Woman Is The Ni--er Of The World by John Lennon

Album: Some Time in New York City (1972)

Charted: 57

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John Lennon dared to use the n-word in the title to this 1972 song, which at the time was (for the most part) not deemed to be racist, nor was it his intent. He was making a point that women deserved higher status in society.
It was John Lennon's wife, Yoko Ono, who coined the phrase "woman is the ni--er of the world." She said it in a 1969 interview they did with a UK magazine called Nova that was published in 1969. They made the cover with these quotes:

John Lennon: "I've been black, been a Jew, been a woman."
Yoko Ono: "Woman is the ni--er of the world."
John Lennon and Yoko Ono wrote this song together. Being from Japan, she had an outsider perspective on how women were treated in Western society, and John became more outspoken in his support for women's rights. The song makes the case that women are downright oppressed:

We make her bear and raise our children
And then we leave her flat for being a fat old mother hen
Yoko shared her thoughts on this song in a 1984 interview with Musician magazine: "I think John was proud that that was the first feminist song written by a man. We didn't write together very often; maybe we were both strong characters, but it didn't seem to work. One of us would write fast and then the other would feel, 'aren't I participating too?' Anyway, I don't think 'Woman' is lyrically artistic, it was just a message. I did witness women listening to it and crying. It did have some effect."
Most radio stations steered clear of this song for obvious reasons, but remarkably, it charted in America, going to #57 because enough people bought the single. And yes, in trade publications like Billboard, the title was unabridged.
The song is the only single from John Lennon's album Some Time in New York City, a collaboration with Yoko. It's filled with protest songs, but nothing as harmonious as "Imagine," released the previous year. The album sold poorly, but that's to be expected when the single has the n-word in the title. Lennon's next album, Mind Games, was released in 1973 and was less inflammatory. The title track was a modest hit. His 1974 album Walls And Bridges gave him a #1 hit with "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night."
Lennon didn't release a censored version of this song - that wasn't his style. An edited version appears on his 1975 Shaved Fish compilation, but the edit just makes the song shorter, cutting it down from the original 5:15 run time.
In 1972, white guys weren't exactly comfortable saying the n-word in erudition but they would sometimes do it if they thought their intentions were good. Surprisingly, John and Yoko were allowed to perform the song on The Dick Cavett Show, which aired on ABC. The show was pre-recorded, and before it aired, Cavett appeared on screen with a disclaimer where he explained:

"At this point in the show, which was taped a week ago, John and Yoko got into a highly controversial issue that revolves around the song 'Woman Is The Ni--er Of The World.' [yep, he said it on national TV.] Some members of our Black audience will or may be offended by the use of that word. In the next segment, John Lennon gives his reasons for writing the song and for using the word. I permitted this insertion into the show as the only alternative to a full deletion by ABC of the segment. Watch it, let us know what you think."

Lennon often shared his political views on the show, and he did so in this appearance. Here's what he said:

"A lot of stations were saying, we're not going to play this because it says ni--er and a white man shouldn't say it. All my black friends feel I have quite a right to say it because they understand it."

Lennon then read a statement from California Congressman Ron Dellums, who was head of the Congressional Black Caucus:

If you define ni--er as someone whose lifestyle is defined by others, whose opportunities are defined by others, whose role in society is defined by others, then good news, you don't have to be black to be a ni--er in this society. Most of the people in America are ni--ers.

Lennon added:

"I think the word ni--er has changed. It does not have the same meaning as it used to and I think he put it very succinctly. I really believe women have the worst."
Lennon isn't the only famous white singer to use the n-word in a song title. In 1978 Patti Smith released "Rock N Roll Ni--er" on her album Easter. Like Lennon, Smith could be very provocative. Her song has a similar theme, dealing with the way women are devalued and degraded.

