“Imagine” Textual Analysis
When you experience real danger, you can truly appreciate the importance of safety and peace. We need the peaceful society. We need the peaceful world. John Lennon was an English singer, songwriter, musician, and activist of the Beatles. His song “Imagine” succeeded in 1971. This song talked about John Lennon’s imagination and hope. He imagined this world could be peaceful. He imagined this world without killing, no discrimination, and possession, and he wanted this world to be like a big family. He dreamed people could live in the world in peace. John Lennon is a great singer and he used this song to prove it. He used the slow rhythm and sad mood to call for anti-war and peace in this song “Imagine”.
John Lennon first band, the Quarrymen was renamed the Silver Beatles, and became the Beatles in 1960. Lennon’s solo album sales in the United States had more then 14 million units. In 2002, Lennon was voted eighth in a BBC poll of the hundred Greatest Britons. And in 2008, Rolling Stone ranked him the fifth-greatest singer. Also, Lennon was twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Jonathan Cott said : “It’s impossible to recapture in print John’s inflections and pronunciations of words like “happens,” for example. Wish you had been there.” This is a nice compliment form Jonathan Cott.
He sang “Imagine there’s no countries, it isn’t hard to do. Nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too.” John Lennon thought if the world was without killing, religion, and war, the world would be peaceful. But some countries will use the war to grab land and seize power. War always make many people die and make the world in trouble.For example in the beginning of 20th century, World War I happened. This war made more than ten million people die and about fifty million people injured. Government power made the people’s lives in danger and made the world in trouble in that time.
In the United States, nobody can compel you to choose religion. It’s your freedom. But other place still have the religion problem and religion war. In the Middle East, most countries’ religion is Islam, but other countries’ religion is not Islam. That made the conflict and war like the religious conflict between Palestine and Israel. Israel was a rebuilt country of Jews dispersed around the world after World War II. Their religion is Judaism. A lot of Arabs lived in Palestine, their religion is Islam. Because of the different religion, the conflict was increasingly larger. Different religions have different cultures. That is also one reason to start a war. John Lennon wanted to say if the world was without religious war, maybe the world should be more peaceful.
When he sang “ 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.” He speaks to the audiences. He hopes people can love each other like brothers. When people can respect each other, love each other, the conflict will not happen. Now, many people fight each other because of the small or not important things. If we can try to understand each other, then we can let the conflict never happen. Many people think this is a imagination. But if you never try, how can you know this is not possible. We need to take the first step on this. In the daily life, try to respect people, try to help people, try to understand people. If we can do this , the world could be wonderful. John hoped his audience could join with him. He hoped they could be a role model for the other people in the world who don’t know how to do it. If people can join the peace action, the world will have no limit. The world will be as one. The world will be a big family and we are a part of the family. We will love each other and build a wonderful world together. At that time, we will know peace is coming. He thought people couldn’t reach this goal now. But John Lennon still have a hope in this. The future will make this goal be come true.
In the fall of 1971, John Lennon issued his single “Imagine”. This song involved his opinion about the political issue at that time. Before 1970, the United States used a same rules towards India and Pakistan, and made an alliance with both countries. But in March 1971, the United States had a tense relationship with India. Because of Pakistan’s military action, led to a large number of refugees running away. India used this excuse to open the war. John said“A Brotherhood of man”to talk about the relationship between India and Pakistan. But their relationship was broken. The United States sent the troops to the Bay of Bengal, nominally to saved American nationals, but actually they wanted to prepare the war,(US forces had orders to target Indian Army in 1971). Then India stopped this war. Even Though this war did not continue long time, that was a huge influence to the local people. The war destroyed their houses and their lives. Why did the war happen? Because of India’s greed. India wanted to destroyed Pakistan. John said, “ No need for greed or hunger” to India and Pakistan. They should not start the war because of the greed. This war was unfair to the citizens because they destroyed the people’s lives. John wanted to tell the people to protest against war. “ Imagine all the people living life in peace” was John’s goal. His song affected his audiences opinion about the war. His “Imagine” became a anti-war song. His song was successful at reaching his goal because India and Pakistan’s relationship became normal. People had the peaceful life.
In conclusion, I like John Lennon’s song “Imagine”. Ono said: “ Looking back at that morning 30 years later. “Imagine” was just what John believed:That we are all one country, one world, one people. He wanted to get that idea out.” This world should be peace all the time. And this peace needs people’s support. People should band together against war. We should never let war happen. This is John Lennon’s dream, also it is many people’s dream. “Imagine” proven John Lennon was a great singer. This song affected this world and many people. “Imagine” was a famous anti-war song. John Lennon’s song inspired the audience to protest war and build a peaceful world together. Never give up and make the dream be true.
Works cited
Cott, Jonathan. “John Lennon: The Rolling Stone Interview.”Rolling Stone, Rolling Stone, 23 Nov. 1968,
Josy Joseph“US forces had orders to target Indian Army in 1971 - Times of India.”The Times of India,
Jay-Z“500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2011,