Imagine there's no England
It's easy if you try
Nothing you're willing to die for
While we sit and wonder why
Hundreds of people gathered to hear the bells of Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral ring out the tune of John Lennon's anti-religious anthem Imagine. A team of seven volunteer bell ringers played the 1971 song, which begins "Imagine there's no Heaven", as part of an arts festival. The cathedral said it had carefully considered the "sensitivities" surrounding the song's lyrical content. Lennon himself described the song as "anti-religious, anti-conventional". The former Beatle, who was born in Liverpool and murdered in New York in 1980, said it was also "anti-capitalistic". |
13 comments:
Pastorius,
Truth is I think that that song could be interpreted as anti, just about anything.
Damien,
You may be right, and if that is so, then that means the Anglican Church - whose purpose is to spread the Word of God, and to help people into the Worship of God - is doing it's work through Nihilism.
Pastorius,
But you know what, although the song never mentions Islam, it could be interpreted as being anti Islam, since its anti religion and Islam is a religion. I wonder if any Jihadists will realize that and send them death threats. And I wonder what will happen if they do.
Yes, and I wonder what John Lennon would have to say about the Jihadists were he alive today.
Pastorius,
John Lennon was a major supporter of the Anti war movement. However, after seeing how the Islamic Jihadists behave, maybe his attitude toward war would change, than again he might just blame the west for their hostility. He was also anti religion in general, from what I understand, which either way could add an interesting dimension to what he would do. But I doubt that he would be brave enough to openly condemn Islam itself, given how society might respond and what the Jihadists would threaten to do to him. Unless the Jihadists did something to someone he really cared about, and he become enraged at them, I don't think he'd have the guts to openly criticize Islam. He might just blame religion, in general, but who knows. Than again if he were still alive, he'd be an old man, and might actually be trying to stay out of the public eye, spending his finally years away from public scrutiny or controversy.
What do you imagine John Lennon would say and do about the Islamic terrorists?
John Lennon was indeed a major anti-war supporter.
However, he was also the man who wrote the lyrics to the song Revolution, which said,
You say you want a revolution
well, you know, we are want to change the world
but, if you want money for Chariman Mao
you ain't gonna make it with anyone anyhow
Additionally, during my lifetime, I watched Joe Strummer, who was an anti-war Communist-party supporter during his time with the Clash, become a supporter of George Bush, Tony Blair and the War on Terror.
Unfortunately, this fact is easily ignored, because Joe Strummer died just a couple of years into the war, before the 2004 election really revealed the level of hatred against Bush.
Sorry to digress a bit, bit overall I never really liked that song (or the Beatles) and the nihilism it alludes to Pastorius, as you cited in your comments above...
I will always be a Stones fanatic!!!
Pastorius, did you see this below? It was what I alluded to with RP and the concept of quasi-statehood (or "homeland") in terms of what Likud is offering up:
"But Netanyahu has acknowledged neither track is a substitute for political negotiations. And on trips to Egypt and Jordan last week, he said he wanted to quickly renew talks with Palestinians that stalled last year without any breakthrough.
"Aides say he favors giving Palestinians the powers to govern themselves but minus the powers that could threaten Israel -- establishing an army, making treaties with states including Iran, importing heavy weapons, or controlling air space close to Israel's international airport."
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/05/16/netanyahu-likely-state-solution-washington-visit/
Carlos,
Re the Stones vs. the Beatles. Have you ever noticed Classic Rock stations don't play many Beatles songs, but they do still keep the Stones in heavy rotation.
Frankly, though I believe the Beatles were better songwriters, the Stones, especially circa 69-76 were a better rock band, and as their music was more rooted in Blues, it holds up better, outlasting other more trendy music.
Sad to say, though there was much great music in the 80's, I believe that decade will largely be forgotten, because it's music was so flighty and rootless.
The Cure are truly one of the greatest rock bands of all time, but you never hear them played anymore. They ought to be experiencing a Stones-like resonance and resurgence in popularity, but it is, alas, not to be. Their music is probably just too much a thing of itself. Not based in any common cultural experience.
A band like Pink Floyd, who are about as spaced-out as the Cure, enjoys continued popularity, once again, because their music is rooted in the Blues.
To address your other point, yes, Netanyahu is working within political realities. And, I think what he is doing is correct. The problem with the Pope's approach, in my opinion, is that he encourages negotiation with murderers, but has no practical suggestions for how to proceed with such negotiations. At least Netanyahu envisions a way forward.
The Pope should, to my mind, stay out of the process. I think it's a no-win situation for him. In fact, Ibelieve the Bible makes that clear.
Damien,
But you know what, although the song never mentions Islam, it could be interpreted as being anti Islam, since its anti religion and Islam is a religion. I wonder if any Jihadists will realize that and send them death threats.That's an interesting point. But I suspect the jihadists will view the song as anti-Christian and proof of the supremacy of Islam.
No mosque would play that song, you can bet on it.
Now, about the song. I recall how the song was used in the plot of the film Forrest Gump. In fact, when I heard the song just the other day on the radio, that portion of the film popped into my mind, and I started laughing.
Always On Watch,
You wrote,
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No mosque would play that song, you can bet on it.
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And given what I know about most mosques I'd be even more stunned than I am at this church playing it, if the one of them did.
Something to annoy almost everyone in those lyrics, and he got away with it because that gooey melody hypnotized people into ignoring them.
My favorite: "Imagine no possessions...". Sure, John. Also imagine no flat in the Dakota, I wonder what he was shelling out for that per month.
Revereridesagain,
Whatever He was getting for that song, it was more then most of us will ever make in our life times.
Maybe he had some airy-fairy hippie pipe dream that his luxurious lifestyle was justified because he wrote the song Imagine.
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