 Imagine (1971) [ larger cover art ] |
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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-ahh
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
Yoohoo-ooh
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
Yoohoo-ooh
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
| On_The_Beach (The Blue Planet) | Posted: May 19, 2013 - 15:41 VH1 wrote: If the world would still be "a bit like71" there would be no gay rights and no gay marriage, but it would still be a punishable offence to love a person of same sex, there would be no black president, as the blacks would still have no rights, there would still be the Vietnam war, there would still be the cold war, atom test would take place on the Bikini and Mururora Atoll, the Berlin Wall would still stand and Germany would be divided, and there would be no Internet, so we could not communicate, and this list goes on forever... there WAS NO innocence in 71! People have a tendency to always think "the good old days" were best, but in fact they weren't. I was still quite young in 71, and I am glad ist over - the world as achieved a lot of personal freedom since then! On the upside, there was no Paris Hilton or Kim Kardashian. |
| buddy | Posted: May 19, 2013 - 15:34 ziakut wrote: If the world had stayed a bit more like it once was in 1971...an innocence would still prevail and make this song more of a prevalent hope or a dreamy aspiration. Instead...it now sounds like a faded memory...or a relic of a time since gone. Make no mistake...there is still reason to hope and dream...and there is a lot of good left in this world. It just takes a bit more of an effort to see it clearly. Thankfully tunes like this one remind us that humankind can be simple and full of thought provoking "what ifs." That is exactly what this song is about and always will be...the human race evolving in spite of itself...the journey... |
| lshinkawa (Berkeley, CA) | Posted: May 19, 2013 - 15:34 I like Elvis Costello's lyric from "The Other Side of Summer": "Was it a millionaire who said, Imagine no possessions?" |
| dwhayslett (Pawleys Island, SC) | Posted: Apr 24, 2013 - 11:02 VH1 wrote: People have a tendency to always think "the good old days" were best, but in fact they weren't. Nostalgia just isn't what it used to be. |
| Lazarus (Bethany) | Posted: Apr 24, 2013 - 11:02 Thank Zeus we still have this song to guide us... this song is as relevant as ever... the message possesses phenomenal clarity — these lyrics are philosophical — with a literal and direct description of how humanity can live in peace and good will... this is the best song ever... |
| VH1 (Germany) | Posted: Apr 22, 2013 - 07:04 If the world would still be "a bit like71" there would be no gay rights and no gay marriage, but it would still be a punishable offence to love a person of same sex, there would be no black president, as the blacks would still have no rights, there would still be the Vietnam war, there would still be the cold war, atom test would take place on the Bikini and Mururora Atoll, the Berlin Wall would still stand and Germany would be divided, and there would be no Internet, so we could not communicate, and this list goes on forever... there WAS NO innocence in 71! People have a tendency to always think "the good old days" were best, but in fact they weren't. I was still quite young in 71, and I am glad ist over - the world as achieved a lot of personal freedom since then! |
| ziakut (Slightly North of Obvlivion) | Posted: Apr 18, 2013 - 08:20 If the world had stayed a bit more like it once was in 1971...an innocence would still prevail and make this song more of a prevalent hope or a dreamy aspiration. Instead...it now sounds like a faded memory...or a relic of a time since gone. Make no mistake...there is still reason to hope and dream...and there is a lot of good left in this world. It just takes a bit more of an effort to see it clearly. Thankfully tunes like this one remind us that humankind can be simple and full of thought provoking "what ifs." |
| Lazarus (Bethany) | Posted: Mar 17, 2013 - 21:00 perfect... |
| Mystery Guest (somewhere else) | Posted: Mar 13, 2013 - 09:43 Cfffhtr |
| Lazarus (Bethany) | Posted: Feb 20, 2013 - 13:14 Yes, the best... love this song... |
| Hippostar (Portland, OR) | Posted: Feb 20, 2013 - 13:14 The thing about politics, is nobody believes their own views and perspectives are evil or wrong. It is only the judgment of others that attempts to cast diverse views as such. John Lennon, being no exception to this. |
| Lazarus (Bethany) | Posted: Feb 14, 2013 - 12:04 woodchuk wrote: "Politics have no relation to morals." Niccolò Machiavelli This ancient truth is worth remembering, even in American politics. We will all be better off for it... The utopian vision described in this song is beautiful tho'... Interesting... I think this is the best song of all time... love it... thank you to Radio Paradise... |
