - 1 - 57912 - 952 - 1. Harry, Bill ( 2003 ). The Paul McCartney Encyclopedia. Virgin Books. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7535 - 0716 - 2. Lewisohn, Mark ( 1988 ). The Beatles Recording Sessions. New York : Harmony Books. ISBN 0 - 517 - 57066 - 1. MacDonald, Ian ( 2005 ). Revolution in the Head : The Beatles ' Records and the Sixties ( Second Revised ed. ). London : Pimlico ( Rand ). ISBN 1 - 84413 - 828 - 3. Miles, Barry ( 1997 ). Paul McCartney : Many Years From Now. Henry Holt & Company. ISBN 0 - 8050 - 5248 - 8. Smith, Alan ( 3 May 1969 ). `` Beatles Music Straightforward on Next Album ''. New Music Express. Smith, Alan. `` Beatles Ultimate Experience : Songwriting & Recording Database ''. New Music Express. Wallgren, Mark ( 1982 ). The Beatles on Record. New York : Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0 - 671 - 45682 - 2. External links Alan W. Pollack 's Notes on `` The Ballad of John and Yoko '' Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Preceded by `` Dizzy '' by Tommy Roe UK number one single 11 June 1969 ( three weeks ) Succeeded by `` Something in the Air '' by Thunderclap Newman The Beatles singles discography UK and US ( all labels ) 1963 `` Please Please Me '' / `` Ask Me Why '' `` From Me to You '' / `` Thank You Girl '' `` She Loves You '' / `` I 'll Get You '' 1964 `` Ca n't Buy Me Love '' / `` You Ca n't Do That '' `` I Feel Fine '' / `` She 's a Woman '' 1965 `` Ticket to Ride '' / `` Yes It Is '' `` Help ! '' / `` I 'm Down '' `` We Can Work It Out '' / `` Day Tripper '' 1966 `` Paperback Writer '' / `` Rain '' `` Yellow Submarine '' / `` Eleanor Rigby '' 1967 `` Penny Lane '' / `` Strawberry Fields Forever '' `` All You Need Is Love '' / `` Baby, You 're a Rich Man '' `` Hello, Goodbye '' / `` I Am the Walrus '' 1968 `` Lady Madonna '' / `` The Inner Light '' `` Hey Jude '' / `` Revolution '' 1969 `` Get Back '' / `` Do n't Let Me Down '' `` The Ballad of John and Yoko '' / `` Old Brown Shoe '' `` Something '' / `` Come Together '' 1970 `` Let It Be '' / `` You Know My Name ( Look Up the Number ) '' 1978 `` Sgt. Pepper 's Lonely Hearts Club Band / With a Little Help from My Friends '' / `` A Day in the Life '' 1982 `` The Beatles Movie Medley '' / `` I 'm Happy Just to Dance with You '' 1995 `` Free as a Bird '' / `` Christmas Time ( Is Here Again ) '' `` Real Love '' / `` Baby 's in Black '' UK only ( Parlophone, Apple ) 1962 `` My Bonnie '' / `` The Saints '' `` Love Me Do '' / `` P.S. I Love You '' 1963 `` I Want to Hold Your Hand '' / `` This Boy '' 1964 `` Ai n't She Sweet '' / `` If You Love Me, Baby '' `` A Hard Day 's Night '' / `` Things We Said Today '' 1976 `` Yesterday '' / `` I Should Have Known Better '' `` Back in the U.S.S.R. '' / `` Twist and Shout '' US only ( Vee - Jay, Swan, Tollie, Capitol, Apple ) 1963 `` I Want to Hold Your Hand '' / `` I Saw Her Standing There '' 1964 `` Twist and Shout '' / `` There 's a Place '' `` Do You Want to Know a Secret '' / `` Thank You Girl '' `` Love Me Do '' / `` P.S. I Love You '' `` Sie liebt dich '' / `` I 'll Get You '' `` I 'll Cry Instead '' / `` I 'm Happy Just to Dance with You '' `` And I Love Her '' / `` If I Fell '' `` A Hard Day 's Night '' / `` I Should Have Known Better '' `` Matchbox '' / `` Slow Down '' 1965 `` Eight Days a Week '' / `` I Do n't Want to Spoil the Party '' `` Yesterday '' / `` Act Naturally '' 1966 `` Nowhere Man '' / `` What Goes On '' 1970 `` The Long and Winding Road '' / `` For You Blue '' 1976 `` Got to Get You into My Life '' / `` Helter Skelter '' `` Ob - La - Di, Ob - La - Da '' / `` Julia '' Other countries ( Odeon, Parlophone, Apple ) 1963 `` All My Loving '' / `` This Boy '' ( Canada ) 1964 `` Komm, gib mir deine Hand / Sie liebt dich '' ( Germany ) 1966 `` Norwegian Wood ( This Bird Has Flown ) '' / `` Nowhere Man '' ( Australia ) 1968 `` Ob - La - Di, Ob - La - Da '' / `` While My Guitar Gently Weeps '' ( Europe, Japan, Australia ) `` Ob - La - Di, Ob - La - Da '' / `` I Will '' ( Philippines ) `` Back in the U.S.S.R. '' / `` Do n't Pass Me By '' ( Sweden ) 1969 `` You 're Going to Lose That Girl '' / `` Tell Me What You See '' ( Japan ) 1970 `` Oh ! Darling '' / `` Here Comes the Sun '' ( Japan ) 1972 `` All Together Now '' / `` Hey Bulldog '' ( Europe ) 1978 `` Sgt. Pepper 's Lonely Hearts Club Band / With a Little Help from My Friends '' / `` Within You Without You '' ( Germany ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Ballad_of_John_and_Yoko&oldid=801508177 '' Categories : 1969 singles Apple Records singles The Beatles songs Number - one singles in Australia Number - one singles in Germany Irish Singles Chart number - one singles Number - one singles in Norway Number - one singles in Switzerland UK Singles Chart number - one singles Songs based on actual events Songs about the media Songs about Yoko Ono Songs about Amsterdam Songs about Vienna Song recordings produced by George Martin Songs written by Lennon -- McCartney Yoko Ono Rock ballads Songs published by Northern Songs 1969 songs Number - one singles in Mexico Obscenity controversies in music Hidden categories : CS1 German - language sources ( de ) Use British English from August 2010 Use dmy dates from January 2011 Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Austria Singlechart usages for Belgium ( Flanders ) Singlechart usages for Ireland2 Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for Norway Singlechart usages for Switzerland Singlechart usages for UK Singlechart called without artist Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Certification Table Entry usages for United States Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Español Français Bahasa Indonesia Italiano ქართული Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk Polski Português Русский Suomi Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 20 September 2017, at 02 : 31. 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Question: who played on the ballad of john and yoko
Answer: McCartney