JOHN LENNON's GREATEST LOVE MESSAGE SONG? VOTE!

[Paperback Writer]

The Beatles, including John,  are known for their universal love songs.  Sooooo many!
Here are some of John's - vote which you think is best!  Really curious if one will pull away from the others in the voting!

A. The Word

B. Give Peace A Chance

C. All You Need Is Love

D. Across the Universe

E. Imagine

F. Other???

 

[lampie1970]

I love love love "All I've Got to Do"...it's a great song...and i would love for someone to say that to me!!

I like Across the Universe out of the list...

[SavoyTruffle]

The Beatles, including John,  are known for their universal love songs.  Sooooo many!
Here are some of John's - vote which you think is best!  Really curious if one will pull away from the others in the voting!

A. The Word

B. Give Peace A Chance

C. All You Need Is Love

D. Across the Universe

E. Imagine

F. Other???

 

Definitely C

On first impulse I was going to say E, for Imagine, universally considered John's most eloquent statement on macrocosmic unity, but it's slightly adulterated--it's not purely conciliatory(although that's the ultimate aim of the song) John slyly incorporates into the lyrics his continuing disdain of organized religion (and it's sometimes hypocritical & corrupting aspects)("Imagine no religion".."it's easy if you try"...etc), blatant materialism("Imagine no possessions".."I wonder if you can...")and blind nationalism, ("Imagine there's no country"..where there's "nothing to kill or die for")..ultimately there's more going on in the song than just kumbaya.

On the other hand, ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE(my actual choice), is The Beatles pure hippy-era anthem to personal AND universal ..love. There's no tainting of the lyrics here...no caveats...no secondary themes..it's unabashed and un-alloyed. I guess in 1967, John felt more idealistic

S.T.

[mervap]

Awesome question, PBW, and one that has me conflicted...while I certainly agree with ST about the different themes contained in "Imagine", I disagree kinda about "All You Need Is Love".

There's nothing you can do that can't be done.
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game

There seems to be a sort of fatalism in that lyric, like a person has no real say in one's destiny, and that continues throughout the song...but the chorus is what really drives the song:

All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.

That says a lot.


However, I think I'm going to be a maverick here and go with 'A'. The lyrics are straight on point:

Say the word and you'll be free
Say the word and be like me
Say the word I'm thinking of
Have you heard the word is love?
It's so fine, It's sunshine
It's the word, love
In the beginning I misunderstood
But now I've got it, the word is good

Spread the word and you'll be free
Spread the word and be like me
Spread the word I'm thinking of
Have you heard the word is love?
It's so fine, It's sunshine
It's the word, love
Everywhere I go I hear it said
In the good and the bad books that I have read

Say the word and you'll be free
Say the word and be like me
Say the word I'm thinking of
Have you heard the word is love?
It's so fine, It's sunshine
It's the word, love
Now that I know what I feel must be right
I'm here to show everybody the light

Give the word a chance to say
That the word is just the way
It's the word I'm thinking of
And the only word is love
It's so fine, It's sunshine
It's the word, love

On top of that, it has some tasty bass from Macca!

[mi]

Woman!

[Roger SB]

i'm a little confused. did you mean love songs like between 2 people or a song about universal love? All You Need Is Love is a great one if you mean a song 'about' love.

[Paperback Writer]

Right, Rog - universal love songs are what's being voted on.  Thanks for the votes and opinions!

[SavoyTruffle]

Awesome question, PBW, and one that has me conflicted...while I certainly agree with ST about the different themes contained in "Imagine", I disagree kinda about "All You Need Is Love".

There's nothing you can do that can't be done.
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game

There seems to be a sort of fatalism in that lyric, like a person has no real say in one's destiny, and that continues throughout the song...but the chorus is what really drives the song:

That's an excellent observation about the non-chorus lyrics of AYNIL, Pat...dead on the mark there. Those fatalistic (and somewhat enigmatic)words you quoted from the song have always mystified me....was John saying there's no possible deviation from the path of love if the world (or individual person)is to survive? ..must one conform to the au courant "peace & love" ethos of the day and "learn how to play the game"??  I've always felt they had to mean something along those lines or else they would run counter to the main philosophy of the chorus..
Either way..I think we're both right..both Imagine and All You Need Is Love have more than a few layers of meaning and a certain amount of "Lennon-tinkering" that make them much more interesting in any event. They've certainly stood the test of time. (Another major example that comes to mind of this Lennon dichotomy or dualism of meaning was that famous line in Revolution 1 on TWA "But when you talk about destruction, dont ya know that you can count me out/in"  When I first heard that 40 years ago, I thought 'huh??...what??' I was too niave then to understand, but John probably meant you have to tear down before you can build up again. A brilliantly striking oxymoronic word play that was missing on the single version of the song)

(and btw, The Word is a really good choice--much more straight forward)and ohhh yeahhh, so true about that Macca bass:) PS : I've never had this great conversation about these songs before. I gotta say, I LOVE this site !!!! )

S.T.

[lampie1970]

I responded from the romantic love angle...not an altruistic, universal, we're all in this together love angle. I love my romantic love songs slower...so that is why "the word" didnt win for me...granted it is a beautiful poem with beautiful words, but the pace is too fast for me to get all sappy...ha ha

"Across the Universe" has both the universal love theme and underlying layers of the romantic love in there too..i can hear it and i can feel it...that is why it is my choice from the list.

The reason I chose "All I've got to do" is because John vocals are so sincere and I love that it feels like he is telling me, in my ear sometimes, that all i have to do is want him there and he is...whenever I call...we got it like that..its that kind of love...solid...

[Paperback Writer]

Lampie, very nice sentiments! (but I'm telling Macca on you...LOL)


Yo guys!  Right AWESOME discussion!

I can't honestly pick one!

I'd like to point out that Give Peace A Chance was John converting commercial jingle writing - advertising in the mass culture on it's ear to put peace into the consciousness in the distinctively simple, precise, extravagant way only John Winston Lennon could do.

The song was sung, played, and chanted by millions - instantly.

Writing credit was shared with Paul who wrote 0 of it, as John was faithful to the Lennon-McCartney partnership.

[SavoyTruffle]

The reason I chose "All I've got to do" is because John vocals are so sincere and I love that it feels like he is telling me, in my ear sometimes, that all i have to do is want him there and he is...whenever I call...we got it like that..its that kind of love...solid...

That's awesome, Lampie...I envy u:) (No WONDER you love the song so much !!)

[Paperback Writer]

By the looks of the Liverpool setlist, it looks like Paul's vote is: B.  "Give Peace A Chance."  Thanks for voting, Macca!

[2 of 3]

I know this sounds stupid...but I choose "How Do You Sleep". You really gotta love someone to put that track down. They say that the things that most annoy you about another person are the things you hate about yourself. I think Lennon did come back later and say the song was really about him.


I have no idea what I am talking about! Hahaaaahaaahaha!

[SavoyTruffle]

I have no idea what I am talking about! Hahaaaahaaahaha!

HAHAHAHAHA !!!! yeah u do, it made sense to me!! (but then what do I know I'm from Jersey !!  )

[EddieV]

Working Class Hero, eve though John wasn´t

Woman Is The Nigger Of The World