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

Written and recorded in 1971 and considered by many to be John Lennon’s signature song. It has become one of the most widely recognized and played songs around the world. “Imagine” is the official song of the human rights organization Amnesty International.

The song was included in the list of songs deemed inappropriate by Clear Channel following the September 11, 2001 attacks. On New Years Eve at the start of 2006 and of 2007, “Imagine” was played in Times Square, New York City in the minutes before the clock struck midnight.

“Imagine” illustrates the prerequisites to peace. It is noteworthy that nationalism, religion, greed and hunger are the greatest impediments to peace.