Comments: 16

Mr. Henderson from BishopsgateDid John Lennon really say the gamer word!?
Actual Ni--er from Sumer, Mesopotamia"his phrase was not at the time deemed to be racist" The N Word has always been racist !
AnonymousThe Sheriff is a "Ni--er"!!!!!!!! LOL I'm part African American, and I went rounds with my brother telling him Lennon was not being racist, that "Ni--er" meant oppressed in Europe.
Lily from EnglandAs a white women I believe that this song has many meanings and shows the hardships that women had to face and still do to this day. However, the n word that John Lennon uses is a racial slur and was used to oppress black people and other minorities. So when black people use it, it is a form of respect and a way to greet one another. But when white people say it, we know that there will always be a double meaning behind it. Therefore, even though this song is about women, it is still very disrespectful towards others in my opinion.
James Tate from Los AngelesI know John meant well but Blacks and Womens Rights are totally different. For one Women were never forcibly put into slavery, unless they were Black. Women never had to sit in the back of the bus, unless they were Black. I understand that Women have and had to go through a lot but the struggle is different.
Jeff from Largo, FlThis song, more than anything, opened my eyes to the women's movement. I heard it first in the late 70's while in high school. I heard it on the "Shaved Fish" compilation album. I am a proud feminist today and I trace it back to this song and how it woke me up to how we treat women in the world, and this is still true today so much.
Dave from St Paul, MnI too "dig" what the message was. But did Lennon need to be provocative as such to get his point across? Sometimes I think he stirred the pot just for attention. 40 years later, people still respond to messages but ignore the messages, much less change things for the betterment of all in this world. But his misogynist record was louder and people choose to overlook that. It's all a song and dance on his part.
Garry from Corby, United Kingdomhe wasn't bieng racist, the "N" word especially in uk is synonamous with the lowest most oppressed form of something in a society,and really has no choice in the matter so women were deemed to be treated this way back in the day, the irish were refered to as "white ni--ers" in the uk because of the way they were percieved and treated with really no choice, they had to take any job they could to survive etc, as a result the irish work ethic is the greatest there is, thankfully those days are over. So it's a song bout how we treat women in society with a word that comes straight out of the slave trade.
Randy from Houghton Lake, MiI sang this to my wife at our wedding. It was a beautiful moment
Breanna from Henderson, NvYou know if you actually listen to this song, it's not really racist. It's a good song that people just get all mad about the title, then again not the first time John got people mad over one of his songs, the song "God" was another one that alot of people don't like.
Mlb from Washington, DcShameful Mendacity The word should be outlawed.
Kevin from Reading , PaI never liked this song, bad title or not. The entire "Sometime in NYC" album remains, for me, a low point in John's career. A lot of bad songs, an obnxious backing band (Elephants Memory from where else, NYC) and, last but certainly not least, Yoko's caterwauling. What an absolute mess.
Musicmama from New York, NyAnother great song from John! If you listen to this song and think about what John is saying with it, you can understand, I think, why African-Americans, particularly the young, call each other "Nigga." It's a recognition of the suffering and other experiences they have in common. In a way, John Lennon does that with "Woman is The Ni--er of the World." If you "dig" that, as John might've said, you can also say that the Irish were long the "ni--ers" of the British Isles, the Quebecois are the "ni--ers" of Canada and those of Korean ancestry are the "ni--ers" of Japan. And, although I'm as white as can be, being a transgender woman makes me a "ni--er" in some ways.
Renee from Bloomington, MnThe first time I ever heard of this song was when I was watching the Dick Cavett DVD's of his interviews with John and Yoko. I never thought it was racist and definitely don't feel there is anything meant to be demeaning about it. Of course, I never knew him personally but from what I know of John Lennon I think he was anything but racist.
Michaela from Brooklyn, NyI'm a 20 year old black women and never even heard this song.when I saw the title i was a little mad and curious.then I looked at the meaning of the song.I like the fact that he thought about women maybe, my kind.As an African-Carribean American,or a black young women,I'd like to say that I'm black and proud.
Kenne from Phoenix, AzThe song lambasts the perceived traditional role of woman's subservience to man across all cultures. It was banned from radio airplay because of the word 'ni--er' although many prominent blacks, including black comedian Dick Gregory, spoke out in defense of the song.

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