New York City (John Lennon and Yoko Ono song) Lennon incorporating a bit of New York City vernacular with the statement "what a bad ass city." Music critic Johnny Rogan claims that "the melody sounds like a direct lift from 'The Ballad of John and Yoko.'" Music critic Paul Du Noyer describes "New York City" as a "solid, rousing rocker." Music critic Paul Blaney describes it as "a rough and tumble rocker" and a "dense exciting street rocker." Lennon is backed by Elephant's Memory, whose provide a brassy sound. Beatles expert Bruce Spizer describes Lennon's guitar playing as being in "Chuck Berry style." According to Du Noyer, Lennon performs
Hold On (John Lennon song) Hold On (John Lennon song) "Hold On" is a song from the album "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band" by John Lennon. It features only vocals, tremolo guitar, drums, and bass guitar, typical of the sparse arrangements Lennon favoured at the time. On the 2000 reissue of "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band", "Hold On" features a slightly longer introduction. The original version was restored on the 2010 reissue. Described as "the most upbeat song on ["Plastic Ono Band"]", the song's theme is emotional fragility, as the lyrics state that when you're alone in the world you just have to "hold on." Lennon tries