TEXTUAL ANALYSIS ABOUT THE SONG “IMAGINE”

The object of the present work is to discuss and analyze the song: “Imagine” by John Lennon.

The first step of analysis is to consider the title of the song. From it the intelligent reader expects it to be about someone who visualizes and envisages a possible future situation. The reader probably expects the speaking voice to be a person full of dreams that talking about them.

The song starts with few second of only instrumental. The musical instruments that can be heard piano. The rhythm is quite slow and recalls a sense of posivity and calmness.

Looking at the layout, the reader realizes the text has been divided into five stanzas in which the 3rd stanza is repeated at the end. There is no definite rhyme scheme in the song. In stanza 1, the rhyme scheme is ABCBD, in stanza 2, it is ABCBB, and in stanza 4, it is ABCBD.

At the beginning of every verse, there is the anaphora “imagine” which contributes, together with the title of the song, to the evocation of the singer dreaming. 

An other thing that the intelligent reader can find only looking the layout is the length of some espressions. 

Moving forward listening the song, the intelligent reader understands the singer is dreaming a perfect world where only paradise exists. It is a word without wars and conflicts, without religion and with no difficulties. The singer is dreaming a peaceful world, so the main topic of the song is peace.

There are a lot of denotative similarities between verses.

The opening line of every verse, calling to mind images and asks the listener to take a moment to think about a world where nobody believes.

The third line of every verse starts with a negation and the last line of every verse catches the readers attention from his brevity. It is composed of only one word that is a personal pronoun. The listener when listen a personal pronoun feels involved.

In addition, the fifth line of every verse coincides. This anaphora also contributes to the idea of perfect world.

Moreover, in verses there are some rhymes. From the first verse the reader finds out three words rhyming with last world of second, fourth and sixth line. In the second verse the last word of second and fourth line rhymes. The same can be said for the third verse.

Moving forward analyzing the chorus, it is obvious that not everyone is willing to accept John’s message of peace, especially at the time the song came out. —> WAR, SOME PEOPLE THOUghT WAR WAS FINE!!!

However, John Lennon answers by saying he’s not the only one who feels this way (feeling of community, lack of loneliness). In the music video, the listener watches both John and a girl staring out, almost dreaming. John knows he is not the only one, because the girl is also a “dreamer”. 

In conclusion the intelligent listener understands that the song is referred to somebody that the singer, or the one who wrote the song, invites to imagine but we do not know yet what exactly.

John Lennon hopes that those listening to his song who don’t agree with his recommendations will eventually come around and embrace them. He believes only then, once we agree on these things, will we find worldwide peace and unity.