 " Instant Karma ! " – sometimes referred to as " Instant Karma ! ( We All Shine On ) " – is a song written by English musician John Lennon , released as a single on Apple Records in February 1970 . In the UK , the single was credited to " Lennon / Ono with the Plastic Ono Band " . The song reached the top five in the British and American singles charts , competing with the Beatles ' " Let It Be " in America , where it became the first solo single by a member of the band to sell a million copies . 
