While the Beatles are often remembered for their groundbreaking music and global influence, not every chapter of their past reflects the harmony they sang about.
A recently unearthed poem, written by John Lennon in the early 1960s, is now raising serious eyebrows—and not for artistic brilliance.
Lennon’s Racist Poem Resurfaces After Six Decades
The handwritten piece, dating back 64 years, was discovered in a notebook from the band’s early days during their time in Hamburg, Germany.
Lennon, then in his early 20s, penned the short poem during the Beatles’ 1961 residency in the city.
The poem tells the story of a Black boy named Tom who is described as “black and dirty” and struggling to find work.
The language used is deeply offensive, including the N-word, and paints a jarring contrast to the poetic lyrics Lennon would later co-write with Paul McCartney.
Hidden in a Notebook from a Close Friend’s Flat
The poem was originally part of an A5 notebook Lennon kept at the Hamburg apartment of Astrid Kirchherr—a German photographer and close friend of the band.
Kirchherr, known for capturing some of the earliest iconic images of the Beatles, later gifted the notebook to someone else.
It eventually ended up in the hands of a collector, who has now put it up for auction.
Written in black ink, the poem begins:
“One time upon a tom a little negro who had lost his mother was looking for a job.
Maybe I will be a shoe shine boy – says the negro who was black and dirty.
But no – unluckily as luck would have it he could not a job find. No job for a n**r.”
From Hamburg to Superstardom
Just a year after Lennon wrote that poem, the Beatles—now complete with their classic lineup of Lennon, McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr—released their first single Love Me Do.
By 1963, they skyrocketed to fame with the release of Please Please Me, igniting a cultural revolution.
Still, the emergence of this poem offers a stark reminder that fame doesn’t erase troubling behavior from the past.
Going Up for Auction with a Hefty Price Tag
The controversial piece of Beatles history is now being sold through Julien’s Auctions in Los Angeles.
Measuring 6.5 by 8.5 inches, the single sheet of paper is expected to fetch around £15,000 (approximately $20,000) when it goes up for auction on May 30.
Giles Moon, the head of music memorabilia at Julien’s, acknowledged Lennon’s complex legacy, stating:
“John Lennon was a complicated and complex artist whom we discovered through his public and private personas had his share of issues.
His writings, music, and appearances revealed his struggles and journey to becoming a more understanding person.”
Lennon’s Troubling Behavior Comes Back Into Focus
This isn’t the first time Lennon’s darker side has come under scrutiny.
He openly admitted in later years to abusive behavior, including hitting women.
His first wife, Cynthia, revealed that he once slapped her out of jealousy.
He was also emotionally distant and critical of his son Julian, once cruelly remarking that the child was “born out of a bottle of whiskey.”
There’s even footage of Lennon mocking disabled individuals, and reports that he physically assaulted Bob Wooler, the MC at the Cavern Club, after Wooler made a joke about Lennon’s rumored relationship with Beatles manager Brian Epstein.
A Complicated Legacy That Still Sparks Debate
John Lennon’s legacy is full of contradictions—an artist who preached peace but harbored personal demons, who inspired millions but left behind a trail of troubling stories.
His 1980 murder outside his New York City apartment by obsessed fan Mark David Chapman only added another tragic twist to his controversial life story.
As the disturbing poem heads to auction, it reignites conversations about how we remember cultural icons—not just for their art, but for the full scope of their humanity, flaws and all.