Angela+Clarke

​ Left With Lennon's Vision of Peace Every artist serves a purpose, whether it is to influence people to use art or to affect their views on other matters. One person that was able to do both in so many ways is John Lennon. He is a well-known musician, songwriter, and poet. Through his art he demonstrated messages such as peace, equality, love, and change. Lennon’s significance to the art world and his audience is momentous from how he influenced many people to join him on his quest for ultimate peace. John Lennon is an inspiration for all willing to listen. Through his music he connects with his audience while illustrating powerful messages. Two popular songs of his, “Imagine” and “Give Peace A Chance”, are his cry for a change towards peace. Both songs, written by Lennon, focus on world issues and change for a better life on earth. They also bring hope for the future; which through John Lennon’s eyes is a world of fairness, and ultimately, happiness. Lennon is significant for his art and the social issues that are apart of them.

John Lennon was firstly famous for being within the legendary band, The Beatles. The Beatles were a band of the 1960s in which Lennon joined with Paul McCartney, Richard “Ringo Starr” Starkey, and George Harrison to create rock music that is still listened to today. The English rock band originated in Liverpool, England in the early 1960s and throughout the sixties they released numerous popular songs. But as all good things come to an end, the four men of The Beatles began to disintegrate in 1970 (“Lennon, John Winston (1940-1980)”). The four musicians just went their own separate ways, which they all made their own music separately thereafter. Shortly after the breakup, Lennon began his solo career, which would comprise of many gripping moments such as the Bed Ins For Peace (“Lennon, John Winston (1940-1980)”). During this time, he enforced peace and change in his music. But unfortunately, in 1980, an unstable fan murdered John Lennon (“Lennon, John Winston (1940-1980)”). This inspiring artist’s memory will last forever through his music, art, and peace movements.

The second of those two songs to be released, “Imagine”, is a forever known piece by Lennon that marked him as one wishing for peace and harmony. The influential lyrics are accompanied by Lennon sitting at his piano. The song is very simple, no extra instruments or other voices are needed, the lyrics can speak for themselves. In the song, he practically is asking for people to join him on his journey of peace. Lennon sings alone in the ending verse, “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.” While some people may call Lennon a “dreamer” with an unrealistic wish, it can be understood from the way the world and its people are. Negative personalities in our world might believe that there has not and will not be any change towards a more a happy and peaceful lifestyle. But, as the ex-Beatle sings to our listening ears to join him and to have everyone come together leave war out of the picture, and treat everyone fairly, then we can change the world for the better. Another part of the song is when Lennon describes a place where “there’s no countries… nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too.” Many people would probably think that this place John Lennon is illustrating is idealistic and impossible. But if everyone were equal pertaining to religion and the country one is from, then it would be easier for everyone to come together as one. The song, “Give Peace A Chance”, is just as important as any of John Lennon’s other songs encouraging peace. They all carry the same message of treating everyone equally and showing respect of the other. The name of this song itself, which is a repeated line in the song, sends this message. But the lyrics were mostly influencing anti-war ideas; because as it is easy to predict, violence towards others just contributes to even more violence that is really unnecessary. The powerful lyrics of the song were first heard in 1969 during the John Lennon and his wife of the time, Yoko Ono, “Bed-Ins for Peace”. This was when Lennon and Ono stayed in bed for a week, which was done to promote world peace. From their bed, they performed “Give Peace A Chance” (“When John and Yoko gave peace a chance…”). With the hotel room filled with people and cameras, Lennon chanted his lyrics while playing his acoustic guitar. The reason for the song and the publicity they got from the Bed-In was to make people believe that the Vietnam War was over (“When John and Yoko gave peace a chance…”). Little did Lennon and wife Ono knew, this song would turn into a political and world peace anthem for years to come.

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One extra example of John Lennon’s contribution for encouraging world peace can be seen through some of his artwork. Lennon was not only a singer-songwriter, but also an artist. He actually started as an artist before turning his attention to music and “picking up his first guitar” (Molaro). He went to the Liverpool College of Art as a young adult (Molaro). But during his well-known musical career, he made several drawings of his wife Yoko Ono (which they actually first met at an art exhibit), animals, and others with captivating messages. One drawing that gives viewers the message of peace, just like in the songs “Imagine” and “Give Peace A Chance”, is his “Come Together” piece. This is a picture of a group of creatures letting balloons free into the sky. The simple message being carried is that people can live together and do ordinary things in peace. Notice how every creature in the drawing is different and unique; one is towering over the others while another is very plump and short, one has very large feet and another has a long nose. Now compare this to our society and the society John Lennon has witnessed, everyone is different in their own way. Except the only difference is that we do not live in the harmony and unity as these creatures do. We should be able to act like these beings and we have been given the chance to over and over again. But the results remain, there is still prejudice roaming every street. As it is easy to guess, John Lennon would not approve of any of this. This was his reason for writing songs and drawing pictures to reach out to us to help us realize that we can show love to one another, respect one’s opinions, and live in peace.



"Come Together" by John Lennon

An added illustration by John Lennon that carries his ongoing message of peace is his “Nothing Is Impossible” drawing. The picture shows a smiling John Lennon walking over water. He is also wearing a shirt with a sun on it. The reason behind the title of the drawing is that walking over water or an ocean is actually impossible. And the point of “Nothing Is Impossible” can convey the significance of John Lennon’s other pieces of art. Which, the drawing can be related to theories of that change towards peace is practicable. Just as walking over water is impossible, some could predict that change for unity is impossible. But we must think the unpredictable if we want to make the world a better place for all. In the drawing he almost looks magical and unbelievable, too. I think that it is a good idea for people to view the person in the drawing like that. It shows that Lennon has this feeling that he could walk over the seas and preach to people that we can make a change for our world.



"Nothing Is Impossible" by John Lennon

John Lennon similar to any other celebrity has famous quotes that live on throughout many years. One quote that sparked my attention was, “A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream that you dream together is reality.” As his lyrics and drawings have the interpretation of the world turning to ultimate peace, this quote is comparable to them also. The quote shows us that nothing can be done when only one person is contributing. His dream and vision of loving one another was expressed through his art so that he would not be alone; and therefore be a reality. John Lennon’s goal was to have people understand the type of world we live in and hopefully want to change for the better. So if we hear the meanings behind the lyrics and be attentive to the message underneath the pencil sketch, then we can come together and make this dream one reality. There are many different intentions for all artists when they use their minds and skills to produce art. In John Lennon’s case, it was to express his feelings of the world and the people in it. He believed change for the better was very possible if everyone could just come together as one. And even when his songs are played now, someone out there is listening to his on-going message of peace and harmony. So now all we can do to keep John Lennon’s memory alive is to listen his words of wisdom to respect, forgive, and love one another.

Works Cited · "Lennon, John Winston (1940-1980)." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Thomson Gale, 1998. NA. Academic OneFile. Gale. UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS Boston. 15 Oct. 2009 · Molaro, Regina. "Licensing Lennon: imagine the possibilities of a licensing program based on artwork created by the legendary John Lennon, whose musical talent and message of peace and love continue to inspire generations." License! 9.5 (June 2006): S-40(3). Academic OneFile. Gale. UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS Boston. 15 Oct. 2009 · "When John and Yoko gave peace a chance; It's 40 years since the global anti-war anthem Give Peace a Chance was created during John Lennon and Yoko Ono's celebrated bed-in. Here key people in the room recount the story of that heady week.(Features)." The Times (London, England) (May 9, 2009): 52. Academic OneFile. Gale. UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS Boston. 15 Oct. 2009

