In light of Nas coming out with an album called Ni***r.....I came across an interesting song from John Lennon. Tell me your thoughts on this song. Here are the lyrics:


Woman is the Ni***r of the World
John Lennon



Woman is the Ni***r of the world
Yes she is...think about it
Woman is the Ni***r of the world
Think about it...do something about it

We make her paint her face and dance
If she won’t be slave, we say that she don’t love us
If she’s real, we say she’s trying to be a man
While putting her down we pretend that she is above us

Woman is the Ni***r of the world...yes she is
If you don’t belive me take a look to the one you’re with
Woman is the slaves of the slaves
Ah yeah...better screem about it

We make her bear and raise our children
And then we leave her flat for being a fat old mother then
We tell her home is the only place she would be
Then we complain that she’s too unworldly to be our friend

Woman is the Ni***r of the world...yes she is
If you don’t belive me take a look to the one you’re with
Woman is the slaves of the slaves
Yeah (think about it)

We insult her everyday on TV
And wonder why she has no guts or confidence
When she’s young we kill her will to be free
While telling her not to be so smart we put her down for being so dumb

Woman is the Ni***r of the world...yes she is
If you don’t belive me take a look to the one you’re with
Woman is the slaves of the slaves
Yes she is...if you belive me, you better screem about it.

We make her paint her face and dance
We make her paint her face and dance
We make her paint her face and dance

See John and Yoko discuss it here: http://www.youtube.com/wa...5lMxWWK218
[Edited 2/10/08 19:49pm]

so what does this have to do with nas again?

Nas has an album called Ni***r coming out soon so I just thought this may be relevant to some .

Frederick96 said:

Also check out a track by John Mellencamp called "cuttin heads" from 2001 from the album of the same name, it features a very telling RAP by Chuck D, one of his best ever.

This is the most random thread ever.

I think maybe this was more about the use of the word "Nigger" in popular music. Maybe better in P&R?

Would it be out of order if I dare to say that John Lennon is my n***a?!?

I've known about this song by looking at John's albums while in the wrecka stow but have never heard it played. After reading the lyrics provided, DAMN, that song is pretty deep and challenging. For all the people who called John a late blooming hippy and sad sack for his views, I doubt many could have written something as profound as this, whether it was a song or editorial article. I need to hear it played to see if it has the same impact on me as reading it does.

UncleGrandpa said:

http://www.youtube.com/wa...S78MX8Zmdk
[Edited 2/11/08 14:05pm]

It was actually a line that Yoko came up with.

I think it's outdated & inappropriate, and the song is ugly, but the sentiment is right on.

It's really more of a comment on women (which I completely agree with) but it makes that comment via the use of a word that should not be used IMO.

Thanks emilio for the link. What resonates most about the song is that word and all of its vileness, its stinging and bite is as potent today as it was thirtyeight years ago, 100 years ago, 500 years ago and now in the 21st century. Such sexism is as alive today as it was then, just visit many of the Middle Eastern nations to find that out.

Captivating wives?

NDRU said:

I don't think it's inappropriate at all. How else would you word it?

i think it's yet to be seen if lennon and nas have something in common. john used that word in a song because he (and yoko, if indeed she did originally coin the phrase) was trying to make a point, and part of that point was to use a strong, provocative word to emphasize that point. i don't think lennon used that word irresponsibly. we've yet to see what nas has going on with his new album, and if he's made as strong of a statement or if he's just out for attention.

meow85 said:

Well, saying "woman is the slave to the slave" is a bit less specific and potentially offensive. Of course it's not as provocative.

Keep in mind that I'm a huge Lennon fan and think it's a powerful song (even an amazing line, honestly), but wouldn't like someone to make the same statement today.

It's not that it's wrong in and of itself, but it runs the risk of using the derogatory and inflammatory nature of the word to make a point about women. It's almost as if he's defending women at the expence of offending another group of people.

Again, the heart is in the right place and I agree with it, I just don't know if the execution is something that would really fly today.

I thought the only thing in common between them was that they both married a woman nobody else really could think of marrying.

John Lennon was a man who sung about real issues. Nas does too on some levels but he likes to talk about money, cash and bitches (or hos) too. It's like there's no equal-level playing feel with him. He's in the same category as 2Pac as someone who preaches to the choir but no one really hears him. Until this album comes out, I'm gonna say Nas and John have nothing in common.

A black man using a still negative racial epithet just for promotion - the dumbest shit ever.

novabrkr said:

You can say that again. Kelis ain't a good looker.

Well, I was thinking more in the sense that they both seem to be sort of crazy and "in touch with their femininity" in a way that the vast majority of males would not find terribly attractive

Kelis looks like a rather normal-looking chick to me however. And at least John never married a one-legged model.

TonyVanDam said:

yeah it would in honor of Black History Month!!!

anyway it was a nice poem

NDRU said:

Agree to disagree, I guess. Woman is slave to the slave. That applies to everyone of course, it's not specific to blacks -that's just the most potent word in our culture to hammer the point home.

meow85 said:

no I agree! I think that's just what I was saying (if I'm reading you right), that slave is a more general term than the n word, and more likely to get its point across than trying to tap dance around the use of the racially offensive term.

NDRU said:

N*gger is a more culturally potent word than slave is though. I'm not sure saying "woman is the slave of the world" would've driven the point home the way John intended. Shock tactics, yes, but sometimes that's what it takes.

23 posts is a good amount for such a random topic...


[Edited 2/16/08 15:19pm]