Instant Karma, by John Lennon, and The Story Behind The Song

Instant Karma, by John Lennon, and the Story Behind the Song

One of John Lennon’s ambitions was to write a song on Monday, record it on Tuesday, have it pressed on Wednesday, and in the shops for sale on Friday. He came very close to realizing that dream with ‘Instant Karma’, one of his first solo recordings without the Beatles, the rock band he formed and was most famous for. Created in a rapid fire blur, it serves as a good example of his fast, reactive method of song writing and working. It topped the national charts in England at no. 5, which is quite an accomplishment considering he wrote it, formed a band to record it, made an agreement with legendary recording producer Phil Spector to produce it, and released it to the public on 6 February 1970, barely two weeks after it was written.

Typical of John Lennon’s desire for the immediate in all things, The Hindu doctrine of karma as the actions of any individual over many life times affecting his or hers ultimate spiritual fate many, many life times later, was not the interesting part to him. Instead, he was struck by the implication that our actions today could have an effect on our immediate future, perhaps instantly, hence the title, “Instant Karma.” Fascinated by the “get it now” language of advertising, he liked the idea of selling ‘Instant Karma’ in the same way instant coffee is sold. The message was take responsibility for the world now, not later, and that stardom is a quality all humans possess, whether we are famous or not , and that we all have the potential for spiritual brilliance. It is not the gift of an elite;”We all shine on.”

But ‘Instant Karma’ and its quick completion, had a wider purpose than huge instant record sales. John wanted to change people’s minds. “The government can do it with propaganda.” he reasoned, “Coca-Cola can do it with propaganda, businessmen do it with propaganda, why not you and me?” The aim of ‘Instant Karma’ he insisted, was to breathe belief into people. “All we are trying to say to the world is ‘You’re gonna be great’,” he asserted. He penned the song, formed a band of musicians to record it with a quickly assigned producer and had it in the shops and on the top of the record charts at lightning speed, which is the way he preferred to do everything he did. ‘Instant Karma’ was “instant” in every way.