on working class hero...he goes through the everymans daily routine. on how hard life's toils are...but how, if you work at things long enough...they begin to pay off.
To me, Working Class Hero is more about the human conditioning process of the ruling elite, John is saying that if you want to become awake to this process, then "just follow him". I think he called the song Working Class Hero because all the common people of the world are in the same boat, doped up to the eyeballs with religion, sex and tv and cannot function because of a world full of fear in the media (think of the 'war on terror' for example).
I think it's important to grasp what John is saying here, because he felt compelled to write on this subject several times on many of his famous songs (Revolution is one that springs to mind from his Beatle years). In addition to his scarily accurate songs of social commentary, it features 'Love' - so simple, yet the most succinct lyrics on the subject ever. It's been a longtime favourite of mine on this album. On jarring rock songs like I Found Out, Remember, and Well Well Well, John is speaking with a clarity and honesty so refreshing -which culminates in God - you only need to believe in yourself, your world, and that's reality. Forget about all the idols and ideologies surrounding you, it's all rubbish. it's like after the crazy world of living the Beatle life and the cult of personality attached, suddenly John flicked a switch and realised that none of that stuff brings meaning to life. It must be like having a great weight lifted off his shoulders. He did that whole Janov primal screaming thing, cut his hair short, it was obviously a time of great personal change for him. It's a top album. Down to the bone.
