Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking For A Hand In The Snow)

Album: Fly (1969)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song might best be described as a cacophony. Written by Yoko Ono, it was recorded live at the Varsity Stadium, Toronto on September 13, 1969. Kyoko is Ono's daughter by her second husband, Anthony Cox.
  • At the beginning of the track, Ono shouts, "Britain, you killed Hanratty you murderer!" And Hanratty was...?

    James Hanratty was hanged in April 1962, one of the last men in the UK to suffer judicial execution before the death penalty was abolished in practice and then years later in theory. A lot could be written about this case but basically, in August 1961, Hanratty kidnapped Michael Gregsten and Valerie Storie at gunpoint, shot Gregsten in the head, raped Miss Storie, emptied his gun into her, and then drove off in Gregsten's car. Incredibly, Miss Storie survived although she was paralyzed for life.

    The A6 Murder was one of the most notorious homicides of its day, and the case against Hanratty was a lot stronger than is generally believed. At trial he produced not one but two false alibis. After his execution, the waters were muddied considerably by a false confession from the first suspect, Peter Alphon; the mischief making of the inaptly named failed lawyer Jean Justice; and the self-serving "researches" of Paul Foot, who was anything but a working class hero.

    John Lennon was one of the people who was fooled by this contrived nonsense, and actually financed a 35-minute documentary about the case; Did Britain Murder Hanratty? was produced by Apple Films. Forty years after its screening, and more than 20 years after Lennon's own murder, the Court of Appeal dismissed Hanratty's posthumous appeal when DNA testing on the original trial exhibits from 1962 and Hanratty's exhumed corpse proved he had raped Valerie Storie, and was therefore guilty as charged. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2
  • This was released as the B-side of John Lennon's song "Cold Turkey" - the single was credited to the Plastic Ono Band. "Don't Worry Kyoko" later appeared on Ono's 1971 solo album, Fly.

Comments: 1

  • Pedro from PortugalWow. The first 2 minutes are really good, but then gets boring. But i liked it. I came here because I love B-52s , and the girls were influenced by yoko.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.