Imagine (song)

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Imagine is a 1971 song written and performed by John Lennon off Lennon's second album of the same name. It is regarded as Lennon's singature solo song.

Contents

Writing

John Lennon commented, "[Imagine] is anti-religious, anti-nationalistic, anti-conventional, anti-capitalistic... but because it is sugar-coated, it is accepted." The song, like many of Lennon's at the time, expressed his wish for world peace. The lyrics were inspired by Cloud Piece, a Spring 1963 poem by Lennon's wife Yoko Ono. The poem, reproduced in Ono's book Grapefruit, is

"Imagine the clouds dripping.
Dig a hole in your garden to
put them in."

This poem was reproduced on the back cover album artwork. Though the poem is only slightly similar to Lennon's song, he later regretted not giving Ono credit for writing the song. He recalled, "The song was originally inspired by Yoko's book Grapefruit. In it are a lot of pieces saying, Imagine this, imagine that. Yoko actually helped a lot with the lyrics, but I wasn't man enough to let her have credit for it. I was still selfish enough and unaware enough to sort of take her contribution without acknowledging it. I was still full of wanting my own space after being in a room with the guys all the time, having to share everything." Different lyric for the song were written on several pieces of paper, including a Majorcan hotel bill and stationery from the New York Hilton, suggesting that the song took a long time to write. Lennon recalled, "Dick Gregory gave Yoko and me a little hind of prayer book. It is in the Christian idiom, but you can apply it anywhere. It is the concept of positive prayer. If you want to get a car, get the car keys. Get it? Imagine is saying that. If you can imagine a world at peace, with no denominations of religion - not without religion but without this my-God-is-bigger-than-your-God thing - then it can be true." Though the message was widely received and was given poignancy after Lennon's assassination, some criticized the song because it mentions imagining no possessions when John Lennon was a multimillionaire. Because of this, later performances included the lyric "I wonder if we can" rather than "I wonder if you can." This can be heard on the Live In New York City album. Lennon remembered, "The World Church called me once and asked, 'Can we use the lyrics to Imagine and just change it to "Imagine one religion"?' That showed they didn't understand it at all. It would defeat the whole purpose of the song, the whole idea." The song is somewhat opposite of the previous single, Power To The People and Lennon's later Some Time In New York City album. Imagine suggests that rather than starting a revolution, Lennon wanted nothing to kill of die for. Former US president Jimmy Carter said of the song, "In many countries around the world - my wife and I have visited about 125 countries - you hear John Lennon's song 'Imagine' used almost equally with national anthems."

Recording

Imagine was recorded at Ascot Sound Studios, an eight-track recording studio Lennon set up in his Tittenhurst Park home. Before recording the song, John demonstrated it on piano to musicians around him. This performance is included on the Imagine: John Lennon sountrack. After this performance, Klaus Voormann suggested using the white baby grand piano in the 'white room' in Tittenhurst. The group attempted several takes in this room, but Phil Spector was ultimately displeased with the acoustics of the room. After returning to the studio, they made more attempts at the song. Some included John and Nicky Hopkins at the same piano, some featured Hopkins at an electirc piano, and some featured John Barham on harmonium. The first of these was featured on the John Lennon Anthology box set. Lennon and Spector realized that the song needed a simpler arrangement. The string arrangements were scored by Torrie Zito. They were recorded at Record Plant East, New York City in early July 1971. The musicians, which Lennon dubbed The Flux Fiddlers, were members of the New York Philharmonic.

Personnel

The Plastic Ono Band

Guest Musicians

Production

Release

Imagine was released as a single in the US, where it peaked at number three of the Billboard Hot 100. It was also Lennon's only solo number one in Australia, spending five weeks at the top of the charts. It was released as a single in the UK in 1975 to promote the Shaved Fish compilation. It reached number six in the singles chart. After Lennon's death in 1980, the song re-entered the charts and spent four weeks at the top in January 1981.

Live Performances

Imagine was played during a late night jam on October 9, 1971, Lennon's 31ST birthday. The occasion was the launch of Yoko Ono's art exhibition This Is Not Here at New York's Everson Art Museum. Afterwards, they threw a party. For this particular performance, Phil Spector was on vocals. Another, more successful attempt took place on December 17, 1971 at a fundraiser for victims of the Attica State Prison riot. This performance, at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, featured three acoustic performances: Attica State, Sisters, O Sisters, and Imagine. Imagine was played during John and Yoko's spell co-hosting the Mike Douglas show in January 1972. They appeared alongside the Elephant's Memory Band, their backing group during the Some Time In New York City era. Lennon also performed the song at the One To One shows at Madison Square Gardens on August 30, 1972, his final concerts. It was the second song played at both the afternoon and evening shows. Lennon played electric piano. This afternoon performance was included on the 1986 album Live In New York City. This version was significant for adding the lyric "a brotherhood and sisterhood of man". Lennon's final performance of the song, and, by extension, his final live performance ever, was on April 18, 1975. He appeared on the Salute To Sir Lew - The Master Showman. This concert was a tribute to Lew Grande, the controller of ATV Music and the owner of the Lennon/McCartney song publishing rights. Lennon was accompanied by the band Dog Soldier, and was introduced as 'John Lennon etc.' The band wore face masks on the back of their heads, perhaps a comment on the two-faced perception of Grande. Three songs were performed: Slippin' And Slidin', Stand By Me, and Imagine. For Imagine, Lennon played acoustic guitar and added the lyrics "Nothing to kill or die for/And no immigration too". He dedicated the performance to Sir Lew and "to my other friend, Yoko."

Legacy

In 1981, former bandmate George Harrison released the song All Those Years Ago. The song, featuring all three of the then-surviving Beatles, was written about Lennon and has the line "You were the one who imagined it all". In 2002, Liverpool John Lennon Airport was renamed in Lennon's honor. A bronze statue was installed in the check-in hall and the line "Above us only sky" was painted on the roof and signs at the airport. Imagine is the offical song of Amnesty International, since Yoko Ono gave the organization permission to use it. Ono commented, "Those who know the song 'Imagine' understand that it was written with a very deep love for the human race and a concern for its future. It is about the betterment of the world for our children and ourselves. Like the song, Amnesty International gives a voice to the importance of human rights. And like the song, it has been able to effect change."

Available Versions

John Lennon

Yoko Ono

Known Unavailable Versions

A (%) indicates an overdub, edit piece, or basic track available only as part of another recording. The overdub, edit piece, or basic track by itself has not been released.

Available On

Cover Versions

Source

Emily Stowers

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