Working Class Hero, performed by Nabil Shaban

Working Class Hero, performed by Nabil Shaban

In July 1995 Nabil Shaban, actor, was invited by the rock band "The Grateful Dub" to be guest singer at the first Disability Music Festival, which was being held in the Union Chapel, Islington, London, N5.

Mat Fraser, the lead singer and drummer of "The Grateful Dub", asked Nabil if there were any particular songs he would like to sing. Nabil had three suggestions - "Guns of Brixton" by the Clash, "House of the Rising Sun" or "Working Class Hero" by John Lennon. The band chose "Working Class Hero"".

This video uses the soundtrack from the original live performance in 1995.

Nabil Shaban would like to apologize
for getting the words muddled and
for missing out an entire verse but
the performance was live and to calm
his nerves, he thought he needed to
smoke some marijuana before he
went on stage....

A Big Mistake.

As recompense, here are

John Lennon's original and COMPLETE lyrics for "Working Class Hero",
without the censorship of the F-word

WORKING CLASS HERO by John Lennon

As soon as you're born they make you feel small
By giving you no time instead of it all
Till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

They hurt you at home and they hit you at school
They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool
Till you're so fucking crazy you can't follow their rules
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

When they've tortured and scared you for twenty odd years
Then they expect you to pick a career
When you can't really function you're so full of fear
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV
And you think you're so clever and classless and free
But you're still fucking peasants as far as I can see
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

There's room at the top they are telling you still
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill
If you want to be like the folks on the hill
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

If you want to be a hero well just follow me
If you want to be a hero well just follow me