The Song Nina Simone Wrote in Harsh Response to the Beatles’ “Revolution”

When John Lennon introduced his multiple versions of the politically charged “Revolution” to the Beatles, it sowed seeds of discord among the Fab Four, worldwide, and more specifically, Nina Simone. The American jazz pianist and singer-songwriter took exception to Lennon’s ambivalent perspective on political change, and as most musicians are wont to do, she expressed her disdain through song.

However, much to Simone’s dismay, neither Lennon nor the rest of the world seemed to respond to her “Revolution” response the way she hoped, turning the song into yet another thorn in Simone’s side when it came to the world’s perception of her.

Controversy Surrounded This Fab Four Hit

The Beatles released several versions of the John Lennon composition, “Revolution,” the most recognizable and commercially successful being a driving rock version they included as the B-side to “Hey Jude” in 1968. In his final interview with David Sheff in 1980, Lennon said the song came to him after years of manager Brian Epstein telling the band to abstain from commentary on contentious political issues, like the Vietnam War. Lennon also said Paul McCartney and George Harrison were “resentful” of the track.

“Because they were so upset about the Yoko period and the fact that I was again becoming as creative and dominating as I had been in the early days, after lying fallow for a couple of years, it upset the apple cart,” Lennon argued. “I was awake again, and they couldn’t stand it. The statement in “Revolution” was mine. The lyrics stand today. It’s still my feeling about politics.”

Band tensions aside, some critics denounced Lennon’s song for its neutral, non-violent approach. Far-left political movements argued that Lennon’s contradictory message of wanting a revolution but disagreeing with the means necessary to achieve it was a sign that he was out of touch politically and socially. Some listeners viewed the optimistic refrain, Don’t you know it’s gonna be alright, as an aloof affront to the severity of the world’s problems at the time. Nina Simone was of this camp.

Nina Simone’s “Revolution” Response to John Lennon

One year after the Beatles released their “Revolution,” Nina Simone responded with her own “Revolution” in 1969. Simone took Lennon’s lyrics like, You say you’ll change the constitution, well, you know we’d all love to change your head, and, You tell me that it’s evolution, well, we all wanna change the world, and challenged them nearly word for word.

Now we got a revolution, ‘cause I see the face of things to come. Yeah, your constitution, well, my friend, it’s gonna have to bend, Simone countered. Singing’ about a revolution because we are talkin’ about a change. It’s more than just evolution, well, you know you got to clean your brain.

Simone’s perspective as a Black woman in 1967 America lent a unique voice to her version of the politically charged song, pointing out Lennon’s inability to comprehend the full weight of the social unrest due to his privilege as an incredibly wealthy white man. Much to her chagrin, Lennon didn’t seem to catch that Simone was poking holes in Lennon’s argument. Speaking to Rolling Stone in 1971, Lennon called Simone’s response “interesting” and “very good—it was sort of like “Revolution” but not quite. That I sort of enjoyed.”

The track’s lack of commercial success also added to the insult. Speaking to Sylvia Hampton in Break Down and Let It All Out, Simone said of the lack of public response: “I don’t get it. It’s about a revolution, man, not just color, but everything! It’s about the barriers being broken down, and they sure as hell need getting rid of. We need a revolution to sort it all out and get back to God. You know how lost we are, man. It’s sad.”

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