Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)

The harmony of 'Instant Karma!' is deliberately simple and direct, mirroring the song's message of immediate, unavoidable truth. The verse's I-vi-IV-V is one of the most fundamental progressions in pop-rock, while the chorus strips down further to I-IV-I-V for maximum anthemic impact. What transforms these basic chords into something monumental is Phil Spector's Wall of Sound production — layered pianos, guitars, and percussion that make four chords feel like a wall of harmonic force. The song is a masterclass in how conviction and production can elevate harmonic simplicity into something far greater than the sum of its parts.

John Lennon was inspired to write 'Instant Karma!' during a visit to Aalborg, Denmark in January 1970, where he and Yoko Ono spent New Year establishing a relationship with Ono's former husband Tony Cox and visiting their daughter Kyoko. Lennon conceived the idea of applying karma as something immediate rather than a force that plays out over lifetimes. He compared it to instant coffee — presenting an ancient concept in a modern, accessible form. The song was written, recorded, and released within an extraordinary ten-day period.

Released as a single on Apple Records in February 1970, 'Instant Karma!' was one of the fastest-released songs in pop history — going from conception to record store shelves in ten days. Produced by Phil Spector with George Harrison, Klaus Voormann, Alan White, and Billy Preston, it became the first solo single by a Beatle to sell a million copies and reached the top five on both sides of the Atlantic.