One of 50 rare pressings of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” is now on display at Strawberry Field in Liverpool. The pressing has been loaned to the site by The Musical Box, a historic Liverpool record shop that Lennon and original Beatles drummer Pete Best frequented as teenagers.
This special record will remain on display until the end of December, offering visitors a chance to view the rare piece of memorabilia as part of their visit to Strawberry Field. Admission is included in the standard ticket price, which helps fund the Salvation Army’s Steps to Work programme, a charitable initiative designed to support young people with learning difficulties and other barriers to employment.
These pressings, created in 2021 to mark the 50th anniversary of ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’, were distributed by Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon to 25 music charities and grassroots organisations across the UK. Each acetate was intended to raise funds through auctions or sales. The remaining 25 were sent to select record shops, including The Musical Box, which chose to lend their pressing to Strawberry Field for public viewing.
Paula Quinn, owner of The Musical Box, reflected on the honour of receiving the record: “It was a brilliant surprise and privilege to receive the gift of the vinyl from Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon. What better place to show it than where John Lennon used to play as a child?”
We are excited that a rare vinyl acetate of @johnlennon & @yokoono’s single, ‘Happy Xmas (War is Over)’ is on display in our exhibition.
The vinyl is on loan from @themusicalboxrs, who were gifted it by Yoko Ono & @seanonolennon.https://t.co/3d7z6Z34dE#HappyXmasVinyl pic.twitter.com/RRWSoehbZs
— Strawberry Field Liverpool (@strawberryfield) December 12, 2024
Originally written as a protest song against the Vietnam War, ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ was released in 1971 in the US and a year later in the UK. Lennon described his approach to the song’s political message as delivering it “with a little honey,” hoping to blend the message and the music as successfully as he did with his iconic album, ‘Imagine’. Since its release, it has become a Christmas staple, peaking in popularity following Lennon’s tragic death in 1980.
The song also serves as a culmination of Lennon and Ono’s activism in the late ’60s and early ’70s, including their famed “bed-ins for peace” and Bagism campaigns. The Salvation Army’s Kathy Versfeld, mission director at Strawberry Field, highlighted this connection: “With Strawberry Field’s deep symbolic and historical connection to John Lennon… it feels only right that this piece of history should find a home in our exhibition at a time when so many long for war to end and peace to prevail.”
Funds from Strawberry Field’s ticket sales go toward maintaining the site and its gardens and supporting the Steps to Work programme, which has been running since 2018. This initiative provides one-to-one support for young people with a strong desire to enter the workforce but who face barriers such as neurodiversity or a lack of prior employment experience. Trainees are paired with a dedicated work coach and guided through a year-long journey to build confidence, learn new skills, and achieve personal job goals.
The exhibit at Strawberry Field reflects John Lennon’s enduring connection to Liverpool and his vision of a more peaceful world. Visitors can experience this piece of history while contributing to a programme that carries forward the spirit of optimism that defined Lennon’s later life.
For Beatles fans and newcomers alike, the display offers a powerful reminder of how music can inspire change through simple actions. Tickets are on sale here.
