John Lennon: Imagine Meaning
Song Released: 1971
Imagine Lyrics
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the...
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1TOP RATED
#1 top rated interpretation:Through these lyrics, John Lennon was asking us to imagine a place where things that divide people did not exist. The song covers the violence issue we have in this world. We are surrounded by hate, cruelty, murder, war and racism. The world that he sings about tells us how we should want the world to be. In the song there is world peace and everyone is living together as one; sharing the world. It was written to show us that there is another way out there to live our lives; that we don’t need to hate and kill but to learn to live in peace and harmony with each other. It’s so pleasant to imagine that everyone is sharing the world, instead of fighting for the imaginary boundaries. These are all fantasies that can never come true and he is dreamer, he knows that there are many other people like him who dream of peace, love and equality -“You, you may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.” He hopes that someday everyone will have the same dream and so it won’t be a dream anymore, it will become reality and then we won’t be separated by our countries or beliefs and we’ll live together as one. – “I hope someday you will join us, and the world will live as one.”
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2TOP RATED
#2 top rated interpretation:The meaning of this song is very simple. Just think of what our world would be like without governments, religion and posessions. He then lends his idea of what would happen. No war, hate nor poverty only peace. I think human nature would never allow this to happen. Too many powerful people would lose said power. It's a nice thought, though.
This song was written during the height of the war in viet nam, the first nixon administration and the peace movement. Much of the popular culture of the time was centered around these factors. Notice how prevalent the song is today...The war against terrorism, the second bush administration and the peace movement...Coincidence? -
3TOP RATED
#3 top rated interpretation:"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"
Heaven and hell, like all other opposites in this world, occur only in the human mind. God is oneness, and when your mind is free of attachment to this world, and you experience oneness with everything, you are in true Heaven, and there is no hell. To reach this oneness, you must also live in the moment. Time is an illusion. When we see things in this world change from one appearance to another, and use our memory to notice this change, we believe that time has passed. But when we are one with the Universe, time does not exist. Eternity is not endless time, it is no time. Oneness with everything means the constant state of bliss, nirvana.
"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
This is much easier to interpret and come to grips with. again it deals with separation. Humans suffer because they feel alone or separated. Having enemies makes them feel better about themselves, but this comes from fear. Feeling oneness with all God's creatures, with the Universe itself, is the only true happiness, and peace.
"You may say that 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"
If everyone joined John in the dream of this song, the world would truly be as one. We may be evolving to this state. Humans became aware of themselves, their individuality, which also brought about their fear and suffering, but once they realize their oneness with the Universe, while they are still aware of their own being, a special spiritual race will evolve.
"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"
This is such a beautiful phrase and gives you a view of what life could be like if all people truly loved each other as one.
"You may say that 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"
John was a dreamer, and was able to put one of the greatest, most mysterious spritiual truths into a wonderful song that will be enjoyed forever -
In my opinion, these lyrics bring up the thought of an utopical world, without the factors that build up inequality both in his time and the present. The topic of the flawless and ideal world has been a recurring one throughout all times and cultures through religion, myths or legends. John Lennon and Yoko Ono present this ideal to everybody in their most successful song, in hopes that in a close future we are able to achieve a society where every individual has the oportunity to live prosperously.
IA
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Well, I think John Lennon is describing here a very utopic society, as human race have always tended to belive in somthing or someone (Gods) who controls all and everything. Moreover, in the same way humans have also tend to be in groups, it could be seen as todays countries, so I don't think this could ever be possible. But I have to say that is a good dream to have or belive in.
A. E. -
This song whishes for a world that while commendable in its desire for peace and elimination of greed, it has some rather unpleasant implications of its lyrics such as the homogenization of society by expressing a want for a place where no religions or countries exist leading Lto lack of human diversity which would be a pity since diversity is what makes humanity so fascinating.
-LRS -
When I listen to this song, a feeling of calm and nostalgia comes over me. The melody is soft, while the lyrics make me reflect on how different everything could be if things were simpler. Nowadays, I always find myself questioning the world around me. However, the melody prompts me to dream of something bigger. It is a melody that fills me with optimism.
Finally, it makes me realize that, although at times it seems that we are immersed in this vicious circle of difficulties, we can still project a more promising future.
N.G
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I really think that the lyrics are not achievable, but its really optimistic to think like this. But with the human nature we can't be without a government, so wars always will be with us.
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I think it's an interpretation of how the world should work if we contributed with each other. This world needs people that can dream and also to be capable toshow it in reality
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The lyrics are not only extraordinary naive but also outrageously unachievable. I'm also a dreamer who feels that hunger or greed are mainly to blame for the most atrocicities that are committed in this colourless society of ours.However,this picture can only be seen in my dreams and the dreams of many others.When we wake up we unfortunately realise that regardless of how hard we try to be less greedy and avaricious, our condition of human beings will always prevail.How can governments and individuals stop being greedy and hungry for more and more possessions? I'm afraid materialism is here to stay for a long time to come.
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When asked by a journalist what the song means, he answered point blank
"The song is basically the communist manifesto."
As a life long leftist I could not agree more.
When I first heard the song I thought "that's me". -
The lyrics " You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one." I believe that line was in ref to Martin Luther King Jr. I have a dream. Submitted by Marcia Gadsden
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Yes this is a song about peace. However , the Creator will bring paradise conditions back to the earth. Man made kingdoms will be done away with plus false religion. At that time love will rule because we will allow our Creator to tell us what is right and wrong not men or governments that separate people. No holidays to separate us either. “ Look I am making New Heavens and a New Earth.” The former things have been done away with. Perhaps John had read this in the Bible.
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This song can be totally related to the current scenario of everyone in the world right now. The phase that everyone is going through.
You can find more about this song on https://lyricsrange.com/imagine-lyrics-john-lenon/ -
John Lennon's and Yoko Ono's Imagine has often been viewed as an atheist song. From a spiritual perspective, it can be associated with Sufi wisdom.
Rabe’a al-Adiwiyah, a great woman saint of Sufism, was seen running through the streets of her hometown, Basra, carrying a torch in one hand and a bucket of water in the other. She wanted to burn down heaven and extinguish fire in hell so that people would live in the here-and-now, without fear of heaven or hell, and experience pure presence.
https://spirit-rockmusic.eu/2020/02/john-lennons-imagine-atheist-or-spiritual/ -
John Lennon's and Yoko Ono's Imagine has often been viewed as an atheist song. From a spiritual perspective, it can be associated with Sufi wisdom.
In a Playboy interview, not long before his death, Lennon called himself "a most religious fellow".
https://spirit-rockmusic.eu/2020/02/john-lennons-imagine-atheist-or-spiritual/
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This man was talking about the 5D reality, heaven on earth. Just about to shift out of this 3D soon....
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It’s just a song, a beautiful melody and words Written by Lennon in a time of war That he made millions of dollars from. Someday there will be peace and the one God will create as promised a paradise that we will live for eternity. Maybe Lennon didn’t have to imagine but just read the Bible prophecy of what’s to come for those who Believe in Jesus Christ.
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