Now or Never
1972 · Apple 1853 · USA
- Artist
- Yoko Ono
- Title
- Now or Never
- Release
- Now or Never / Move on Fast
- Year
- 1972
- Label
- Apple # 1853
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- USA
- Genre
- Singer Songwriter · Contemporary Folk
- Primary theme
- Peace, Protest & Anti-War
Annotation
The picture sleeve of the single "Now or Never" (Apple Records # 1853) featured a photo of the well-known and horrific photo of the My Lai massacre, taken by the US army photographer Ronald L. Haeberle, which must be one the most graphic images to appear on a Vietnam War single / album (it is also seen on Pete Hamill's Massacre at My Lai).12 Released in 1972 by Yoko Ono, a Japanese born artist who lived in New York, she married John Lennon (1969-1980), performing with him in the groups Plastic Ono Band and John Lennon & Yoko Ono. The lyrics revolved around a series of questions, beginning with "are we gonna keep", and with each verse ending with "people of America, when will we stop?". The second verse below drew attention to Uncle Sam "sending our youths to war". She also observed the "scaring of rice fields and infants", and "watching dead bodies over dinner" (on TV or in the papers), presumably referring to My Lai and the Vietnam conflict.Sources1The My Lai Massacre in American History and Memory (Kendrick Oliver, 2006)↩2cleveland.com: Plain dealer exclusive my lai massacre photos by ronald haeberle↩
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Annotation — My Lai & Lt. William Calley Songs
The picture sleeve of the single "Now or Never" (Apple Records # 1853) featured a photo of the well-known and horrific photo of the My Lai massacre, taken by the US army photographer Ronald L. Haeberle, which must be one the most graphic images to appear on a Vietnam War single / album (it is also seen on Pete Hamill's Massacre at My Lai).12 Released in 1972 by Yoko Ono, a Japanese born artist who lived in New York, she married John Lennon (1969-1980), performing with him in the groups Plastic Ono Band and John Lennon & Yoko Ono. The lyrics revolved around a series of questions, beginning with "are we gonna keep", and with each verse ending with "people of America, when will we stop?". The second verse below drew attention to Uncle Sam "sending our youths to war". She also observed the "scaring of rice fields and infants", and "watching dead bodies over dinner" (on TV or in the papers), presumably referring to My Lai and the Vietnam conflict. Sources1The My Lai Massacre in American History and Memory (Kendrick Oliver, 2006)↩2cleveland.com: Plain dealer exclusive my lai massacre photos by ronald haeberle↩
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Lyrics
English: Are we gonna keep sending our youths to war? / Are we gonna keep scaring rice fields 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 no or never, there's no time to waste / Are we gonna keep pretending things are alright? / Are we gonna keep our mouths 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
About the artist
Artist and musician, born 18 February 1933 in Tokyo, Japan; long based in New York City. [Source: Wikipedia]
Themes
In collections
My Lai & Lt. William Calley Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]