| Tizmself (Santa Barbara, Ca.) | Posted: Feb 14, 2013 - 12:01 Still makes me sad that he's gone. Bastards.....can't have anything nice. Miss you John. |
| coachc (Madison, WI) | Posted: Feb 14, 2013 - 12:00 Used to love it. Can't really say so any more. |
| pontfarrer (Sudbury, Ontario) | Posted: Jan 29, 2013 - 18:59 I'm in total agreement ... waste of a song when you hear it connected to big corporate companies .. do they think we'e stupd?! We must be .. sad tho ... ambrebalte wrote: There are many comments that I don't understand because they relate either to an era when I was too young, or to people and facts that are too far. I used to love this song and sing it loud (and off tune) on my bike at various stage of my life, but after seeing it used in clips for advertisements by companies who don't give a sh*t of human beings to sell cars or life insurance (!), and I think even a bank...it's tainted now. Pity. Still is a 8 |
| oldsaxon (Wales via Vancouver, BC.) | Posted: Jan 20, 2013 - 05:16 If it wasn't for the reek of irony this might be a lovely tune. |
| ambrebalte (Wolxheim (France) - Dreaming about resuming my life in Beijing province) | Posted: Jan 14, 2013 - 04:36 woodchuk wrote: "Politics have no relation to morals." Niccolò Machiavelli This ancient truth is worth remembering, even in American politics. We will all be better off for it... The utopian vision described in this song is beautiful tho'... That could be a beginning for a media charter |
| ambrebalte (Wolxheim (France) - Dreaming about resuming my life in Beijing province) | Posted: Jan 14, 2013 - 04:33 There are many comments that I don't understand because they relate either to an era when I was too young, or to people and facts that are too far. I used to love this song and sing it loud (and off tune) on my bike at various stage of my life, but after seeing it used in clips for advertisements by companies who don't give a sh*t of human beings to sell cars or life insurance (!), and I think even a bank...it's tainted now. Pity. Still is a 8 |
| woodchuk (Lunar Lagrange point L1) | Posted: Jan 14, 2013 - 04:23 Lazarus wrote: Jonathan Haidt on Why We Vote the Way We Do Politics is largely about moral missions for the nation, and the president is expected to be the high priest of the American civic religion. It can be illuminating to see the left and right in this country as practicing different civic religions, and looking to very different high priests... "Politics have no relation to morals." Niccolò Machiavelli This ancient truth is worth remembering, even in American politics. We will all be better off for it... The utopian vision described in this song is beautiful tho'... |
| Lazarus (Bethany) | Posted: Jan 04, 2013 - 18:26 Jonathan Haidt on Why We Vote the Way We Do Politics is largely about moral missions for the nation, and the president is expected to be the high priest of the American civic religion. It can be illuminating to see the left and right in this country as practicing different civic religions, and looking to very different high priests... |
| Stratocaster (Bermuda) | Posted: Nov 12, 2012 - 10:21 I got this record for Christmas when I was twelve. When I put it on, my dad stopped to listen and pronounced it excellent. Well, at least the slow songs. I played it to death, and I still really love the record. |
| ziggytrix (Dallas, TX) | Posted: Nov 12, 2012 - 10:20 Tana wrote: Well, this sure beats Herman Cain's version by about a million miles. I missed that one. Did you catch W's? (actually it's the Party Party's, but it's all W samples - an instant classic) |
| jmkate (nearly under a stack of books) | Posted: Nov 12, 2012 - 10:18 In light of a brand new nephew joining us all this morning, I really appreciate this thought... |
| lemmoth (NYC) | Posted: Nov 12, 2012 - 10:17 Greatest.......song.........ever. |
| tarpan (Poland) | Posted: Oct 12, 2012 - 01:49 jocelynsart wrote: ugh - I'm probably the only person in the world who does not care for him, or the Beatles You're not the only one ;-) At least for Lennon. |
| FuryQuaker (Denmark) | Posted: Oct 12, 2012 - 01:48 jocelynsart wrote: ugh - I'm probably the only person in the world who does not care for him, or the Beatles No you're not the only one. I think they're ok but certainly not as good as they're blown up to be. |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: Sep 16, 2012 - 14:24 The very best of the best... this is as good as song-writing gets... |
| jocelynsart | Posted: Sep 16, 2012 - 14:10 ugh - I'm probably the only person in the world who does not care for him, or the Beatles |
