Songs for International Womens Day - by Yoko Ono.
http://internationalwomensday.com

Yoko Ono at Amazon USA

Inspiring Change - Songs for International Women's Day by Yoko Ono

Preorder the new album TAKE ME TO THE LAND OF HELL from Amazon <a href="http://amzn.to/143xjF1" title="Preorder from Amazon USA" target="_blank">USA</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://amzn.to/14mhD2u" title="Preorder from Amazon Canada" target="_blank">Canada</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://amzn.to/15hqimg" title="Preorder from Amazon UK" target="_blank">UK</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://amzn.to/13qD9QZ" title="Preorder from Amazon Spain" target="_blank">Spain</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://amzn.to/18Qbr16" title="Preorder from Amazon Italy" target="_blank">Italy</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://amzn.to/16c3GjP" title="Preorder from Amazon France" target="_blank">France</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://amzn.to/13osrHj" title="Preorder from Amazon Japan" target="_blank">Japan</a>
Preorder from <a href="http://bit.ly/chimeram" title="Preorder from Chimera Music" target="_blank">Chimera Music</a> and get an INSTANT download of the song <a href="http://soundcloud.com/yokoono/yoko-ono-plastic-ono-band-moonbeams">MOONBEAMS</a>.
Out on September 17th on vinyl, CD & digital download from <a href="https://chimeramusic.com">Chimera Music</a>.

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CHESHIRE CAT CRY

I'm rolling in your dreams
Listening to your screams
The memory is covered by the rain of pain
The boat will float
to end of seas
Taking your memory of pain 

When the Cheshire Cat slowly smiles to us
Cheshire Cat
Cheshire Cat
The river is drying
Faster than your memory of pain 
"We the expendable people of the United States
Hold these dreams to be self-destructive"

Cheshire Cat
Cheshire Cat 
Taking your memory of pain with it

Cheshire Cat
Cheshire Cat 
And the boat will float
to end of seas

"We the expendable people of the United States
Hold these dreams to be self-destructive"

Cheshire Cat
Cheshire Cat 

Blood is creating 
A lake of tears of pain
Rain of pain

Stop the violence
Stop all wars
Stop the violence
Stop all wars

Taking your memory of pain with it

"We the expendable people of the United States
Ask for the violence to disappear" 

"We the expendable people of the United States
Hold these dreams to be self-destructive"

Blood Money will give us independence and power

Stop the violence
I’m rolling in your dreams

Stop all wars
Listening to your screams

Stop the violence 
The memory is covered by the rain of pain

Stop all wars 

Cheshire Cat
Cheshire Cat 
Cheshire Cat

Stop the violence
Stop the violence
Stop all wars
Who needs violence?
Who needs war?
Who needs it?
Who needs it?
  

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Words and Music by Yoko Ono
© Ono Music (BMI) 2013

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YOKO ONO PLASTIC ONO BAND

Yoko Ono - Vocals
Lenny Kravitz - Drums, Clavinet
Sean Ono Lennon - Bass, Electric Guitar, Synth

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TAKE ME TO THE LAND OF HELL

Produced by Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon, and Yuka C. Honda
Recorded at Sear Sound by Christopher Allen
Mixed by Michael H. Brauer for MHB prods
Mixed at Electric Lady Studios
Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering
Kevin Harper - Assistant Engineer
Mark Bengston - ProTools Engineer and Assistant

Geoff Thorpe - Art Director
Greg Kadel - Cover Photography
Sean Lennon - Studio photos
Yoko Ono - Drawings

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YOKO ONO PLASTIC ONO BAND release the brand new album TAKE ME TO THE LAND OF HELL on Chimera Music on September 17th 2013 

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The album continues an astonishing bout of creativity for Ono, who celebrated her 80th birthday this year and has just curated the hugely succesful Meltdown Festival at Southbank, London. 


"An extraordinary performance by any standard – for a woman in her ninth decade, almost unbelievable" 
Evening Standard, June 2013 


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The truly amazing YOKO ONO releases her brand new album TAKE ME TO THE LAND OF HELL on Chimera Music on Sep 17th. 

The album comes four years after her previous studio album BETWEEN MY HEAD AND THE SKY which received rave reviews and was voted one of Mojo Magazine’s Albums Of the Year. 

That same year Ono was awarded both the Lifetime Achievement Award by Mojo and The Venice Biennale Golden Lion Award for her ground-breaking music and art. 

TAKE ME TO THE LAND OF HELL was recorded in New York and was producedby Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon and Yuka Honda. 

YOKO ONO PLASTIC ONO BANDalso includes members of Cornelius and Cibo Matto, plus – for this album – tUnEyArDs, Questlove, Nels Cline and Andrew Wyatt. 

