Lennon Wall 1970’s

The 1970s and the Continuing Story of the Lennon Wall

After the events of the Prague Spring in August 1968 and the subsequent invasion by Warsaw Pact troops, a period of so-called normalisation began in Czechoslovakia. In the 1970s, this meant a return to authoritarian rule and restrictions on freedom of expression and political activity. Similarly, culture and art were controlled by the communist regime. Nevertheless, the desire for freedom found its way to expression. For example, through inscriptions on the walls of Prague buildings.

One of the most famous verses of the time:
"When we die, we will be flowers, we will be each other's joy by day and alone by night."

Other creations from the 70s:
"And on his black mare, the night drives away in a jet and scatters bluish ears across the field."

"These are pretty twins, and how alike they are, especially the one."

"When you're alone
Come to this old wall
Listen to the water ringing
and wait - someone will give you their hand"

Although the Beatles officially retired from music in 1970, their influence on young people persisted, most notably in Eastern Europe. In Czechoslovakia, their music spread mainly through illegally copied recordings and foreign radio broadcasts.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons - Jiří Dlouhý
Source: BLAŽEK, Petr; LAUBE, Roman; POSPÍŠIL, Filip. Lennonova zeď v Praze: Studie, rozhovory, dokumenty. Praha: Muzeum paměti XX. století, 2020. 536 s. ISBN 978-80-907989-0-8.