IMAGINE - A Song That Defined A Generation

“Imagine there’s no heaven, it’s easy if you try, 

no hell below us, and 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 people, living life in peace.

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 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.”

These are the lyrics to the song “Imagine,” and they came to mind recently, December 08, the 43rd anniversary of the death of John Lennon, the song's author. The former Beatle was shot and killed outside his residence, the Dakota Arms in New York City, by Mark David Chapman, who only moments before his deadly deed had gotten Lennon’s autograph. 

Lennon’s death was a shock to the system for his fans and music lovers the world over. I cannot think of another celebrity of his stature who suffered a more heinous and untimely death at the hands of a mentally deranged individual. When the incident occurred, passersby heard Lennon cry out “I’ve been shot,” before collapsing to the ground.

Most of us who were of that age, living and involved in the heyday of the 1980s, listening to the music, celebrating, and believing we were invincible, were saddened at Lennon’s death and the sense of loss. To many of us, he was the more reserved of the Beatles, and seemed a nice guy. But people, even those who are famous and of notoriety have a tendency to say things, good, bad, ridiculous, and sometimes harmful to themselves and others. They do this without thinking through the repercussions of their words, especially in song, and what might follow.

When Lennon released the song Imagine, I would imagine he expected some criticism. Since its release, I must have heard the song hundreds of times without having had any particular reaction, positive or negative. But recently while listening to a brief retrospective of the former Beatle, and his impact on the group and music, I was struck by Lennon’s message.

Back then, and I’m certain today, Lennon’s supporters or critics could be described as falling into one of three categories, conservative, liberal, and the “I don’t really care.” These groups would respond to the song philosophically. Conservatives would accuse Lennon of recklessly using his celebrity, as denying the existence of a higher power, God.

As for liberals, I have to think that they would accept the song as a clarion call for globalization. It would be a world of people of many different, colors, sizes, and ethnicities, but with little or no religion. It would be nations without borders, no sovereignty, come and go as you will. All of us equal in material wealth, no possessions, total and complete equality, and a dream world. And who would govern such a world, I imagine a council made up of socialists, Marxists, and behind-the-scene plutocrats.

At the time of the song's release there was criticism. Some criticized Lennon's lyrics as describing hypothetical possibilities that offer no practical solutions, and that the lyrics are nebulous and contradictory. They ask the listener to abandon political systems while encouraging one akin to Communism. Some accused Lennon of hypocrisy, a millionaire rock star living in a mansion, encouraging listeners to imagine living their lives without possessions.

Again, while listening to the retrospective, I began to wonder what might have gone through Lennon’s mind as he realized his possible death. As he lay on the cold hard concrete on a city street, and slowly neared the ebb tide, and the flame of life began to flicker, did he feel fear of the unknown? They say when you are about to die, and know it is imminent, in that moment your past life flashes before you. 

Was John Lennon an atheist? Did he truly believe the words he expressed in the song Imagine, and that there was no heaven, no hell, and by extension, no God? In those final moments, did he realize the enormity of his words, passing on into nothingness without eternal life? Let’s hope that it was all just a fantasy by a gifted, but imperfect man, who although he sought a socialist utopia dream, still believed.