Words by Riley Fitzgerald
Graphic by Press

Johnny Depp has covered John Lennon‘s ‘Working Class Hero’ at climate benefit concert Pathway To Paris Earth Day 50.

The song, one the Beatles‘ most autobiographical works, originally appeared on John Lennon’s debut solo album Plastic Ono Band in 1970.

“I think it’s a revolutionary song,” Lennon shared of the song to Rolling Stone in 1970, “I think it’s for the people like me who are working class, who are supposed to be processed into the middle classes, or into the machinery. It’s my experience, and I hope it’s just a warning to people.”

The song did not just detail Lennon’s childhood and politics but expressed his feelings about fame.

“I was thinking about all the pain and torture that you go through on stage to get love from the audience,” Lennon explained in another interview. “You get up there and like Aunt Sally you get things thrown at you… I might just well have been a comedian getting egg thrown on their face… How often do you think the Beatles enjoyed a show?” 

Depp’s cover follows the release of another Lennon cover from Plastic Ono Band, ‘Isolation‘ last week – the first track from an upcoming Johnny Depp covers album created in collaboration with noted British guitarist Jeff Beck.

(Lennon’s Plastic Ono Band is rumored to be receiving a 50th-anniversary reissue later this year.)

Depp’s admiration of John Lennon is not his only Beatles connection,

The actor has also appeared in a number of Paul McCartney’s music videos, including 2014’s ‘Early Days’, 2012’s ‘My Valentine’ and 2013’s ‘Queenie Eye‘.

McCartney would return the favor in 2017 by appearing as the uncle of Depp’s most famous screen character Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribian series’ fifth installment Dead Men Tell No Tales.

Johnny sang John Lennon's 'Working Class Hero'

Thank you Johnny, your performance resonated with my heart! #JohnnyDepp#pathway2Paris pic.twitter.com/sj50qnionj

— Pomta🐾⚔️⚖️ (@pomta5426) April 26, 2020