Bringing “Real Love” to Yonkers, NY

In May of 2022, the John Lennon Real Love Project came to the Ella Fitzgerald Academy in Yonkers, NY.

Under the guidance of program leaders Beth and Scott Bierko, 3rd, 4th and 8th-graders wrote new lyrics to John Lennon’s “Real Love.”

Among the inspirational quotes included in the video is one by James Baldwin, “Read read never stop reading and when you can read anymore…write,” and one by Walt Disney, "All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.”

The song’s final verse is a call for brotherhood and sisterhood:

We want our school to be at peace
So bullying has got to cease
Let’s be kind to one another
By showing some love

“The students thoroughly enjoyed learning about John Lennon and the impact of music on his life,” said music teacher Colette Herbert. "They especially enjoyed the songwriting and recording experience.”