In 1971, John Lennon released his album entitled “Imagine” and the title song of that album happens to be one of my all time favorite songs. Whenever I hear it, I sing along from the bottom of my heart and resonate with the message that rings forth from the lyrics and haunting melody.
When I was younger though, I was shamed by others because of this one line: “And no religion too.” Many people in my world at that time could not conceive a world without religion. They felt that even singing about it was blasphemous, a sort of denial of their God.
Today, as I was running errands for my boss, the radio station surprised me into a smile as “Imagine” melodically cascaded through my stereo speakers. It has been years, actually, since I have heard it and I reveled in the fact that I was alone in my car, with no one to judge me for loving it. I cranked it up as loud as I wanted, sang with tears in my eyes and basked in the joy I felt as I imagined, along with John, a world where we can actually be one.
Following that song, the dj went to a commercial break, which meant I promptly had to change the station. Commercials? I can’t abide them. Time to move on.
I landed on a hip-hop station. Ironically enough, they were playing The Black-Eyed Peas, “Where is the Love” which is another of my favorite songs.
I was moved beyond words as I pulled into the appropriate parking lot, put my car into park and stared into space so I could absorb the lyrics.
The two songs, although from completely different genres, are surprisingly similar in their message. They each are very clear without poetic wordplay. Straight to the point, they leave no room for questioning the message they are delivering.
I was moved. I am moved. And, because of that, I am sharing their words with you today.
May you, too, feel the impact as deeply as I did.
Angie K Millgate 2/6/07
ps... both songs have videos on Yahoo Music. If you would like to experience them audibly and visually, Click here and search by their song titles.
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
Where Is The Love Lyrics by Black Eyed Peas
© 2003 Interscope
What's wrong with the world mama?
People living like aint got no mamas
I think the whole worlds addicted to the drama
Only attracted to the things that bring you trauma
Overseas yeah we tryin to stop terrorism
But we still got terrorists here livin
In the USA the big CIA the Bloodz the Crips and the KKK
But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And if you hatin you're bound to get irate
Yeah madness is what you demonstrate
And that's exactly how anger works and operates
You gotta have love just to set it straight
Take control of your mind and meditate
Let your soul gravitate to the love y'all
People killing people dying
Children hurtin you hear them crying
Can you practice what you preach
Would you turn the other cheek?
Father Father Father help us
Send some guidance from above
Cause people got me got me questioning
Where is the love? (where is the lovex3) (the love2x)
It just ain't the same all ways have changed
New days are strange is the world the insane?
If love and peace so strong
Why are there pieces of love that don't belong
Nations dropping bombs
Chemical gases filling lungs of little ones
With ongoing suffering
As the youth die young
So ask yourself is the loving really strong?
So I can ask myself really what is going wrong
With this world that we living in
People keep on giving in
Makin wrong decisions
Only visions of them livin and
Not respecting each other
Deny thy brother
The wars' going on but the reasons' undercover
The truth is kept secret
Swept under the rug
If you never know truth
Then you never know love
Where's the love y'all? (I don't know)
Where's the truth y'all? (I don't know)
Where's the love y'all?
People killing people dying
Children hurtin you hear them crying
Can practice what you preach
Would you turn the other cheek?
Father father father help us
Send some guidance from above
Cause people got me got me questioning
Where is the love? (where is the lovex3) (the lovex2)
I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder
As I'm getting older y'all people get colder
Most of us only care about money makin
Selfishness got us followin the wrong direction
Wrong information always shown by the media
Negative images is the main criteria
Infecting their young minds faster than bacteria
Kids wanna act like what the see in the cinema
Whatever happened to the values of humanity
Whatever happened to the fairness and equality
Instead of spreading love, we're spreading anomosity
Lack of understanding, leading us away from unity
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feeling under
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feeling down
It's no wonder why sometimes I'm feeling under
I gotta keep my faith alive, until love is found
People killing people dying
Children hurtin you hear them crying
Can you practice what you preach
Would you turn the other cheek?
Father Father Father help us
Send some guidance from above
Cause people got me got me questioning
Where is the love?
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