Let Me Hear Your Balalaikas Ringing Out


Yoko Ono



Party at Allen Klein’s house


Capp: Now you have a song and one of the lines, and correct me if it isn’t: “Christ, it ain’t easy. Everywhere I go, they’re gonna crucify me.” John: Rubbish. I didn’t say it. The lyric goes: “Christ, you know it ain’t easy. You know how hard it can be. The way things are going, they’re gonna crucify me.” And you, baby. Capp: This isn’t my song. These don’t express my… Yoko: We are all together in this world. Let’s face it. You and I are married together in this world. You see, it’s like being stuck in… Capp: -That is a very unkind thought to plant in my mind. I want to tell you that this may stay with me and I’ll wake up screaming. This is not true. You say that to him, not to me. Yoko: That’s your paranoia. Everybody’s married in this world… Capp: -No, it’s just a matter of taste. John: What do you want to know? Capp: In the lyric, you said they were going to crucify you. John: -Yeah. If you take it literally. Capp: How did you mean it? John: They’re gonna crucify me and you and everyone else. Capp: But you said, “They’re going to crucify me.” John: If you’re gonna take it literally. Me is you. Me… And I say that we’re all one. Capp: I didn’t permit you to speak for me. Who are you speaking for? John: I took that liberty, Mr. Capp. I was speaking on behalf of the people in general, in a poetic sense. As a representative of the human race I’m speaking for us all whether you like it or not. Capp: Whatever race you’re the representative of, I ain’t part of it. Maybe yours is the human race and mine is something less hirsute. But whatever race, it’s your race. You belong to a race on your own. Yoko: Everybody in this room represents humanity. Everybody in this room. Capp: No, you don’t represent me, though. You don’t write songs for me. I want to make that clear to all of Canada. Especially for you. I’ll let Kate Smith sing my songs. John: Who do you write your cartoons for?                   Capp: I write my cartoons for money. Just as you sing your songs. Exactly the same reason. And exactly the same reason much of this is happening, too, if the truth be told. John: You think I couldn’t earn money by some other way by sitting in bed for seven days, taking shit from people like you? I could write a song in an hour and earn more money. Capp: You got into bed so people like me could come and see you. John: But not for money, that’s what you’re saying. I could earn money in more easier way than doing this. Capp: So could I. I could make a lot more drawing people like you, than confronting you. And I must say it’s much more appetizing drawing them… because I can leave them. John: I prefer singing to doing this but I’m doing this for a good reason. Capp: What you’ve just done is when you said:”Taking shit from people like you.” Now, I was invited here. You knew I was coming. John: Yeah, sure. That’s right. But we’re not doing it for money. Capp: You haven’t any manners at all. John: And you have manners? Capp: I’m your guest. And, really even if… Yoko: Mr. Capp, may I say one thing? Capp: I’d be delighted with any conversation. Yoko: Okay. I’d like to add to that… Capp: -Good God, you’ve gotta live with that? John: Nice guy!                   Capp: I can see why you want peace. God knows you can’t have much. I’m delighted to have met you, Madame Nu. John: It was great meeting you, Barabbas. Capp: But I’m sure the other three guys are Englishmen. John: What does that mean? Capp: You think about it. Derek: -Get out! John: I’ll try to work it. Now, Derek. Capp: Oh, really, come on! Derek: But I’m not having these people insulting you. John: Leave it. We asked him here. He’s right. Derek: Ok, forgive me. Capp: Look, Derek, it’s not for me to forgive you, it’s for your psychiatrist. John: (singing) Christ, you know it ain’t easy You know how hard it can be 

Capp: Now you have a song and one of the lines, and correct me if it isn’t: “Christ, it ain’t easy. Everywhere I go, they’re gonna crucify me.”

John: Rubbish. I didn’t say it. The lyric goes: “Christ, you know it ain’t easy. You know how hard it can be. The way things are going, they’re gonna crucify me.” And you, baby.

Capp: This isn’t my song. These don’t express my…

Yoko: We are all together in this world. Let’s face it. You and I are married together in this world. You see, it’s like being stuck in…

Capp: -That is a very unkind thought to plant in my mind. I want to tell you that this may stay with me and I’ll wake up screaming. This is not true. You say that to him, not to me.

Yoko: That’s your paranoia. Everybody’s married in this world…

Capp: -No, it’s just a matter of taste.

John: What do you want to know?

Capp: In the lyric, you said they were going to crucify you.

John: -Yeah. If you take it literally.

Capp: How did you mean it?

John: They’re gonna crucify me and you and everyone else.

Capp: But you said, “They’re going to crucify me.”

John: If you’re gonna take it literally. Me is you. Me… And I say that we’re all one.

Capp: I didn’t permit you to speak for me. Who are you speaking for?

John: I took that liberty, Mr. Capp. I was speaking on behalf of the people in general, in a poetic sense. As a representative of the human race I’m speaking for us all whether you like it or not.

Capp: Whatever race you’re the representative of, I ain’t part of it. Maybe yours is the human race and mine is something less hirsute. But whatever race, it’s your race. You belong to a race on your own.

Yoko: Everybody in this room represents humanity. Everybody in this room.

Capp: No, you don’t represent me, though. You don’t write songs for me. I want to make that clear to all of Canada. Especially for you. I’ll let Kate Smith sing my songs.

John: Who do you write your cartoons for?                  

