MUSIC
The Classic Anthem Christian Nationalists Love to Hate
“Imagine” that.
Christian nationalists are a global phenomenon wreaking havoc on our fragile planet. The song “Imagine,” released by John Lennon in 1971, is like Kryptonite to them.
For another analogy, picture Dorothy pouring water on the Wicked Witch of the West and watching her melt.
Folks like Marjorie Taylor Greene believe America is a nation created by and for Christians.
If you’re like me, you may be interested in ways of pissing them off. Like Eric Burden of the Animals said, “If you want to find the truth in life, don’t pass music by.” It can be a potent weapon.
Try out your vocal chops and sing to the motherfuckers. Can’t sing? That’s okay. Just shout out the lyrics. Or play them on your cell phone. Loud. The song is that powerful.
Ten things you may not know about “Imagine”
•Yoko Ono’s 1964 book “Grapefruit” inspired the lyrics. Lennon told Playboy magazine,
Imagine should be credited to Lennon/Ono. A lot of it, the lyric and the concept- came from Yoko, but in those days, I was a bit more selfish, a bit more macho, and I sort of omitted her contribution, but it was right out of “Grapefruit.”
- Comedian and activist Dick Gregory also served as a source of inspiration. He gave Yoko a book about “positive prayer.” Lennon said,
If you want to get a car, get the car keys. 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.
- In 2017, the record company added Yoko to the songwriting credits in acknowledgment of the influence of “Grapefruit” on the lyrics.
- In the song, Lennon proposes the eradication of religion, national borders, capitalism, and war.
- Critics called bullshit on a millionaire rock star asking people to “imagine no possessions.” But Lennon asks people, including himself, to imagine the impossible.
- Lennon called the song “Working Class Hero” with sugar on it. He wanted to make the concepts palatable to the masses. He famously said, “You sell peace the way you sell toothpaste.” He described “Imagine,” as
Anti-religious, anti-nationalistic, anti-conventional, anti-capitalistic, but because it is sugarcoated it is accepted. Now I understand what you have to do. Put your political message across with a little honey.
- Since 2005, event organizers have played the song just before the New Year’s Eve Times Square Ball drops in New York City.
- In 2012, Cee Lo Green sang the song on NBC’s New Year’s Eve broadcast from Times Square. He had the audacity to change the lyrics to “nothing to kill or die for and all religion’s true.” Fans of the song said Green changed its entire meaning.
- Cee Lo wasn’t the only one. A church group contacted Lennon. They wanted to perform the song with the lyrics, “imagine one religion.” After Lennon’s murder, they continue to pester Ono. She forbids the change.
- Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said,
In many countries around the world- my wife and I have visited about 125 countries- you hear John Lennon’s song Imagine used almost equally with national anthems.
So, give the song a listen. It’s arguably one of the most influential songs of our lifetimes. And if you run into MTG, sing it so loud you make her melt.