Imagine, really imagine what the world would be

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  • ikiT
    ikiT USA Posts: 11,059
    edited October 2014
    "Imagine" John Lennon

    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

    Sounds miserable. Fuck that shit.
    Post edited by ikiT on
    Bristow 05132010 to Amsterdam 2 06132018
  • mattsl1983
    mattsl1983 Posts: 711
    You are picking and choosing what is in depth vs what's just a line. It's picking and choosing. Seem some just fit the lyrics around their beliefs? "Oh yea, no religion. But hey, no possessions? C'mon he didn't really mean no possesions". I find many of these replies and peoples arguments here hilarious.

    It's amazing what fans/self appointed intellects/ and people that just argue things will ignore and standby.
  • rgambs
    rgambs Posts: 13,576
    mattsl1983 said:

    What I find humorus is I've listened to the song. Many many times. Great song. Great idea. Great melody. But when I imagine the world that is described, it's a world I don't want to live in. It's my opinion. It's what I take from the song. Imagine someone interpreting a song, a bit different from you? Are you going to argue, or just shake their hand?


    I'm going to argue, then shake their hand     when we have said our piece. Not going to slug 'em and go to war. Sounds like there is room for this in Imagine.
    Monkey Driven, Call this Living?
  • mattsl1983
    mattsl1983 Posts: 711
    rgambs said:

    mattsl1983 said:

    What I find humorus is I've listened to the song. Many many times. Great song. Great idea. Great melody. But when I imagine the world that is described, it's a world I don't want to live in. It's my opinion. It's what I take from the song. Imagine someone interpreting a song, a bit different from you? Are you going to argue, or just shake their hand?


    I'm going to argue, then shake their hand     when we have said our piece. Not going to slug 'em and go to war. Sounds like there is room for this in Imagine.
    Yea, I was kind of thinking man, that's actually a pretty awesome line. Haha
  • Drowned Out
    Drowned Out Posts: 6,056
    benjs said:

    In addition to what rgambs said... If ever there was a song which indicated that it should not be taken as 100% literal, it's probably one called "Imagine".

    :))
    And I thought I was a cynic...
    Even if this song WAS meant literally, it says nothing about taking your possessions, it doesn't say anything about ideology, or about group think. But if anyone points this out to you matts, you get pissy and call them know it alls?

    Personally, if I was the only person who saw an issue my way...if not one person agreed with any of the premises I used to form my opinion...I would not continually lash out and double down. But I'm a know it all, so maybe I take basic logic for granted.
  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    edited October 2014
    rgambs said:

    mattsl1983 said:

    What I find humorus is I've listened to the song. Many many times. Great song. Great idea. Great melody. But when I imagine the world that is described, it's a world I don't want to live in. It's my opinion. It's what I take from the song. Imagine someone interpreting a song, a bit different from you? Are you going to argue, or just shake their hand?


    I'm going to argue, then shake their hand     when we have said our piece. Not going to slug 'em and go to war. Sounds like there is room for this in Imagine.
    Much to take in throughout the thread, but I like this nutshell. Plus, it doesn't have to (shouldn't be) either/or - argue or become a sycophant, have animosity or hug, etc. There will, thankfully, always be differing views, practices, actions. It's how we choose to deal with them.

    Living in peace is in no way equal to complacency or being a bunch of Stepfords.
  • rollings
    rollings unknown Posts: 7,127
    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

  • rollings
    rollings unknown Posts: 7,127
    I think the "possessions" thing is the root of it all.

    we do want for ourselves
    we do want for our families
    we do want for our towns
    our states
    our countries.

    If there was another whole world to fight, maybe THEN we'd all get along
  • rollings
    rollings unknown Posts: 7,127
    edited October 2014
    either that or let's give away our possessions. then we can talk and not just imagine
  • rollings
    rollings unknown Posts: 7,127
    look at everyone up on the porch. "dear Pear Jam, play my favorite song, no play MY favorite song., no play my favorite song PLEEEEAAASSSEEE" All people do is want, want, want. Good luck with that imagined world image
  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    No need for greed or hunger
    A brotherhood of man

    This too.

    In the film "Imagine", there's a scene that struck me from the first time I watched it. A homeless man walks up to Lennon's house (nothing like would happen today - imagine that!), talking to him about his interpretation of one of John's songs. They chat for a bit, then Lennon asks if the man is hungry.

