In 1972, John Lennon and Yoko Ono wrote and recorded a powerful protest song called “Sunday Bloody Sunday.” They created it on January 31, 1972, in response to the tragic events of Bloody Sunday, when British soldiers killed 13 unarmed civilians, including six children, during a protest in Derry. Eleven years later, the same event inspired U2’s famous song of the same name.
Now, the John Lennon Estate has released a new music video for Lennon and Ono’s anthem. The video highlights the human and financial costs of war, guns, and political violence through a series of impactful text and statistics. It covers various conflicts and tragedies worldwide, including The Troubles in Ireland, the Vietnam War, the Iran-Iraq War, and more. It ends with a stark reminder that 1.5 million people have been killed by guns in the U.S. since Lennon was shot outside his New York apartment on December 8, 1980.
Directed by Simon Hilton and David Frearson, and produced by Sean Ono Lennon and others, the video serves as both a protest and a call to action. The YouTube upload includes links to charities working to combat the effects of war and violence globally.
“Sunday Bloody Sunday” first appeared on the album Sometime In New York City, which aimed to highlight important global events. The song will also be featured on Power to the People, a new 12-disc box set celebrating John and Yoko’s legacy of nonviolent protest. This box set includes refreshed mixes and a full live recording of the One To One Concert from August 30, 1972. You can now find Power To The People on vinyl or CD.
