Students' feelings and thoughts of the song "Imagine" by John Lennon

Let's imagine a full crowded stadium. The opening ceremony of the Olympic Games is unfolding in front of us. A celebration of sports, peace and global solidarity. The ceremony is broadcast around the world. People from all over the planet watch it through their screens. And then the first notes of "Imagine" by John Lennon, a song about how the world could be otherwise, are heard. We often forget that the world could have been different. We believe that there is no other way and no other way to live on this planet than the one we know.

The song "Imagine" played softly in the background as I closed my eyes and let the lyrics wash over me. I couldn't help but feel a sense of peace and hope as John Lennon's voice filled the room. The song reminded me that there was still good in the world and that change was possible if people were willing to come together. As the final notes of the song faded away, I made a promise to myself that I would try to do everything in my power to make the world a better place, just as John Lennon had sung.

                                                           - Elif Naz

When I listen to "Imagine," I feel a sense of peace and hope. The song has a calming quality that helps me forget about the stresses of everyday life and focus on what's truly important. The melody is simple and beautiful, and John Lennon's voice is soothing and reassuring. The lyrics of "Imagine" encourage me to let go of my worries and imagine a world without the things that divide us. The song inspires me to be more compassionate, open-minded, and accepting of others, and to work towards creating a world where people can live in harmony and peace.

                                                                                      - Bengü

I absolutely loved the song; I actually prejudged it because it was old, but I was pleasantly surprised. The song begins with two people walking hand in hand along a cobblestone path, and the sound of their footsteps sent shivers down my spine. At that moment, I knew the song was destined to be a masterpiece. The lyrics touch on a widely discussed topic: "What if there was nothing to hinder eternal peace?" I believe everyone, myself included, has pondered this question at some point in their lives. The artist explores the afterlife, countries, religions, and possessions, all of which play a significant role in driving us apart. When you pause and reflect on the lyrics, it becomes clear that these are the very things that divide us. I can't help but wonder what would happen if we lived in a world where these things never existed. However, this leads me to a larger question: "Is true peace even possible?" As humans, every action we take, every behavior we exhibit, is aimed at achieving something that benefits ourselves or those aligned with us. I could spend the entire day contemplating such profound questions, but for now, I'll simply add this song to my list of favorites.

                                                                                                                                     - Görkem

When I first heard John Lennon's 'Imagine,' it was like a whirlwind of emotions hitting me. I felt inspired, hopeful, united, and nostalgic, all at once. The song uplifts and stirs my imagination, filling me with hope for a better world. It promotes unity and empathy, reminding me of the importance of coming together and understanding one another. 'Imagine' brings back nostalgic memories and prompts deep contemplation about my own role in shaping a more peaceful society. There's this deep longing I feel, imagining a world without divisions and materialism. Lennon's vision really speaks to me; it gets me, and I connect with it on a profound level.                                -Simla

In this song, John Lennon reminds us that creating a new world is only possible with imagination. When I listened to this song for the first time, I didn’t care about the lyrics that much. For some reason, dreams I had as a child came to my mind when I heard the melody. It was so comforting, hopeful and optimistic.

For the second time, I actually listened to the words. I felt that feeling of being together and being a human. We must be free of our egos and selfishness.

And come together to make the world just as described in the song: no war, no greed, no hunger… only a brotherhood of man living life in peace.                -Ayşe Ece

Although production of the song is simple compared to the today’s records, the lyrics are pretty meaningful. Throughout the song, I realized that John Lennon depicts us a world where there aren’t any diversifying elements such as religion, nation. I loved the concept which Lennon aims to convey us: a peaceful world. However; as Lennon states “[we can call him] a dreamer”. Regardless of the fact that I aspire a peaceful world as much as Lennon does, I am not a dreamer. That’s why I couldn’t feel hopeful while I was listening the song. But, still, I wish we could live in a world like John Lennon tries to make us imagine.                                    - Aybike

It starts with slow and melancholic melodies and that makes me feel like I am flying above the sky. When it comes to the lyrics it describes a perfect world that has nothing to kill. But naturally the mankind doesn’t work like that. Imagining a world like that would be nothing but an utopia. As a person that likes this kind of music it feels like I could listen to this song for days and days. But eventually I will get bored from it. And it says no religion, that would be a life without a goal and lesser meaning from it.              

                                                                                  -Akif Ermanno

The legendary composition of John Lennon, "Imagine," has left a profound impact on me. The lyrics are so thought-provoking, and the melody is simple yet striking. The song inspires us to conceive a world without borders, religion, and material possessions. It urges us to work towards peace, love, and harmony, reinforcing the idea that we all belong to the same human family, co-existing on this planet. The message of "Imagine" has an enduring relevance, just as it did when Lennon penned it in 1971. The track reminds us of our potential to create a better future, and it all begins with the courage to envision it.

                                                                                                                        - Hale

Indeed, although the song has meaningful lyrics, the lyrics of the song lost its meaning for me because of something else that caught my attention in the song: The woman in the white dress opened the curtains of the already fully lit room. I really have never seen such a cheap music video production before in my life. A couple walks in the garden (first half of the video), they enter the house, the curtains open and the piano plays. For me, the meaninglessness of the curtains opening and the meaningfulness of the words neutralize each other. Also, aside from the music video, I am of the opinion that the lyrics were actually written without thinking that much. The first thing that led me to this thought is thatLennon oversimplified what divides people into just three basic titles: religious, national, and class. In my view, religions and countries are both integrating and separating a majority. All people are different, they will think differently, it is of course impossible for the world to meet on a common value. Yes Lennon, we can call you a dreamer.                                        - Emine 

As I listened to "Imagine" by John Lennon, my mind wandered to a world without borders, without hate or discrimination. In this world, people lived in harmony, sharing their resources and treating each other with kindness and respect. It was a world where love and compassion triumphed over greed and power, and the only currency that mattered was the currency of the heart. As the song ended, I felt a renewed sense of hope and a deep longing to make this imaginary world a reality.

                                                                                                 - Zümra

The song imagine causes me plethora of feelings. It makes me feel melancholy about the world we're living in but at the same time it encourages me to not only dream but also make that dream world a reality. A world, without materialism and borders seperating nations, but above all a world of peace.I used to listen to this song from a really young age but still today, after many years it does not stop giving me goosebumps. This song is like an entrance to the dreamland. Listening to it, you got the feeling of freedom, joy and peace. I am feeling sad though, because this song was written by John Lennon in 1971 and it was about a world of peace who would come a reality after some years and still, after 52 years there is war in some places of the planet.Where is the dream world which John Lennon imagined? Where is our peace?

                                                                    Eftychia