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 called to say
“You can make it OK
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 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
“Poor 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 an 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
An Intimate Journey Across Europe
“The Ballad Of John And Yoko” narrates John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s whirlwind travels and the public scrutiny they faced following their wedding. The song’s candid lyrics offer a diary-like glimpse into their experiences, from bureaucratic hurdles in Southampton to their famous Amsterdam bed-in for peace. The recurring refrain, “They’re going to crucify me,” underscores Lennon’s sense of persecution by the media and society, while also referencing his own controversial statements and the couple’s activism. The song’s storytelling is refreshingly direct, blending humor, vulnerability, and social commentary as Lennon and Ono navigate love and fame under the spotlight.
Song Credits
Songwriters: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Release Year: 1969
Label: Apple Records