Notes

The song Imagine (1971) was composed by John Lennon with the help of his wife Yoko Ono. This song is the way John Lennon expresses his vision where love, empathy, and compassion are the guiding principles. It starts with the sequence “Imagine there’s no heaven” and inspires listeners to picture the earth without boundaries, battles, or controls. This piece's significant message is that the earth could be a better place if people put aside their work towards a common goal of peace and understanding. The main character in this song is John Lennon, who voices straight to the listeners, the people who make up this imagined world. The themes of “Imagine” are love, peace, unity, and the power of imagination. Lennon’s music is a sign of hope and a call to step to form a more promising tomorrow for everyone.

One of the most significant ideas in Imagine is that the song covers the dangers of greed and nationalism. Lennon tells us that the purpose of living and national identity can lead to roughness and disagreements. He stated in the lyrics, “Imagine no possessions / No need for greed or hunger,” This line means that if we let go of it or we could live in a world where there is no hunger or greed.

One of the most significant themes in “Imagine” is the ability of people's imagination. Lennon points out that our knowledge to imagine a more delightful world is right for making one. He sang a part that says, “Imagine all the people / Living life in peace.” This line inspires listeners to imagine a world where there is no competition, no division, and no hostility.

One significant historical connection I saw in the song to the real world is that the song impacted the fall of the Berlin Wall. In 1989, during a live concert in Germany, Lennon’s wife Yoko Ono performed Imagine with a children's choir. The performance was promoted to East and West Germany. “Imagine all the people Living life in peace,” This part talks about unity and the removal of borders and talks directly about the passion for reuniting in Germany which became a sign of hope for a new generation of peace and freedom.

One political connection I found in this song that can be seen, is as John Lennon was known for his activism and involvement in political causes. Lennon’s lyrics, “Imagine no possessions,” placed his anti-capitalist beliefs and the song became associated with liberal politics.

One social connection I could see is that John Lennon described something in his song using the part, “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,” Lennon tried to encourage each person to be in peace through the battles that people encounter in their lives such as belief, ethnicity, and power.

One cultural connection I could see in the song that is important is that it has been covered by multiple artists and has been used in numerous movies, TV shows, and advertisements, and the part of the song that says, “Imagine there's no countries.” The song’s message of hope and unity has continued with people across generations and cultures.

One aspect of the song that made me think about my own life was about the importance of picturing a better world and maintaining the effort to create it and the verse stated, “It's easy if you try.” This message shows peace and unity with me personally, as I consider that we have an obligation to serve this world where all people should be treated with dignity and respect.

Another aspect of the song that reminded me of wider society was that we create walls in our own lives and in wider society. Whether it is through nationalism, racism, or other forms of discrimination, we usually create barriers that prevent us from seeing each other as fellow human beings, one of the verses stated, “It isn't hard to do,” this part did challenge us to feel about how we can work towards a better cooperative and friendly society while some of the other people are insensitive to how we feel.

Another aspect of the song that reminded me that it is connected to the wider world was that the lyric states, “And the world will be as one,” this part tells us about hope and unity are especially relevant today, as we face difficult challenges such as climate changes, political parting, and economic inequality. Lennon’s call to imagine a more pleasing world reminds us that change is possible and that we have the power to create an endurable future.
To sum up everything that is connected to this, I have summarised a quote by Mahatma Gandhi and she stated, “The day the power of love overrules the love of power, the world will know peace.”