The Ballad of John & Yoko
You are going to hear a Beatles song called The Ballad of John and Yoko. A ballad is a song with a story. Do you know who John and Yoko are?
What are their surnames?
What do you know about them?
Watch & listen to the song
How much did you understand? What is the ballad about?
How much did you understand? What is the ballad about?
The Wedding of John & YokoOn March 12, 1969 Paul McCartney marries Linda Eastman. Two days later John and Yoko are in a car on their way to visit Aunt Mimi. Suddenly John says to his driver, 'I want us to get married at sea.'
They drive to the nearest big port, Southampton. This is where the The Ballad of John and Yoko begins:
Standing in the dock at Southampton,
Trying to get to Holland or France.
The man in the mac said, "You've got to go back".
You know they didn't even give us a chance.
In fact, the reason they must go back is that they don't have their passports. Lennon calls The Beatles' publicity officer, Peter Brown with a new plan for a quiet wedding Paris. That's impossible, too but:
Peter Brown called to say,
You can make it O.K.,
You can get married in Gibraltar, near Spain
Gibraltar is British territory on the Spanish mainland (not 'near Spain'). Spain was at the time under dictatorship of General Franco. He banned the song.
Try and answer these questions - without looking back at the text.
1. When did Paul and Linda get married?
a) March 1968 b) May 1968 c) March 1969 d) May 1969
2. Where were John and Yoko driving to?
a) John's Aunt Mimi's house b) Abbey Road c) Liverpool d) Southampton
3. Where did John first want to get married?
a) in Paris
b) in Gibralter
c) at sea
d) at the dock in Southampton
4. They could not get married in France because:
a) Yoko did not have a visa
b) John didn't have a visa
c) Neither had visas
d) Neither had passports
4. True or false:
They could get married in Gilbraltar.
6. True or false:
General Franco invited John and Yoko to Spain.
1. When did Paul and Linda get married?
a) March 1968 b) May 1968 c) March 1969 d) May 1969
2. Where were John and Yoko driving to?
a) John's Aunt Mimi's house b) Abbey Road c) Liverpool d) Southampton
3. Where did John first want to get married?
a) in Paris
b) in Gibralter
c) at sea
d) at the dock in Southampton
4. They could not get married in France because:
a) Yoko did not have a visa
b) John didn't have a visa
c) Neither had visas
d) Neither had passports
4. True or false:
They could get married in Gilbraltar.
6. True or false:
General Franco invited John and Yoko to Spain.
1. c) March 1969 2. a) John's Aunt Mimi's house 3. c) at sea 4. d) Neither had passports 5. True (because it was a British territory and so they did not need passports). 6. False: he banned the song.