    Next scene is the man sitting at John's table (George was there too), sharing a meal with all of them.

  • ikiT
    ikiT USA Posts: 11,059
    edited October 2014
    Possessions does seem to be the hang up, but look where it is in the structure of the song, the hardest pill to swallow comes in the last verse. The more I think about this song, the more I like it. Plus...every time I open the site (in October of 2014) it says IMAGINE with Ed's hand sticking up in a peace sign.
    Post edited by ikiT on
    Bristow 05132010 to Amsterdam 2 06132018
  • rollings
    rollings unknown Posts: 7,127
    Yep, he says,
    Imagine there's no heaven, it's easy if you try
    then
    imagine there's no countries, it isn't hard to do

    but for
    imagine there's no possessions
    he says
    I wonder if you can



    ......or maybe it just rhymed real good with "man" image
  • mattsl1983
    mattsl1983 Posts: 711
    rgambs said:


    Do you ever reply with a real answer or just an entrenchment?

    mattsl1983 said:

    rgambs said:

    I don't understand how you make the quantum leap from everyone living in peace to everyone being the same and there being no disagreement at all?

    Do you know the song? No leap.
    I don't know what real answer you want? Yes I know the song?
  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    Nothing wrong with possessions; we've worked hard for what we have, both needs and (some of) the wants. Not stolen from anyone but earned. They're not my world, but I appreciate them unapologetically.

    rollings, I agree with you on the "want want" side of things. I also wonder about the idolization of, say, lots of pop stars who flaunt themselves with all that money can buy. The jewelry, cars, homes...even that stupid bling shit for the teeth. It's ironic, I guess. Maybe hypocritical too.
  • rollings
    rollings unknown Posts: 7,127
    where does the song say "no differences"?
  • mattsl1983
    mattsl1983 Posts: 711
    backseatLover12 said:

    All songs are open for individual interpretation, of course. But John Lennon did NOT intend it to mean anything that the OP thinks it does.

    Open you mind, man, instead of closing it completely. Which you are doing.

    I would say I'm more open minded to the song and lyrics than most. Im getting bashed for actually having a different interpretation than others. Yes, I am closed minded...
  • chadwick
    chadwick up my ass Posts: 21,157
    ?what would john do

    i was asked this in 2nd or 5th grade. the school bell rang, i ran to the bus & tripped over a bicyclist
    for poetry through the ceiling. ISBN: 1 4241 8840 7

    "Hear me, my chiefs!
    I am tired; my heart is
    sick and sad. From where
    the sun stands I will fight
    no more forever."
    Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    mattsl1983 said:

    You are picking and choosing what is in depth vs what's just a line. It's picking and choosing. Seem some just fit the lyrics around their beliefs? "Oh yea, no religion. But hey, no possessions? C'mon he didn't really mean no possesions". I find many of these replies and peoples arguments here hilarious.

    It's amazing what fans/self appointed intellects/ and people that just argue things will ignore and standby.

    See, I have no problem with your interpreting anything in any way you see fit. It IS "Imagine", right?

    It's the kind of response I quoted that's kind of irritating. Not what you say, but to belittle in the process? Not sure why.
  • mattsl1983
    mattsl1983 Posts: 711
    the tiki bomb said:

    Possessions does seem to be the hang up, but look where it is in the structure of the song, the hardest pill to swallow comes in the last verse. The more I think about this song, the more I like it. Plus...every time I open the site (in October of 2014) it says IMAGINE with Ed's hand sticking up in a peace sign.

    I disagree
    hedonist said:

    mattsl1983 said:

    You are picking and choosing what is in depth vs what's just a line. It's picking and choosing. Seem some just fit the lyrics around their beliefs? "Oh yea, no religion. But hey, no possessions? C'mon he didn't really mean no possesions". I find many of these replies and peoples arguments here hilarious.

    It's amazing what fans/self appointed intellects/ and people that just argue things will ignore and standby.

    See, I have no problem with your interpreting anything in any way you see fit. It IS "Imagine", right?

    It's the kind of response I quoted that's kind of irritating. Not what you say, but to belittle in the process? Not sure why.
    I'm not sure the point you are trying to make.

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