Imagine

Lyrics

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

Credits

Written by John Lennon

Album

I'm Going To Tell You A Secret

Tour

Madonna performs this John Lennon classic during her Re-Invention Tour because for her "it's the ultimate peace song" and it fits the anti-war theme of the show perfectly. It's a very serene performance. In the background, a video screen shows pictures of sick, starving and impoverished children. A picture of John Lennon that suits as homage is received by loud cheers. When Madonna sings "And the world will be as one...", she sticks one finger in the air and thousands of fans follow her example.

Madonna always used the occasion to say a few words before this performance. She usually commented on the song: "This next song wasn't written by me, although i wish it was" or more jokingly "This song was written over 35 years ago. Not by me of course, 'cause i wasn't even born". Usually she also referred to the peace message, saying it was "the ultimate peace song", that people should listen to the words, 'cause "history has a strange way of repeating itself". During the US shows, she explicitly referred to the Iraq war, encouraging people to register to vote and to not let George Bush destroy the country.

Madonna performed the song again at the 'Tsunami Aid - A Concert of Hope' in January 2005, a worldwide benefit organised by George Clooney to raise money for the victims of the tsunami.

She also performed the song for a handful of lucky fans at the Place de la République in Paris in December 2015, to honour the victims of the terrorist attack in Paris four weeks earlier.