A World in Unification: John Lennon's "Imagine" (Updated - 9/19/17)

Context Part One:

The Beatles were, and still are, the most famous band of all time. Starting their short, yet impressive, career in 1960 and finally breaking off in 1970 with eleven studio albums and twenty number one chart toppers. The four members of The Beatles were named Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. After multiple creative differences between his fellow band members, John,along with the other Beatles, went his separate ways onto his own solo careers. In 1971, John Lennon released one of his most critically acclaimed and controversial songs of all time, "Imagine". "Imagine" upon release was ranked #1 in multiple different countries around the world, along with it's commercial success, critics had a lot to say about the record. Rolling Stones stated that "Imagine" was John Lennon's "greatest musical gift to the world" and it also ranked third on Rolling Stones' "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

Context Part Two:

Since the song was written in the early 70's, it was during the Vietnam War, where the United States was divided among each other for another time in history. During the Vietnam War, people all across the nation were against the government's actions of sending innocent men and women across seas to fight in a war we did not need to be involved in the first place. Lennon wanted nothing more than to stop all this useless fighting and to just coexist as human beings. His song "Imagine" truly brings to light Lennon's beliefs on the situation at hand as well as a look into the dream world that Lennon wishes we could live, but sadly, do not. 

Stanza #1:

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Lennon quickly moves onto the subject of religion in the first set of lyrics with "Imagine there's no heaven / No hell below us / Above us only sky". For decades, religion has been a issue throughout the entire world for thousands of years. Lennon is telling the listener to try to think of a world without the chains that humanity has been shackled to since we can remember. Without such chains, the world can be unified as human beings, instead of being separated by the religious beliefs that have plagued the minds of billions around the world. It's easy if you try. "Living for today" is a way of saying that there is no need to worry about what might happen in the future or even what happened in the past, just focus on what is facing us in the now. 

Stanza #2:

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

"Imagine there's no countries / Nothing to kill or die for" is saying that without geographical separation, humans can be together or unified as one together instead of being further apart from one another as a race. People have been fighting over land for centuries, but without the claimed ownership of said land, maybe we can grow together as one. Lennon yet again uses the line of "It's easy if you try", he used this form of repetition to stick this idea of change in the listener's mind. Rather it works well or not is all dependent on the listener itself, but it continues to get his point across. Back to the idea of forgetting religion with the lyrics "And no religion, too" Lennon continues to sing more about the ideas that separate instead of bringing us together. In short, religion does not need to be here.

Chorus #1:

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Lennon states that you may find all these ideals pretty unrealistic, some might even say radical for one man to believe such things for all the world. Lennon was aware, however; that he was not the only one who had such beliefs that the revolution of man kind can happen to these extreme circumstances. He wishes for all to join him and they live together on this beautiful earth as one. 

Stanza #3:

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

Lennon brings forth the idea to imagine a world without the need of possessions and that all should share, thus furthering this belief of complete unification. But, can humanity really come to such a agreement so easily? Sadly, the answer is no. People always have and always will continue to keep what they believe to be rightfully theirs to themselves. "If I acquired it, why should I have to share it with everyone" being the biggest defense against the idea. Destroying the idea of greed, then there will be no need for hunger if everyone comes together to help each other out through a brotherhood of man. Trying to imagine all the people sharing the world is a very controversial line. Lennon is initially saying that everyone should be together and share. Being together would mean getting rid of the mess that separates us, religion, greed, power, hunger, money, geographical location, etc.

Conclusion:

After the third stanza, Lennon repeats the chorus and thus ending the song.

To me, the song is just a man that knows exactly what he is saying is completely unrealistic to many people that hold such strong beliefs of religion, country, greed, etc, yet he is only saying to imagine a place like this existing. The world sounds like a place of near perfection to live in, but it's too far from the mentality that many hold.

The song is one of many that has touched my heart in many different ways, but regardless of your personal views or thoughts on the song, one can not ignore the lyrical genius that is John Lennon. "Imagine" is a beautiful song and I hoped you enjoyed reading my analysis of this masterpiece. I have more that I planned to write about.

Enjoy the song as a treat.

Imagine by; John Lennon