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Alexis Perez
Professor John Kubler
English 115
8 September 2014
"Imagine" the Misconceptions
Every song has a meaning, and to me, John Lennon you have brought the world music we
will live with forever. Although completely captivating, I will say, your music can be quiet
difficult to understand. Take the song "Imagine" for example, the problem with it is that you can
interpret those lyrics in many ways. With the music alone it sounds very cheerful, but when you
get into depth of what the lyrics mean, you can see that it starts to get a little perplexing.
According to you Lennon, ending everything that deals with diversity seems better beneficial the
people, yet that isn't all that correct in my eyes. We may have different views but in the end we
all want the same thing, peace.
The reason your lyrics seem to confuse me is because in a way they don't make sense.
Taking this part of the song for example, "I hope someday you'll join us/ And the world will live
as one", makes you think vastly about what it means to be "as one" (1). As my professor said,
"you have to know which 'one', he's referring to." That "one" if thought about, is associated with
being a good idea to replace diversity, yet we don't know if it would even benefit society. As I
see it, it would lead to become a religion because people would follow the path of no diversity,
and believe in it as being more influential for the people. As Madeleine Albright states in her
book "The Mighty & The Almighty", "we do not know what it would be like to live in a world
where religious faith is absent", which gives a good explanation as to why you are incorrect (35).

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Albright has a very good point because many of those who say that we shouldn't have a world
with religion are usually not for it so either way it wouldn't be a solution for them at all. You also
say, "nothing to kill or die for" within your song and further more proves the point that you are in
no way, shape, or form, accepting of religion (1).
There are still many misconceptions that I have with your lyrics. Another is the part in
which you say, "Imagine there's no heaven/ It's easy if you try/ No hell below us/ Above us only
sky", because it still gives a negative outlook for religion. Many people who are believers of
religion consider an afterlife, whether it be in heaven, hell, or anywhere else. It's a part of the
way our society works because many devotee's could argue that it brings us hope. Believing in
nothing as you portray, leads us to no hope, and emptiness. Albright can add to my view, when
she states in her book "In Seiple's view.... the second lesson is that religion at its best teaches
forgiveness and reconciliation" (37). This point she makes religion worshipers assure themselves
that heaven will be brought upon us after death if we forgive. You state there not being anything
like that in our after lives, but it helps many to continue to think positively, that even when our
lives end, there's something good waiting for us on the other side.
Everybody has beliefs in the world, as do you Lennon. In my eyes religion plays a huge
role in your song. I see that within your lyrics that all you want is to be at peace, at that we can
achieve that by letting go of what makes us different, but sometimes that isn't enough. People
around the world have different wants and needs and that's never going to change. People think
differently and achieve their goals in various ways. Albright says, "In parts of Asia and Africa,
Christians and Muslims are fighting, but they share a desire to worship freely and without fear",
and this brings the point across that we don't want to live in terror (40). Your song gives out the
assumption that we should just get rid of everything that makes us different, including religion,

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to create world peace. It's that simple, that all we have to do is let go of what makes us different
and be the same. We don't live in an era that can fully grasp the concept, because in all reality we
live in fear. We need something to uplift us from our horror. Being brought up with in a Catholic
household, I can say that religion has saved me. Believing in positivity and someone from above
who can help me in the simplest and even the hardest times has mentally brought me peace.
Peace will never fully happen in the world. So many people living on the planet, with
different outlooks, beliefs, personalities, etc. that there will always be a point in time in which we
will fight one another. Letting go of the one thing that keeps us sane isn't the answer. You
continually throughout the song bring an example of emptiness, and no true belief in anything,
but that isn't the life I want to live. I would rather have something to die for, that can bring me
joy to have said "I fought for it" then to say that nothing in life was worth it. Letting go of
religion will never be an answer, and although people have fought continuous wars because of it,
it has also brought joy and peace to others. Your peace within the song, surrounds itself around a
group of people, which is like a religion, yet you don't want that to exist. Although our
perspectives are different, I know we are all aiming for the same goal ... peace, even if that
means that we have to only find peace within ourselves.