The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us, only sky
Imagine all the people
Livin' for today
Ah
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
Livin' life in peace
You
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
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
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us, only sky
Imagine all the people
Livin' for today
Ah
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
Livin' life in peace
You
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
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
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I love this song because I relate to it totally. I have a very similar world view to John and even though some people say I'm crazy to believe it ("I'm a dreamer..."), but based on the popularity of this song I'm definitely not the only one. Instead of just agreeing with the message in the song though, people have to start implementing the message in this song. Things like religion, countries, and money are the reasons for war and fighting, and if there was none of this then there'd be no war. And by religion I think John is saying that organized religion is the problem and not just believe in God because I don't see how that would adversely affect world peace. I think he's talking about how theres so much fighting in places like the middle east because of religion, even though the religions are very similar like all religions are.
@MrMojoRisin5552 THANK YOU! When people see religion tgey always incorrectly infer he means believing in god. Obviously he means organized religion. I just dont understand how people could so easily miss that.
@MrMojoRisin5552 it goes deeper than that. Without any religion, there would not of be the organised one.<br /> This song doesn't have to be taken literally. It's all metaphor for being able to detach yourself from the world around you...<br /> In other words: you took a nice shit today, and you're happy. You don't need anybody to tell you this, or why this happened. And no need for your shit to appear on television news, or in a newspaper. And imagine if all things were that simple... well, people just never look on things the way they really are. <br /> Now go watch your television and stay blinded
@MrMojoRisin5552 In my opinion on the religion part: I think he wanted to state "imagine if there's no religions" i.e. No book or person telling you what to think, believe, or what you can and can't do. <br /> Everyone should be religious in their own way, and believe how and what their soul or spirit wants to believe and practice.