Imagine all the world in peace, John Lennon did. John Lennon will always be remembered for being a member of one of the most influential bands of our time, the Beatles, but he should also be remembered for his messages of peace, love, unity, and hope; and his political activism. John Lennon's legacy is still relevant today 38 years after his violent death. John Lennon was born and raised in Liverpool, England, his father walked out when John was very young and his mother was killed by a drunk off-duty police officer when he was 17. He was 15 years old when he started his first band, The Quarrymen, in 1956, and was joined by Paul McCartney, and George Harrison. This band eventually turned into the Beatles. He dropped out of art school because
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This is when he began protesting the Vietnam War, attending many public demonstrations. They were both passionate about political activism and peace, inspiring young people into political activity and participation in the peace movement. Lennon and Ono wrote "Give Peace a Chance," an anti-war chant that definitely showed his pacifist side. Then there was "Working Class Hero" that advocated for the "peasants" to rise up and make a change, to not just go along with what the government taught you. Lennon talked about the song with the left-wing newspaper Red Mole. "They think they are in a wonderful, free-speaking country, they've all got cars and tellies and they don't want to think there's anything more to life," he said. "They are prepared to let the bosses run them, to see their children fucked up in school. They're dreaming someone else's dream, it's not even their own." The song ends with the lyrics, "If you want to be a hero well just follow me." He later said this was meant to be sarcastic as he had attained wealth and power but was still unhappy at times. Next came "Power to the People" with the …show more content…
However, some feel it is sappy, patronizing, or overly sentimental; as well as a communist anthem and against God. A comment Lennon addressed in an interview, "'Imagine,' both the song itself and the album, is the same thing as 'Working Class Hero' and 'Mother' and 'God' on the first disc. But the first record was too real for people, so nobody bought it. It was banned on the radio. But the song 'Imagine,' which says: "Imagine that there was no more religion, no more country, no more politics" is virtually the communist manifesto, even though I am not particularly a communist and I do not belong to any movement. You see, 'Imagine' was exactly the same message, but sugar-coated. Now 'Imagine' is a big hit almost everywhere - anti-religious, anti-nationalistic, anti-conventional, anti-capitalistic song, but because it is sugar-coated it is accepted. Now I understand what you have to do." In addition, Lennon said, "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." This shows that Lennon was not an atheist but he was against violence over whose God is better or true. He also updated lyrics in live performances from, "Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can," to "I wonder if we can," reflecting
This is when he began protesting the Vietnam War, attending many public demonstrations. They were both passionate about political activism and peace, inspiring young people into political activity and participation in the peace movement. Lennon and Ono wrote "Give Peace a Chance," an anti-war chant that definitely showed his pacifist side. Then there was "Working Class Hero" that advocated for the "peasants" to rise up and make a change, to not just go along with what the government taught you. Lennon talked about the song with the left-wing newspaper Red Mole. "They think they are in a wonderful, free-speaking country, they've all got cars and tellies and they don't want to think there's anything more to life," he said. "They are prepared to let the bosses run them, to see their children fucked up in school. They're dreaming someone else's dream, it's not even their own." The song ends with the lyrics, "If you want to be a hero well just follow me." He later said this was meant to be sarcastic as he had attained wealth and power but was still unhappy at times. Next came "Power to the People" with the …show more content…
However, some feel it is sappy, patronizing, or overly sentimental; as well as a communist anthem and against God. A comment Lennon addressed in an interview, "'Imagine,' both the song itself and the album, is the same thing as 'Working Class Hero' and 'Mother' and 'God' on the first disc. But the first record was too real for people, so nobody bought it. It was banned on the radio. But the song 'Imagine,' which says: "Imagine that there was no more religion, no more country, no more politics" is virtually the communist manifesto, even though I am not particularly a communist and I do not belong to any movement. You see, 'Imagine' was exactly the same message, but sugar-coated. Now 'Imagine' is a big hit almost everywhere - anti-religious, anti-nationalistic, anti-conventional, anti-capitalistic song, but because it is sugar-coated it is accepted. Now I understand what you have to do." In addition, Lennon said, "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." This shows that Lennon was not an atheist but he was against violence over whose God is better or true. He also updated lyrics in live performances from, "Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can," to "I wonder if we can," reflecting