The album includes remixes by Mike D & Adrock and Keigo "Cornelius" Oyamada. 

The record was planned and made during a hugely productive period which saw Ono’s 2012 show TO THE LIGHT at London’s Serpentine Gallery break attendance records; she then went on to open HALF-A-WIND SHOW, a major retrospective in Frankfurt, finish her instruction book ACORN, travel extensively to oversee various museum shows, score her 10thNo 1 hit HOLD ME on the Billboard Dance Chart, actively campaign against fracking in New York State, win the MTV O Music Award for 'Digital Genius' and – most recently – plan the Meltdown Festival at Southbank, London, which she curated. 

Yoko’s curatorship is already being hailed as the best in the 20 year history of the festival which this year included a coruscating opening night performance by YOKO ONO PLASTIC ONO BAND, and guest appearances by Ono with Cibo Matto, Peaches, Kim Gordon and a closing night collaborative performance with Siouxsie of Ono’s seminal “Walking On Thin Ice”. 

Meltdown 2013 featured a huge cross–section of artists including Savages, Kim Gordon, Siouxsie, Cibo Matto, Bo Ningen, Thurston Moore, Iggy Pop, Deerhoof, Patti Smith, Peaches, Marianne Faithfull, Boy George, Patrick Wolf, Reggie Watts, Viv Albertine, Alva Noto and Ryuichi Sakamoto, Pussy Riot and Immortal Technique. 

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Praise for Yoko’s performance at Meltdown 2013: 

“It’s a heck of a racket for a gal in her eighties – Yoko is the star but the music offers her the sky to shine in” 
The Independent 

“An international treasure shines. Ono has transcended age – she opened Meltdown 2013 with a blistering, thrilling, cutting-edge musical set which not so much pushed boundaries as ignored them” 
Evening Standard 

“Even at 80 Yoko is out on her Ono” 
Observer 

“Octogenarian’s standing elevated to the angel of the avant garde” 
The Guardian 

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MOONBEAMS, the staggering opening track of the new album, was recently previewed on Soundcloud, ahead of its live premiere as the opening song of Meltdown 2013. 

Ono said today: 
“My new album comes at a very special time for me. I’m so happy that it’s being released after all the incredible shows that made up Meltdown. The energy I have right now, and the desire to continue to make as much great work as I can, is really moving me forwards all the time. This album is the culmination of a lot of ideas I’ve been having over the last few years and I feel proud to release it at such an exciting time of my life.” 

Yoko Ono has a major art retrospective HALF-A WIND SHOW currently on view at the Louisiana Museum in Copenhagen, later opening at Kunsthalle Krems, Austria on 20th November 2013, and another major art retrospective WAR IS OVER! (IF YOU WANT IT) opening on 15th November at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney. 

TAKE ME TO THE LAND OF HELL is released on September 17th.

TAKE ME TO THE LAND OF HELL

CHESHIRE CAT CRY

Buy at Amazon.com

from the album 'Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band'

Vocals: Yoko Ono
Guitar: John Lennon
Bass: Klaus Voormann
Drums: Ringo Starr

Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band is the avant-garde debut album by Yoko Ono, which came after recording three experimental releases with John Lennon and a live album as a member of the Plastic Ono Band. With the exception of one track (recorded with Ornette Coleman), the entire album emerged from one raw and cacophonous freeform session when, improvising throughout, Ono develops and pushes to extremes her characteristic trademark, a strained vocal style derived from Japanese hetai, a vocal technique used in Kabuki performances.

It was recorded simultaneously with her husband's John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band at Ascot Sound Studios and Abbey Road Studios using the same musicians and production team.

Initially on Apple Records, through EMI, Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band was released to considerable critical disdain in 1970, at a time when Ono was being widely blamed for the break-up of The Beatles. Notable exceptions were the estimations of Billboard who called it 'visionary' and critic Lester Bangs who supported it in Rolling Stone. More recently, the album has been credited (like those of The Velvet Underground) with having an influence, particularly on musicians, grossly disproportionate to its sales and visibility. Critic David Browne of Entertainment Weekly, has credited the album with "launching a hundred or more female alternative rockers, like Kate Pierson of the B-52s to current thrashers like L7 and Courtney Love of Hole."

Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band - Why

All day long I felt like
Smashing my face in a clear glass window.
But instead, I went out
And smashed up a phone box round the corner.

I never had a chance to choose my own parents,
I’d never know why I should be stuck with mine.
Mommy’s always trying not to eat
And daddy’s always smelling like he’s pickled in booze.

I never had a chance to choose my own name,
I’d never know why I should be stuck with mine.
Mommy’s always talkin’ ’bout family pride
And daddy’s always hiding ’bout his week-end rides.

