John Lennon’s “Imagine” easily ranks as one of the most iconic songs ever recorded. The beautiful song was released on Lennon’s second studio album with the same name, and is known as his solo signature piece. The song’s release in 1971 was received with mixed reviews, with critics praising the song’s composition, but criticizing its message. In this article, we’ll explore the story, meaning, and legacy behind the song!
The Story Behind the Song
The origin behind “Imagine” lies with John Lennon’s wife Yoko Ono. In 1964, Ono published an artist’s book titled Grapefruit filled with ‘instructional poems’. Lennon’s inspiration for the song was heavily inspired by one of Ono’s poems titled ‘Cloud Piece’:
Imagine the clouds dripping.
Dig a hole in your garden to
put them in.
— 1963 Spring
Besides ‘Cloud Piece’, there were several other poems in Grapefruit that focused on the idea of imagining. Together with a Christian prayer book Dick Gregory gifted John Lennon, he started working on “Imagine”.
The song initially originated as a short musical idea in 1969, during the Beatles’ Let It Be sessions. The piece was titled “John’s Piano Piece” and can be heard on Let It Be… Naked’s bonus disc Fly on the Wall.
Lennon eventually turned the musical idea into “Imagine” in 1971, at his country house Tittenhurst Park. The lyrics of the song supposedly came to him in a single writing session.
Listen to “John’s Piano Piece” during the Let It Be sessions at 5:56
The Meaning of the Song
with “Imagine”, John Lennon encourages the listener to imagine a world without divisions, conflicts, and possessions. The song shares a message of peace and unity, regardless of religion, nationality, and/or beliefs.
Lennon himself stated the song was written around the concept of ‘positive prayer’, where you imagine a ‘world at peace’. He also admitted Yoko Ono’s book Grapefruit was so influential to the song, that she deserved a songwriting credit.
Ono herself stated the song’s lyrics were simply what Lennon believed: “That we are all one country, one world, one people.”
John Lennon knew there would be controversy around the song’s anti-themes, but claimed to have learned that as long as you sugar-coat it (in a beautiful song), people will accept it.
Criticism
But Lennon’s sugar-coating couldn’t prevent the song from receiving heavy criticism. The most prominent complaint from critics was the contrast between the song’s message and Lennon’s lifestyle.
The line ‘Imagine no possessions’, for instance, didn’t seem to align with Lennon’s luxurious lifestyle. After all, he wrote the song in his lavish country house Tittenhurst Park.
Besides that, Lennon didn’t seem to be at ‘peace’ with the people around him, having turbulent relationships with pretty much every person in his life. Other critics felt the song was filled with contradictions and offered no practical solutions.
But former Beatles bandmate and drummer Ringo Starr defended Lennon. In an interview with Barbara Walters, he said: “[Lennon] said ‘imagine’, that’s all. Just imagine it.”
Lennon also received heavy criticism for his ‘no religion’ statement, although he clarified the lyrics weren’t about a world without religion, but about a world without the ‘my-God-is-bigger-than-your-God thing’.
Although “Imagine” was heavily criticized, the criticism was easily overshadowed by the song’s praise.
Legacy
John Lennon eventually released “Imagine” in 1971, on his second studio album with the same name. It was released as a single and became a worldwide top 10 hit.
The song quickly became a protest song for the peace movement, and is often used in response to tragic events. It also frequently appears during benefit concerts, with performances from famous artists like Neil Young, Stevie Wonder, and Madonna.
After Lennon’s death, “Imagine” came to be known as his masterpiece, and the song often appears high in the ‘greatest songs of all time’ lists. Despite “Imagine’s” heavy criticism, people continue to resonate with the song’s message, making it a timeless anthem that remains impactful to this day.
