He had promised himself never to perform this famous piece in public. But as fighting rages in Ukraine, John Lennon’s son, Julian Lennon, has broken his promise for an exemplary cause. Light on this strong and united gesture.
It’s a promise Julian Lennon won’t keep. This performer had decided to honor his father’s mythical song by never resuming it, at least not while the world was at peace. But the war in Ukraine has changed the course of events. On April 8, John Lennon’s son finally changed his mind to support a noble cause: a fundraiser organized by the Global Citizen movement, in favor of this country invaded by Russian troops.
†The war in Ukraine is an unimaginable tragedy. As a person and as an artist I felt compelled to respond in the most meaningful way.†
That’s why Julian Lennon resumes on YouTube suspicious, his father’s magnificent pacifist anthem. For his first public appearance, the artist has opted for a sober and intimate staging. We find him sitting on a stool, surrounded by candles and accompanied on the guitar.
Look :
Imagine there’s no heaven,
Imagine that there is no paradise,
It’s easy if you try
It’s easy if you try
no hell among us,
no hell among us,
Above us only air,
Above us, only the sky,
Imagine all the people
Imagine all the people
Life for today…
Living in the present…
You could say I’m a dreamer,
You can say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us,
I hope one day you’ll join us,
And the world will live as one.
And that the world will live together.
Imagine our possessions,
Do not imagine possessions,
I wonder if you can
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger,
No need for greed or hunger,
A brotherhood of man,
A human brotherhood,
Imagine all the people
Imagine all the people
Sharing the whole world…
Sharing the world…
You could say I’m a dreamer,
You can say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us,
I hope one day you’ll join us,
And the world will live as one.
And that the world will live together.
And for those who want to listen to (and rediscover) the original John Lennon version, this is for you: