From the end of The Killing Fields to the post-9/11 America: A Tribute to Heroes broadcast, “Imagine” has been there to tell us that the world could be so much more pleasant if only everyone were inclusive enough to set aside what they believe about God, the afterlife and other trivial matters. "For a few decades now, John Lennon’s “Imagine” has served as a secularist hymn. For example, on Get Religion, Douglas LeBlanc writes rather absurdly and demonstrates a complete lack of lyrical analysis - much less christian-like empathy: Is that the beauty of this song, or its evil side?"Īn interesting exercise to answer Neil's questions laid out starkly in the deceptively simple lyrics. You might think the answers are all obvious, and so might I, but I doubt we agree on what those obvious answers are. Young's is totally ambiguous, asking ten questions, but giving no answers. Lennon's song "Imagine" was quite unambiguous. "Musically this is a nice song, but in terms of lyrics it's a different story. Neil and the Fisk University Jubilee Choir So Neil has not embarked on some light-hearted exercise here as many seem to believe. The student vocalists introduced "slave songs" to the world and, in many opinions, preserved this music from extinction. Start with the gospel choir-like Fisk University Jubilee Singers. On second glance there is a lot going on here. And everybody likes to analyze Neil's song meanings.Īt first glance, certainly not Neil's most obtuse lyrics like " "And I saw you in my nightmares, but I'll see you in my dreams" but more like the enigmatic lyrics " What is the color when black is burned?". Here are the lyrics for the new Neil Young song "When God Made Me" from Sharry (Up in T.O.
UPDATE 8/1/05 - An incredible volume of comments have been posted on this article. UPDATE 9/10/05 - Neil Young Performs "When God Made Me" on "Shelter From the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast". "Did God give me my voice so that others could silence me?"
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