John Lennon - Working Class Hero Lyrics Meaning

The working class hero was John. John was the hero in which the people idolized as a hero. Everything in this song *exept for one part that I'll cover in a minute* was about John.

"There's room at the top they are telling you still,
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill,
If you want to be like the folks on the hill"

Yes, I know Chapman shot Lennon after this song was released, John didn't know of Chapman. But I think A LOT of that has to to do with people like Mark David. I think there is a coincidental irony in this, "But first you must learn how to smile as you kill"...Mark David Chapman was smiling with every bullet that came out of that gun.