John Sinclair (John Lennon cover)

Blind Melon

It ain't fair, John Sinclair
In the stir for breathing air
Won't you care for John Sinclair
In the stir for breathing air
Let him be, set him free
Let him be like you and me

They give him number two
What else can the judges do
Got to, got to, got to, got to set him free

If he'd been a soldier man
Shooting Gooks in Vietnam
If he was the C-I-A
Selling dope and making hay
He'd be free, they'd let him be
Breathing air, like you and me

They gave him ten for two
They got Ali Otis too
Got to, got to, got to, got to set him free

Was he jailed for what he done
Or representing everyone
Free John now, if we can
From the clutches of the man
Let him be, lift the lid
Bring him to his wife and kids

They gave him ten for two
What else can the bastards do
Got to, got to, got to, got to
Got to, got to, got to, got to set him free


Lyrics submitted by bubbrock316

John Sinclair Lyrics as written by John Winston Lennon

Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing

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John Sinclair (John Lennon cover) song meanings
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3 Comments

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  • 0
    General Commentumm........i believe this is a john lennon song. did they do a cover or something?
    ultraviolet420on January 02, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis is my least favorite Blind Melon song off of all 3 albums, but it has a great story. Yes it is a John Lennon song. Lennon wrote it as a protest song when John Sinclaire got charged ten years for two joints. Sinclaire didnt do all of the time because of the public scrutiny surrounding the case and it became a big case back in the late 60s. Shannon Hoon had some bad habits, but he was famous for being an advocate (advocate is the wrong word...but am no wordsmith) for the illegal plant. Unfortunately he didnt just stick to the weed and he began taking drugs that could kill him...and they did.
    If you ever see Blind Melon Videos or DVDs you can see his evolution/downward spiral from when he was a stoner with long hair, hippie beads, and an occasional beard--- to his last months on the Soup tour when he had short Matt Damon hair, wore black eye make up, and would put tin foil on his head or draw skeleton bone outlines on his hands. The music went from happier stoner rock to darker, deeper, bittersweet songs with alot of pain and emotion but always had that Shannon Hoon hopefullness. He was a great man and Blind Melon was a great band!
    Bellyfull of Swanson January 14, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentIs it just me, or does got to go, got to go, got to go, seem as if its waving...goodbye? Hm. Visuals to support the meaning. Interesting...but, yep, a cover and imho, a better one just as Blister in The Sun. Could be mostly and basically for their revivalism of yonder days back in my day.
    idgyon December 29, 2011   Link

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