NOW OR NEVER

Are we gonna keep pushing our children to drugs
Are we gonna keep driving them insane
Are we gonna keep laying empty words and fists
Are we gonna be remembered as the century that failed

People of America, when will we learn
It's now or never. There's no time to lose.

Are we gonna keep sending our youths to war
Are we gonna keep scarring ricefields and infants
Are we gonna keep watching dead bodies over dinner
Are we gonna be known as the century that kills

People of America, when will we stop
It's now or never, there's no time to waste.

Are we gonna keep pretending things are alright
Are we gonna keep our mouth closed just in case
Are we gonna keep putting off until it's too late
Are we gonna be known as the century of fear

People of America when will we see
It's now or never, we've no time to lose

Are we gonna keep digging oil wells and gold
Are we gonna keep shooting the ones that try to change
Are we gonna keep thinking it won't happen to us
Are we gonna be known as the century that kills

People of America, please listen to your soul
We can change the times to century of hope

Cause

A dream you dream alone is only a dream
But a dream we dream together is reality.
 

Reading the lyrics after so many years made me choke up.
NOW OR NEVER!
It works now.
The lines “Are we gonna keep shooting the ones that try to change,
Are we gonna keep thinking it won’t happen to us” were hard to read.
When I wrote those lines, John and I were a proud and happy couple,
believing that it would make a difference to speak out.
And I think it did.
I didn’t know that John was the one who would be shot to death for trying to change…
But they couldn’t kill him.
His spirit is still alive and growing inside all of us.
yoko

Yoko Ono Lennon
Memorial Day, 30 May 2011
 
The cover of NOW OR NEVER is a photograph by United States Army photographer Ronald L. Haeberle on March 16, 1968 from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Lai_massacre">1968 My Lai Massacre</a> - the mass murder of several hundred* unarmed citizens of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), mostly civilians, and mainly women and children, by U.S. Army forces on March 16, 1968. The incident prompted widespread outrage around the world and reduced U.S. support at home for the Vietnam War.

* 347 according to the U.S Army (not including My Khe killings), others estimate more than 400 killed and injuries are unknown, Vietnamese government lists 504 killed in total from both My Lai and My Khe.
 
The Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band single NOW OR NEVER was released by Apple on Nov 13, 1972. 
Also available on the album <a href="http://amzn.to/YOapproxiu" target="_blank">Approximately Infinite Universe</a>.
 
See also: <a href="http://imaginepeace.com/archives/3753">My Lai Peace Park</a>.

Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band - Now Or Never

Boston based singer, songwriter, musician and former front man for The Casual Outcasts.  

His songwriting pulls from his many diverse influences over the years, including Laurie Anderson, The Beatles, The Cars, Chic, Robyn Hitchcock, The Kinks, Yoko Ono, Pink Floyd, The Psychedelic Furs, and The Talking Heads just to name a few. 

If you listen carefully you may hear them shine through in his music?

His song, IN LOVE WITH A FRIEND, was part of the DEEP DISH album, GEORGE IS ON, which received a Grammy Nomination for "SAY HELLO" in 2005. 

IN LOVE WITH A FRIEND was also featured in the hit television show, UGLY BETTY.

In late 2020 he began writing and recording a collection of songs enabled and inspired by the excess time at home alone due to all of the craziness in the world.

EVERYBODY LOVES YOUR SONG is the first single, which started as a test song to learn the some of new equipment and digital programs recently acquired to record at his home studio.

All instruments and vocals performed and recorded by Michael. Drums programed using EZ Drummer 2!

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for listening!

I think it's better to dance rather than to march through life. love, yoko