All day long I felt like
Smashing my face in a clear glass window.
But instead, I went out
And smashed up a station wagon round the block.

I looked at the mirror and told myself,
I’m glad I still don’t look like them at least.
Mommy’s like a film star in a distorted mirror,
Daddy’s like a guy who lost his stomach in the war.

I went to shake hands with the president in miami,
I went to a rock show to see mick jagger.
And you’d never believe it, surprise to my life,
They had paint on their faces just like mommy’s.

Am I going crazy or is it just you, daddy? 
Am I going nuts or is it just you, mommy? 
Am I plain gone or is it the world? 
Daddy, I’d rather have you dead than crazy.

Trying to talk to them is like eating tv dinner when you’re angry,
Trying to get their love is like watching ice cream ad when you’re hungry.
They gave me a watch that’s guaranteed not to break
But my mommy and daddy broke up last fall.

Am I going crazy or is it just you, daddy? 
Am I going nuts or is it just you, mommy? 
Am I plain gone or is it the world? 
Mommy, I’d rather have you dead than crazy.

All day long I felt like
Smashing my face in a clear glass window.
But instead, I went out
And smashed up a church yard round the corner.
 
APPROXIMATELY INFINITE UNIVERSE
Approximately Infinite Universe is a double album by Yoko Ono, released in early 1973. It represents a departure from the experimental avant garde rock of her first two albums towards a more conventional pop/rock sound, while also dabbling in feminist rock. It peaked at #193 in the United States. The 1997 CD re-issue on Rykodisc added two acoustic demos of songs from this era that were later released on 1981's Season of Glass.

Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band - I Felt Like Smashing My Face In A Clear Glass Window

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

Recorded on 1 June 1969, in Room 1742 at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, after the recording of 'Give Peace A Chance'.

REMEMBER LOVE

Remember love, remember love,
Love is what it takes to sing.
Remember love, remember love,
Love is what it takes to meet.
Remember love, remember love,
Love is what it takes to live.
Remember love, remember love,
Love is what it takes to dream.

Remember love, remember love,
Love is what it takes to see.
Remember love, remember love,
Love is what it takes to meet.
Remember love, remember love,
Love is what it takes to live.
Remember love, remember love,
Love is what it takes to tie.

Remember love, remember love,
Love is what it takes to live.
Remember love, remember love,
Love is what it takes to tie.
Remember love, remember love.
Love
Remember love.
Love
Love


Vocals: Yoko Ono
Guitar: John Lennon

The B-Side of the single 'Give Peace A Chance' by Plastic Ono Band.

Later released on the remastered CD of the John Lennon & Yoko Ono album 'Two Virgins'

Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins

Plastic Ono Band - Remember Love

If you keep hammering anti-abortion,
We'll tell you no more masturbation for men.
Ev'ry day you're killing living sperms in billions,
So how do you feel about that, brother?

What a waste, what a waste,
What a waste, what a waste,
To have to talk to a phony like you.

If you keep telling us we're more than equal,
We'll tell you equal is not equal enough.
For centuries we've been taking your double ass deal,
So what do you say to that, brother?

What a drag, what a drag,
What a drag, what a drag,
To have to cope with a crazy like you.

Brrrr -

Ah -
Ah -
Ah -

If you keep laying on money or power,
We'll tell you meanwhile your sprinkler is out of soda.
So keep off our grass till you're in some kinda order,
What do you say to that, brother?

What a mess, what a mess,
What a mess, what a mess,
To have to put up with a fuzzy like you.


from the Yoko Ono album "Approximately Infinite Universe"

Yoko Ono: vocals
Stan Bronstein: saxophone, flute, clarinet
Richard Frank Jr: drums, percussion
Daria Price: castanet. 
Gary Van Scyoc: bass, trumpet
Adam Ippolito: piano, organ, harmonium, trumpet
Wayne Gabriel: guitar
Joel Nohnn (John Lennon): guitar and background vocals

Produced by Yoko Ono and John Lennon
Arrangement: Yoko Ono
String orchestration: Ron Frangipane

From the Yoko Ono album 'Approximately Infinite Universe'.

Approximately Infinite Universe is a double album by Yoko Ono, released in early 1973. It represents a departure from the experimental avant-garde rock of her first two albums towards a more conventional pop/rock sound, while also dabbling in feminist rock.

The 1997 CD re-issue on Rykodisc added two acoustic demos of songs from this era that were later released on 1981's Season of Glass.

Yoko Ono - What A Mess

Yang yang holds on to a giant phone,
Yang yangs soft voice goes on and on,
I hate you, I hate you, where did it go wrong? 
Yangyang goes talking to himself on the phone.