| nagsheadlocal (North Carolina, the new New Jersey) | Posted: Sep 10, 2012 - 12:19 This past weekend I sat down with my closest friend of many, many years and watched the DVD set of "The Beatles Anthology" which my partner had given me for my birthday. We were just going to watch one episode . . . Twelve hours (and many beers) later, we were stunned when the closing credits finally rolled. If you are of a certain age, it's hard to comprehend how the Beatles influenced your life. If you are NOT of a certain age, it's even harder. Anyway, here's your warning: don't think you are just going to watch one episode. |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: Sep 10, 2012 - 12:14 Thank you, RP, for playing the best song that has ever been written since the dawn of time!! Bob Dylan has a new album out called Tempest... RollingStone has given Dylan's new album a five star rating... the last song on the album is called "Roll on John", and it is about John Lennon's murder... for more data about Dylan's new album, go here... |
| oldviolin (Esse Quam Videri) | Posted: Jul 15, 2012 - 16:12 ...one thing you can't hide... |
| FooledAgain (43°40'N 79°20'W) | Posted: Jul 11, 2012 - 19:12 zair99 wrote: Ha, I'm inclined to agree. This is a good song, but musically it's nothing like what the Beatles did together. It doesn't seem to have the emotional impact on me that some of the Beatles songs do, either. Golly, I have to disagree. Musically it's a lot like what the Beatles did together, I feel. And I remember the impact when this song came out. It was very much of its era, and it was immediately recognised as a masterpiece. |
| zair99 (In Cognito) | Posted: Jun 07, 2012 - 20:40 valeriogonzalez wrote: Lennon without the Beatles  Ha, I'm inclined to agree. This is a good song, but musically it's nothing like what the Beatles did together. It doesn't seem to have the emotional impact on me that some of the Beatles songs do, either. |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: Jun 07, 2012 - 20:40 Thank you, John Lennon, for writing the best song of all time... thank you, RP, for letting us hear it... |
| valeriogonzalez (Quito, Ecuador) | Posted: Jun 07, 2012 - 20:38 Lennon without the Beatles |
| rotten | Posted: Apr 12, 2012 - 15:02 Imagine all the millionaires imaging there were no possessions. |
| window (Richmond, VA) | Posted: Apr 11, 2012 - 12:48 Stingray wrote: In the name of screaming LORD Sutch: Switch to a religious rock-music station, if you wonder if this is irony! There you get tons of religious irony - sold as the real deal! Chill, dude. I was just asking a lighthearted question. But as it happens, your response - vilifying a person for posing an question about sacrosanct material - is exactly what Christians and other religious people get accused of all the time. And that is irony! |
| orquidea (SPAIN) | Posted: Apr 11, 2012 - 12:38 I`m a dreamer... |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: Apr 11, 2012 - 12:36 TerryS wrote: Agreed, but for 4,000 holes in Blackburn Lancs. aka "Day in the life". I hear ya... I would still rank "Imagine" number one in infinity... there are lots of number two contenders... |
| TerryS (Another SW) | Posted: Mar 10, 2012 - 20:41 romeotuma wrote: This is the single best song in the history of infinity... thank you for this... Agreed, but for 4,000 holes in Blackburn Lancs. aka "Day in the life". |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: Mar 04, 2012 - 17:00 This is the single best song in the history of infinity... thank you for this... |
| Stingray (NWO reloaded) | Posted: Jan 07, 2012 - 08:50 window wrote: 1,170 "Godlike" ratings for a song that yearns for the end of religion (among other things). Is that irony? In the name of screaming LORD Sutch: Switch to a religious rock-music station, if you wonder if this is irony! There you get tons of religious irony - sold as the real deal! |
| Stingray (NWO reloaded) | Posted: Jan 07, 2012 - 08:44 Where's the rank to fit this into...? For now a 10! |
| window (Richmond, VA) | Posted: Dec 06, 2011 - 13:19 1,170 "Godlike" ratings for a song that yearns for the end of religion (among other things). Is that irony? |
| kaybee (Lost in the Wilds of Toronto) | Posted: Nov 30, 2011 - 18:33 I gave this piece an 8 and it probably does deserve a 9 or 10, but I am so, so sick of hearing it, that I actually mute as soon as I hear the beginning chords on the piano. Pity... |
| govna (beantown) | Posted: Nov 30, 2011 - 12:15 if you don't rate this as "10," you're not doing it right. |
| ColdMiser (Out in the Cold) | Posted: Nov 30, 2011 - 12:12 just rated this a 10 and pushed the average from 8.9 to 9...cool  |
| ccwcool (O-HI-O) | Posted: Nov 30, 2011 - 12:09 Overrated. |
| ThePoose (Ottawa, capital of Canada) | Posted: Nov 30, 2011 - 12:08 I like to imagine this song without the drums and strings: simply John at his white piano. It would have more impact and poignancy for me by being stripped down and simple—like the lyrics imply about how our world could be. It could be remastered this way. |
| glen1n1m | Posted: Nov 30, 2011 - 12:08 Just Curious Bill, did you get this version direct from vinyl? Thought I heard some static pops. |