John Lennon's Imaginary World

John Joseph M. Rodulfo

Mr. Arnel Francis Galang Jr.

ENGLISH 10

19 October 2009

John Lennon’s Imaginary World

(A song analysis of “Imagine” by John Lennon)

Most people today dream of a perfect life --- a life with peace, love and camaraderie. All of these abstract words are hard to attain in this world. Why? Because our world is slowly turning to a world of chaos bound about by selfishness and greed. People find their own ways to make their lives perfect. Some hoard money, some devote time for charities, some act simply and some give inspiration to the hopeless.

Music has been used to inspire people to reach different heights. Although many songs have been written about finding hope in this world, one song stays universal. This is John Lennon’s, “Imagine”. This essay seeks to find explanation and meaning to this either hopeful or hopeless song. This has been a debate for over many years now since John Lennon wrote and released this song.

John Lennon’s Fame

Through the 1960's and 1970's and up until his death in 1980, Lennon was a peace activist. His tenure with the Beatles gained him world fame and allowed for him to be heard.  His controversial album where he posed naked along with his weeklong stint in bed with his wife, Yoko Ono, also served as an ideology because people saw it and really believed that he wanted peace.  While none of this would have likely occurred had he not been in the world famous Beatles, his star power allowed him to be heard arguably more than Hollywood actor or actress or rock n' roll legend of all time. 

    While his fame boosted him into the public eye more than most peace activists, he was more than just that to many.  In 2002, Britons cast their vote for the 100 Greatest Britons.  Lennon landed at number eight behind the likes of Winston Churchill, Princess Diana, Isaac Newton, and Charles Darwin.  He was the first musician on the list and also was ahead of figures such as the famous...