Of course the 'bed-in' had a profound affect upon this Beatles fan and my burgeoning hippy principles were bolstered by this pacifist chant!
Don't think I bought it though . . . what's that all about? . . . . . . the video and newsreel footage was John and Yoko as our ambassador to let the straights know we weren't gonna take it any more! "All we are saying . . . . . . "

On this day in music history: June 1, 1969 - “Give Peace A Chance” by The Plastic Ono Band is recorded. Written by John Lennon (though credited to Lennon - McCartney on its original release), the song is written as a message to promote world peace. Inspiration for the song comes during John and Yoko’s “bed-in” honeymoon, after a reporter asks Lennon what they are trying to achieve by laying in bed. Lennon answers “just give peace a chance”. When he gives this answer on more than one occasion during the bed-in, John quickly writes the song and then hires a four track tape machine to brought into their suite to commit it to tape. It is recorded in room 1742 of the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, with numerous friends and celebrities present including Timothy Leary, Petula Clark, Dick Gregory, Allen Ginsberg, Murray the K, Derek Taylor and Tommy Smothers (also on guitar) singing on the chorus. The song is adapted as an anthem of the American anti-war movement. Released as a single in the UK on July 4, 1969 (US release on July 7, 1969) “Give Peace A Chance” peaks at #2 on the UK singles chart and #14 on the Billboard Hot 100.

thanks to the most excellent Jeff Harris' blog 'Behind The Grooves