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Arts & Entertainment

Video: John Lennon & Yoko Ono's "Bed Peace" Doc Available Today Only

By

Ben Yakas

Published Aug 14, 2011

Modified Aug 14, 2011

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By

Ben Yakas

Published Aug 14, 2011

Modified Aug 14, 2011

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In 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono held two week-long Bed-Ins for Peace in Amsterdam and Montreal, as a non-violent way of protesting the Vietnam War and promoting peace. And what better way to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon than watching an exclusive 70-minute documentary about Lennon and Ono trying to sell peace like ad agencies sell soap!

Yoko Ono has put up the "Bed Peace" documentary of those hectic two weeks on YouTube for this weekend only—keep in mind that it's only available till midnight tonight, so you better get watching. There's fantastic footage of the young couple in bed patiently doing interviews with various reporters and personalities, playing with Ono's daughter Kyoko, and recording "Give Peace A Chance" (with Timothy Leary, Tommy Smothers, Dick Gregory, Murray the K all singing along). Early in the documentary, there is also a delicate solo acoustic version of Beatles classic "Because" (at 1:37).

Below, check out Ono's letter to fans about the documentary:

Dear Friends,

In 1969, John and I were so naïve to think that doing the Bed-In would help change the world.
Well, it might have. But at the time, we didn't know.

It was good that we filmed it, though.
The film is powerful now.
What we said then could have been said now.

In fact, there are things that we said then in the film, which may give some encouragement and inspiration to the activists of today. Good luck to us all.

Let's remember WAR IS OVER if we want it.
It's up to us, and nobody else.
John would have wanted to say that.

Love, yoko

Tagged

bed peace

documentary

john lennon

yoko ono

Ben Yakas

Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

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