Woman Is the Nigger of the World
Encyclopedia
"Woman Is the Nigger of the World" is a song written by John Lennon
& Yoko Ono
and recorded by John Lennon. It was released as a single
on Apple Records in the United States (Apple 1848) and in New Zealand and Japan, but was withdrawn from release in Britain. It peaked at #57 on the Billboard Hot 100
, making it the lowest charting single released in Lennon's lifetime. It is featured on the album Some Time in New York City
.
". The song describes women's subservience to men and male chauvinism
across all cultures. It was banned from radio and BBC
airplay because of the word 'nigger
'. Many prominent black people, including comedian Dick Gregory
(whose own autobiography was titled Nigger
) spoke out in defence of the song. Another supporter, Congressman
Ron Dellums
, stated, "If you define 'nigger' as someone whose lifestyle is defined by others, whose opportunities are defined by others, whose role in society is defined by others, the good news is that you don't have to be black to be a nigger in this society. Most of the people in America are niggers."
In a 1972 interview on The Dick Cavett Show
, John Lennon stated that Irish revolutionary James Connolly
was an inspiration for the song. Lennon quoted Connolly's 'the female is the slave of the slave' in explaining the pro-feminist inspiration behind the song.
on The Dick Cavett Show
in May 1972. Because of the controversial title, ABC asked Dick Cavett to apologise to the audience in advance for the song's content, otherwise the performance would not have been shown. In 2005, the interview and performance were released on DVD as part of The Dick Cavett Show: John & Yoko Collection.
An edited version of the song was included on the 1975 compilation album Shaved Fish
. It was also included on Working Class Hero: The Definitive Lennon and the Gimme Some Truth
box set.
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
& Yoko Ono
Yoko Ono
is a Japanese artist, musician, author and peace activist, known for her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking as well as her marriage to John Lennon...
and recorded by John Lennon. It was released as a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
on Apple Records in the United States (Apple 1848) and in New Zealand and Japan, but was withdrawn from release in Britain. It peaked at #57 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, making it the lowest charting single released in Lennon's lifetime. It is featured on the album Some Time in New York City
Some Time in New York City
Some Time in New York City was released in 1972 and is John Lennon's third post-Beatles album, fifth with Yoko Ono, and third with producer Phil Spector...
.
Meaning
The phrase was originally coined by Yoko Ono during a magazine interview in 1969. Lennon was proud that it was the first women's rights song before "I Am WomanI Am Woman
"I Am Woman" is a song cowritten by Helen Reddy and singer/songwriter/guitarist Ray Burton and performed by Reddy. Released in its most well-known version in 1970, the song became an enduring anthem for the women’s liberation movement.-Success:...
". The song describes women's subservience to men and male chauvinism
Chauvinism
Chauvinism, in its original and primary meaning, is an exaggerated, bellicose patriotism and a belief in national superiority and glory. It is an eponym of a possibly fictional French soldier Nicolas Chauvin who was credited with many superhuman feats in the Napoleonic wars.By extension it has come...
across all cultures. It was banned from radio and BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
airplay because of the word 'nigger
Nigger
Nigger is a noun in the English language, most notable for its usage in a pejorative context to refer to black people , and also as an informal slang term, among other contexts. It is a common ethnic slur...
'. Many prominent black people, including comedian Dick Gregory
Dick Gregory
Richard Claxton "Dick" Gregory is an American comedian, social activist, social critic, writer, and entrepreneur....
(whose own autobiography was titled Nigger
Nigger (1964 book)
Nigger: An Autobiography by Dick Gregory is an autobiography by comedian and social activist Dick Gregory, published in 1964 by E.P. Dutton, and reprinted by Pocket Books from 1965 to present. The book was co-authored by Robert Lipsyte...
) spoke out in defence of the song. Another supporter, Congressman
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Ron Dellums
Ron Dellums
Ronald Vernie "Ron" Dellums served as Oakland's forty-fifth mayor. From 1971 to 1998, he was elected to thirteen terms as a Member of the U.S...
, stated, "If you define 'nigger' as someone whose lifestyle is defined by others, whose opportunities are defined by others, whose role in society is defined by others, the good news is that you don't have to be black to be a nigger in this society. Most of the people in America are niggers."
In a 1972 interview on The Dick Cavett Show
The Dick Cavett Show
The Dick Cavett Show has been the title of several talk shows hosted by Dick Cavett on various television networks, including:* ABC daytime ...
, John Lennon stated that Irish revolutionary James Connolly
James Connolly
James Connolly was an Irish republican and socialist leader. He was born in the Cowgate area of Edinburgh, Scotland, to Irish immigrant parents and spoke with a Scottish accent throughout his life. He left school for working life at the age of 11, but became one of the leading Marxist theorists of...
was an inspiration for the song. Lennon quoted Connolly's 'the female is the slave of the slave' in explaining the pro-feminist inspiration behind the song.
Reissues and live performance
Lennon and Ono performed the song with the band Elephant's MemoryElephant's Memory
Elephant's Memory was a New York band, most notable for backing John Lennon and Yoko Ono during 1972 on a pair of albums, and a handful of TV and live appearances, including the John Lennon "One To One Concert", with two performances the 30th of August 1972 to benefit the Willowbrook School for...
on The Dick Cavett Show
The Dick Cavett Show
The Dick Cavett Show has been the title of several talk shows hosted by Dick Cavett on various television networks, including:* ABC daytime ...
in May 1972. Because of the controversial title, ABC asked Dick Cavett to apologise to the audience in advance for the song's content, otherwise the performance would not have been shown. In 2005, the interview and performance were released on DVD as part of The Dick Cavett Show: John & Yoko Collection.
An edited version of the song was included on the 1975 compilation album Shaved Fish
Shaved Fish
The year the album was released, a Creem magazine reader's poll included it among the top five "Best Reissues" of 1975, placing fourth, behind two Rolling Stones compilations, Made in the Shade and Metamorphosis, and The Basement Tapes....
. It was also included on Working Class Hero: The Definitive Lennon and the Gimme Some Truth
Gimme Some Truth (album)
Gimme Some Truth is a box set containing four themed discs of remastered John Lennon songs. The themes of the albums include "Working Class Hero", John’s socio-political songs; "Woman", John’s love songs; "Borrowed Time", John’s songs about life and "Roots", John's rock 'n' roll roots and...
box set.