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John Sinclair Lyrics
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 gave him ten for two
What else can the judges do?
Gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta set him free
If he'd been a soldier man
Shooting gooks in Vietnam
If he was the CIA
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
What else can the judges do?
Gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta set him free
They gave him ten for two
They got Ali Otis too.
Gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta 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?
Gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta set him free
John Sinclair is cool! I met him a few weeks ago at the Hash Bash in Ann Arbor, and got a signed copy of his newest book of poetry. He is originally from the Flint, Michigan area. He was one of the leaders of the late sixties counterculture in Ann Arbor/Detroit, and currently lives in New Orleans.
Anyway, you know you must be important when John Lennon writes a song for you! Yes, Sinclair was originally sentenced to ten years in prison for giving an undercover cop two joints (that's where the "ten for two" comes from). There was a "Free John Sinclair" rally at Crisler Arena (University of Michigan basketball arena) featuring John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Phil Ochs, and Allen Ginsberg among others.
On April 15 2009 John played a show to launch his new book IT'S ALL GOOD at Filthy Macnasty's Whiskey Cafe in Islington. Accompanying him were Charles Shaar Murray, Gary Laminn and Buffalo Bill Smith on Harmonica.
On April 15 2009 John played a show to launch his new book IT'S ALL GOOD at Filthy Macnasty's Whiskey Cafe in Islington. Accompanying him were Charles Shaar Murray, Gary Laminn and Buffalo Bill Smith on Harmonica.
In September and October of 2009, John Sinclair had two surgeries in Detroit, MI USA to repair a hammer toe problem. He plans to return to Europe in November after recovering.
In September and October of 2009, John Sinclair had two surgeries in Detroit, MI USA to repair a hammer toe problem. He plans to return to Europe in November after recovering.
As of late November 2009, John is serving as "High Priest" at the 22nd Annual Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam.
As of late November 2009, John is serving as "High Priest" at the 22nd Annual Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam.
Jul 1969 - Sinclair had been sentenced to prison in July 1969 for 10 years -- he'd been busted for possession of two marijuana cigarettes. (Hence the John Lennon lyric in "John Sinclair": "They gave him ten for two...what else can the judges do?") Amazingly, three days after the John Sinclair Freedom Rally, John Sinclair was freed.
Those were the days, when things could get done like that.
Can't believe there aren't more comments on this song! I love it - One of my faves from Lennon. <3
I don't know of anyone these days who can write like that.
Hey taffurs888 it should be 10 for 1 right?? 10 years for 1 stoopid comment. lol ignoramus.
I saw the movie "Grass" which said that this song is about John Sinclair who got a sentence of ten years of two joints. Total bullshit if you ask me.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JohnSinclair%28poet%29
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JohnSinclair%28poet%29
You sir, are an ignoramus...
You sir, are an ignoramus...