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This is why he uses so few instruments in the song, and why the melody is so simple. It is really only a few notes and chords linked together to form the melody, and it repeats itself throughout the song. The sound of the song is straightforward, but the root of the song is not, and that is one of the things that gives the song such impact.
In fact, the sound of the song is almost like a dirge or a requiem. It sounds very serious because the topic is so serious. Lennon could write lighthearted material when he wanted to, but he knew how to create a serious and somber piece of music too, and that is the sound of this work. It is almost somber, and that fits the message of the song perfectly.
The song's tone is totally serious. There is nothing lighthearted and funny about the words or the music. The words are significant, the music is somber, and together they show this is an important work that Lennon did not want anyone to take lightly. Lennon makes it clear that he considers this an extremely important topic. The music's tone shows this, and so do the words. It is Lennon's hope for the future, and he is sharing it with the world, hoping it will become the world's hope as well. Any other tone would not have worked for this song. It would have dissolved the meaning and given it far less impact. The song seems very simple, but it really shows the complexity of Lennon's abilities. He knew exactly what he was doing when he created...
That is deceiving too, because the message behind the words is extremely important. Lennon uses rhyming in the verses, but sparingly. The song is not about rhyme and form; it is about the message of hope and peace. Everything else is secondary, and so, the words are the most important element of the song. They are controversial when he writes, "Imagine there's no heaven / It's easy if you try / Nowhere below us / Above only sky / Imagine all the people / Living for today..." (Lennon). Many people do not want to imagine a world without religion, but that is just part of his message, that only when people accept each other and give up their barriers and beliefs, can they live together in harmony. His words mirror his soul, and that is always memorable in any song or written work.
In conclusion, "Imagine" is one of John Lennon's most enduring songs. It represents his own hopes and dreams for the future, and it represents a hope for all humanity. It is simple and yet stirring, calm and yet very volatile. It is poetry made into music, and it still has meaning for today's listeners.
References
Lennon, John. "Imagine." National Institutes of Health, Department of Health & Human Services. 2006. 11 Dec. 2006. http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/imagine.htm
Lennon's political activities put him on Nixon's famous 'enemies list,' and although the Beatles during their heyday were welcomed with screaming and adoring fans in America, Lennon eventually had to fight the U.S. government to avoid being deported from his beloved city of New York, because of his opposition to the administration. "A campaign of harassment by Nixon-era conservatives...was overturned by the courts in 1976" ("John Lennon," Rock n' Roll
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