Yang yang sends his men pebbles and stones,
Yang yang rips his women down to the bones.
I own you, I own you, so give us a song,
Yangyang goes talking to his world on the phone.

Yang yangs born with a phone cord round his neck,
Yang yang never fails to stick to his kick.
I want you, I want you, youre making me sick.
But yangyang, the chords never long enough
To reach your mommys trick.

Yang yang yang yang yang,
Yang yang yang yang yang,
Yang yang, snap out,
Give up, cut out,
Tune up and join us,
Join the revolution,
Join the revolution.

No kick is good enough for lifetime substitution,
No brick will give you a lifetime consolation.
And whether you dig it or not,
We outnumber you in population.
And leave your private institution,
Get down to real communication,
Leave your scene of destruction
And join us in revolution.

Yang yang yang yang yang,
Yang yang yang yang yang,
Yang yang, wake up,
Give up, cut out,
Come out and join us,
Join the revolution,
Join the revolution.


APPROXIMATELY INFINITE UNIVERSE
Approximately Infinite Universe is a double album by Yoko Ono, released in early 1973. It represents a departure from the experimental avant garde rock of her first two albums towards a more conventional pop/rock sound, while also dabbling in feminist rock. It peaked at #193 in the United States. The 1997 CD re-issue on Rykodisc added two acoustic demos of songs from this era that were later released on 1981's Season of Glass.


Yoko Ono - Yang Yang

You've heard of Woman Nation
Well, that's coming, baby
What we need is the power of trust
It's coming

You've heard of the law of selection
That's how we're gonna do it, baby
We allow men who wanna join us
The rest can just stay by themselves

Woman Power

Two thousand years of male society
Laying fear and tyranny
Seeking grades and money
Clinging to values vain and phony

Woman Power

Do you know that one day you lost your way, man?
Do you know that some day you have to pay, man?
Have you anything to say, man
Except, "Make no mistake about it, I'm the president, you hear?
I wanna make one thing clear, I'm the president, you hear?"

Woman Power

You don't hear them singing songs
You don't see them living life
'Cause they've got nothing to say
But, "Make no mistake about it, I'm the president, you hear?
I wanna make one thing clear, I'm the president, you hear?"

Woman Power

You may be the president now
You may still be a man
But you must also be a human
So open up and join us in living

Woman Power

Coming age of feminine society
We'll regain our human dignity
We'll lay some truth and clarity
And bring back nature's beauty

Woman Power

Every woman has a song to sing
Every woman has a story to tell
Make no mistake about it, brothers
We women have the power to move mountains

Woman Power

Did you have to cook the meals?
Did you have to knit?
Did you have to care for life instead of killing?
Theres no mistake about it, sisters
We women have the power to change the world

Woman Power

© 1973 Yoko Ono 
Original version from the album 'Feeling The Space'


Buy on iTunes

ONO - Woman Power (Alyson Calagna vocal mix)

IS WINTER HERE TO STAY?

Is winter here to stay? 
You never know.
But is winter here to stay? 
Winter’s here to stay
Winter’s here to stay
Winter’s...


From the Yoko Ono album 'Approximately Infinite Universe'.

Approximately Infinite Universe is a double album by Yoko Ono, released in early 1973. It represents a departure from the experimental avant-garde rock of her first two albums towards a more conventional pop/rock sound, while also dabbling in feminist rock.

The 1997 CD re-issue on Rykodisc added two acoustic demos of songs from this era that were later released on 1981's Season of Glass.

Yoko Ono : vocals 
Stan Bronstein : saxophone, flute, clarinet 
Richard Frank, Jr. : drums, percussion 
Daria Prince : castanet 
Gary Van Scyoc : bass, trumpet 
Adam Ippolito : piano, organ, harmonuim, trumpet 
Wayne Gabriel : guitar 
Joel Nohnn (anagram of John Lennon) : guitar, background vocals

Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band - Is Winter Here To Stay?

Feeling The Space

Woman Power

Open your box,
Open your box,
Open your trousers,
Open your thighs,
Open your legs,
Open, open, open, open, oooh.

Open, open, open, open,
Open your legs,
Open your flies,
Open your ears,
Open your nose,
Open your mouth,
Open, open, open, open, oooh.
Open.

Open your cold feet,
Open, open,
Open, open, open, let’s open, let’s open the cities.

Open the cities,
Open, open, open the world,
Open, let’s open the world.

Open, open, oooh -
Open, open, ooh!

Yoko Ono: vocal. 
John Lennon: electric guitar. 
Klaus Voorman: bass. 
Ringo Starr: drums.

Originally released as the B-Side of the John Lennon Plastic Ono Band single "Power To The People".
Now available as a bonus track on the album "Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band"

Yoko Ono - Open Your Box

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