Give Peace a Chance
Give Peace a Chance is a song written by John Lennon (credited to Lennon–McCartney) and performed with Yoko Ono in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Recorded on June 1, 1969, in Room 1742 at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel, the song became an anthem of the American anti-war movement during the Vietnam War. After its recording, it was quickly released by the Plastic Ono Band on July 4, 1969, and became a top-20 hit in the United States.
Background[edit | edit source]
The song was written during Lennon and Ono's second Bed-In for Peace, one of their non-violent protests against wars. The couple booked a suite at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel and invited the world's press. They discussed peace all day and by night, they worked on the anthem that encapsulated their vision. The recording session included celebrities and activists who were in the hotel room, such as Tommy Smothers of the Smothers Brothers, who played guitar on the recording.
Lyrics and Composition[edit | edit source]
The chorus of the song, "All we are saying is give peace a chance," became a universal slogan for peace movements. The verses of the song include references to various political leaders, including Timothy Leary, Rosemary Leary, Tommy Smothers, and Petula Clark, as well as a call-and-response section that mentions everyone from Hare Krishna to FBI and CIA.
Release and Reception[edit | edit source]
Upon its release, "Give Peace a Chance" was embraced by the anti-war movement and was sung at various rallies and protests. The song's simple message and catchy chorus made it an anthem for peace. It charted in several countries, peaking at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States.
Legacy[edit | edit source]
"Give Peace a Chance" remains one of John Lennon's most enduring songs. It has been covered by numerous artists and continues to be used in peace rallies and protests around the world. The song's message of peace and its association with the anti-war movement of the 1960s and 1970s have made it an iconic symbol of the era.
See Also[edit | edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD