(Throug Rose-Coloured Glasses)
In 1971, John Lennon expressed his vision of hope, peace, a world free of poverty, a world without countries or religions, through his powerful song “Imagine”. Lennon believed, “we are all one country, one world, one people”.
In the book Lennon in America, by Geoffrey Giuliano, Lennon himself commented that Imagine was an “anti-religious, anti-nationalistic, anti-conventional, anti-capitalistic [song], but because it’s sugar-coated, it’s accepted.”
Decades later, his lyrics continue to influence and inspire.
Imagine
John Lennon
1971
Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today…
Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace…
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
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
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 live as one
想像
約翰藍儂
想像 沒有天堂
試看 應很容易
下 沒有地獄
上 只是長空
想像 所有的人
生活在今天
想像 沒有國家
應該 並非太難
不再殘殺 犧牲
也沒有宗教
想像 所有的人
生活在和平
你説 我在造夢
但這 不單是我
希望 終於 你能加盟
世界 合而為一
想像 不再擁有
借問 這可能嗎
再沒貪婪 肌餓
衆人皆弟兄
想像 所有的人
同享 世界
你説 我在造夢
但這 不單是我
希望 終於 你能加盟
世界 合而為一
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCX3ZNDZAwY
FB,
Is there any contradiction between Lennon’s political activism and his dependence on capitalism in make a living?
It is interesting to read Wikipedia’s entry on Yoko Ono, his “best match” or soul mate, especially her background and recent activities, with reference to “Imagine”, now a classic song.
What do you think what made Lennon tick? What have his fellow Beatles been doing since his death?
YK
英雄莫問出處, as long as one is successful, on the winning side, he/she is the 英雄, disregard of class, creed and origin, can have whatever belief he/she wants. In China, they praised and glorified the heroic little guerrilla fighter, but now in Afghan, one is tried as an insurgent soldier, disregard of age and origin, abandoned by his own country.
FB,
The question is not on his 出處, but his popularity as a “hero” or “winner” in capitalism and, consequently, the loss of his life by a mentally deranged individual. Ironically, he was also made a national symbol of sorts, among other accomplishments he preferred.
Does Leonard Cohen fit your mould of a hero? Are the “Dixie Chicks” your heroines too? 🙂
YK