On September 9, 1971 the Apple Company in Britain released the second solo album of John Lennon, following the dissolution of the Beatles, entitled “Imagine”. It is the most popular album of Lennon, generating sales up unto this day.
The song that dominates the album is of course the Imagine, one timeless appeal for world peace, a world without Gods, states, property and social classes. “It’s my own Communist Manifesto” Lennon once said. In the same wavelength, was also the song “I Do not Want to Be a Soldier”, an anti-war song, created at a time when the Vietnam war was witnessing its climax.
Imagine was warmly accepted by the audience, going to No1 of American and British music charts. The title track climbed back on top after the murder of Lennon in December 1981. In 2003 the music magazine Rolling Stone placed the song Imagine in 76th position of the list of 500 best albums of pop music of all time.
“If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there’d be peace.”
“There is an alternative to war. It’s staying in bed and growing your hair.”
“Declare it. Just the same way we declare war. That is how we will have peace… we just need to declare it.”