"Imagine"
By John Lennon
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... Aha-ah...
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... You...
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
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... You...
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 live as one
A Reflection Paper about the song "Imagine" by John Lennon
"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality" (John
Lennon). Earth is occupied by about seven billion people living in seven continents and one
hundred and ninety five countries with a six thousand five hundred spoken languages. Yet, all can
understand just one universal language and that is music (Cram,2016). Music has a ability to
awaken emotions that can inspire people to work together, love each other and live as one as
conveyed in "Imagined" by John Lennon.
John Lennon is a former member of a rock band The Beatles. He decided to be a solo artist
and most of his song are about peace. The song "Imagine" is released in 1971 quickly put to the
top of the charts in different countries (Taylor,2011). It consists of a short intro on piano, two
verses, a chorus, a third verse, and a repeat of the chorus, followed by a brief 'playout' which is
more or less a recap of the intro, turned to close on the tonic chord (McClure,2017). Upon its
release this song become an instant anthem for world peace.
In the first verse, the song want us to disregard the belief in most-basic religious concepts
many of us have grown up the heaven and hell, the afterlife. Ignoring the effects of present
decisions and just appreciate and enjoy life. In the second verse, Lennon suggest to have a world
without seperation like borders pertaining to countries with the idea of having something “to kill
or die for”, which was likely a direct reference to the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War was ongoing
at the time and also religions because without this religious boundaries, humanity may be united.
In the fourth verse, Lennon want us to imagine life without possession, no one is rich or poor, no
one is experiencing hardships and poverty and also he is hoping for people to share each other.
The third and fifth part, the chorus, Lennon know that he is not the only one but there is a lot of
people like him and hoping that one day more people will realize the point of the song and they
will join for having a peace and unity in world. Lennon use repetition of words like "imagine all
the people". The line is repeated three times to emphasize on his invitation to listeners. Also
there is a pair of words and ideas that is contrast to each other like " Imagine there's no heaven,
It's easy if you try, No hell below us, Above us only sky". Lennon used symbol like border for
country and possession for wealth. The song has a softer approach would bring the song to a
wider audience, hoping more people will listen.
The message itself is simple, but some people interpret the song as anti-religious, anti-
patriotic, pushing communism but the point is not to condemn what is, rather to dream what
could be. Lennon doesn't demand to change the listeners but he want the audience to have a
creative thinking and to visualize a different world where people are united. If we continue to
spread lennon's vision of hope, peace and love maybe someday "the world will live as one".
REFERENCES
Cram.(2016) Retrieved from https://www.cram.com/essay/Analysis-Of-Imagine-
By-John-Lennon/F37KGBSYHBQW
Countries in the World.(2019) Retrieved from
https://www.worldometers.info/geography/how-many-countries-are-there-in-
the-world/
How Many Spoken Language.(2019) Retrieved from
https://www.infoplease.com/askeds/how-many-spoken-languages
James,Frostrom,M.,Jill.(2019)Retrieved from
https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/johnlennon/imagine.html
Population.(2019) Retrieved from https://www.worldometers.info/world-
population/
Shea,C.(2018) Retrieved from
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imagine_(John_Lennon_song)
Taylor.(2011) Retrived from
https://kassidytaylor.wordpress.com/2011/02/28/imagine-world-peace-protest-
song-analysis/
Yusuf,G.(2011) Retrieved from
http://sparkleteaching.blogspot.com/2011/05/analysis-of-song-
imagine.html?m=1
