Imagine: Back to the Garden

"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". Have you ever listened to John Lennon's 'Imagine' and actually accepted his challenge?- probably not. 'Imagine' is Lennon's most popular solo work, although some would argue that it was a collaborative piece co-written by Yoko Ono, so let's just call it Lennon's most popular song "without the other Beatles". In any case the song was and is a heavyweight, always a title contender among the best songs of all time lists. Is it because a Beatle wrote it? Is it because it has a catchy tune? Do people really envision the described Utopia when they hear the song? I often wonder if it speaks to others as it does me.

One day I thought I would take a closer look at this song and try to figure out what it is that grabbed a hold of me and didn't let go. First of all, it's incredibly simple in its structure. The lyrics are straightforward prose, completely bereft of allegory and metaphor, not the lyrical poetry that's more likely to be included in my list of favorites. So for me it must be the message. Well what is the message? Here is my interpretation...

Some readers might be offended by the first three or four lines of the first verse, so let's skip to the last line of the first verse which says "imagine all the people living for today". Try to imagine having just this life. If you lived this life knowing that it's your only life rather than living it preparing for a "heavenly paradise" would you do anything differently? If you didn't have to follow the manufactured path of righteousness, complete the required tasks, pledge allegiance to an exclusive deity, would you spend your time in other ways? Would you have the same moral values? Would you adhere to the prejudices that are inherent in most modern religious beliefs?