Capp: I write my cartoons for money. Just as you sing your songs. Exactly the same reason. And exactly the same reason much of this is happening, too, if the truth be told.

John: You think I couldn’t earn money by some other way by sitting in bed for seven days, taking shit from people like you? I could write a song in an hour and earn more money.

Capp: You got into bed so people like me could come and see you.

John: But not for money, that’s what you’re saying. I could earn money in more easier way than doing this.

Capp: So could I. I could make a lot more drawing people like you, than confronting you. And I must say it’s much more appetizing drawing them… because I can leave them.

John: I prefer singing to doing this but I’m doing this for a good reason.

Capp: What you’ve just done is when you said:”Taking shit from people like you.” Now, I was invited here. You knew I was coming.

John: Yeah, sure. That’s right. But we’re not doing it for money.

Capp: You haven’t any manners at all.

John: And you have manners?

Capp: I’m your guest. And, really even if…

Yoko: Mr. Capp, may I say one thing?

Capp: I’d be delighted with any conversation.

Yoko: Okay. I’d like to add to that…

Capp: -Good God, you’ve gotta live with that?

John: Nice guy!                  

Capp: I can see why you want peace. God knows you can’t have much. I’m delighted to have met you, Madame Nu.

John: It was great meeting you, Barabbas.

Capp: But I’m sure the other three guys are Englishmen.

John: What does that mean?

Capp: You think about it.

Derek: -Get out!

John: I’ll try to work it. Now, Derek.

Capp: Oh, really, come on!

Derek: But I’m not having these people insulting you.

John: Leave it. We asked him here. He’s right.

Derek: Ok, forgive me.

Capp: Look, Derek, it’s not for me to forgive you, it’s for your psychiatrist.

John: (singing) Christ, you know it ain’t easy You know how hard it can be 



John watching a film of the Beatles performing “Some Other Guy” at the Cavern.


Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell returned to her native New York to celebrate their nuptials in style with close friends.




Reporter: Think of the word “Children” John: Er, missing. I think in one word you know, ‘missing’, that’s it. See, our children are missing, as it were, from our lives - folks. Yoko: Capital letter, M. John: [To Yoko] How do you mean? Yoko: I mean Missing, in capital M. John: Oh yes, so we are Missing our children. Reporter: “Insecurity” John: It’s just fear, you know, it’s just, er, I can’t think of anything else about it except it’s fear. Yoko: Well money doesn’t solve insecurity, let’s put it that way. John: Money doesn’t solve it, and er, work doesn’t solve it, but work is the best cure for anything - really, you’ve no time to be insecure if you’re doing something. Yoko: Work is divine and whatever. John: When we’re not working we get pretty depressed, cus people think “What’s work to you? all gimmicks and events”, but gimmicks and events are work, it’s either brain work or physical work , it’s both. And then that hides the insecurity, or covers it. In fact it makes you secure because you’re not insecure when you’re working. You must know that. Reporter: “Death” John: I hope we both die together, one of our greatest fears is one dying before the other, even three minutes.

Reporter: Think of the word “Children” 
John: Er, missing. I think in one word you know, ‘missing’, that’s it. See, our children are missing, as it were, from our lives - folks. 
Yoko: Capital letter, M. 
John: [To Yoko] How do you mean? 
Yoko: I mean Missing, in capital M. 
John: Oh yes, so we are Missing our children. 
Reporter: “Insecurity” 
John: It’s just fear, you know, it’s just, er, I can’t think of anything else about it except it’s fear. 
Yoko: Well money doesn’t solve insecurity, let’s put it that way. 
John: Money doesn’t solve it, and er, work doesn’t solve it, but work is the best cure for anything - really, you’ve no time to be insecure if you’re doing something. 
Yoko: Work is divine and whatever. 
John: When we’re not working we get pretty depressed, cus people think “What’s work to you? all gimmicks and events”, but gimmicks and events are work, it’s either brain work or physical work , it’s both. And then that hides the insecurity, or covers it. In fact it makes you secure because you’re not insecure when you’re working. You must know that. 
Reporter: “Death” 
John: I hope we both die together, one of our greatest fears is one dying before the other, even three minutes.


“The simplest way of saying what Yoko is to me, and what I am to her is, that before we met we were half a person, you know. There is no myth about people being half and the other half being in the sky or in heaven or something, or the other side of the universe, or the mirror image bit. But er, we are two halves and together we are a whole.”

— John


Yoko: Well fortunately, erm, I suddenly came across the idea of doing that whispering piece again. 
John: Unfortunately, we did it yesterday and we could do it again today. 
Yoko: Well, in the end, probably we’ll do whispering piece many many many many times. Fortunately, erm, I’m in love with you. 
John: Unfortunately, I’m in love with you too. 
Yoko: But in the end I think we agree. 
John: Fortunately, we don’t know. 
Yoko: Unfortunately, we think we know. 
John: But in the end we’ll find out. 
Yoko: Unfortunately… 
John: No - Fortunately. 
Yoko: Yes fortunately, erm, fortunately, er, I think I’m sleepy enough tonight to go to sleep. 
John: Unfortunately, we’ll never sleep with all this going on. 
Yoko: In the end, we’ll have a nice dream. 
John: Fortunately that’s possible.



People say, “Why are you recording your life like a diary?” The thing is that, as a Beatle, every song and every album and every record and every film was a diary of who we were at the time. But we were in the dark about it till later. So when I got with Yoko we were able to turn a light on in the middle of the creation of it.