Imagine all the people...

[Dual_Triode]

...living life in peace.

Thirty-one years ago today, John Lennon was gunned down. I wish he was still here - we need him.

 

[Trinique_Fire]

"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

-John Lennon

 

[Trinique_Fire]

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/390269_10150468994637990_736927989_10471221_1904940863_n.jpg

 

[amofiga]

...living life in peace.

Thirty-one years ago today, John Lennon was gunned down. I wish he was still here - we need him.

Imagine......one of the greatest songs, poems, ever written. I love just thinking about the words, espcecially in these times of polarized polictics, polarized religions, polarized people in general. I have often thought of how much better we would be if we could scrap all the bogus religions and just adopt one world-wide spiritual belief in a power that lives within all of us. How much better it would be if we could scrap all these multi-party antagonistic politicical systems and just do what's right for everybody; not just the ones with the money and influence. You're right....imagine. It doesn't seem that hard. Why is it?

 

[Trinique_Fire]

Imagine......one of the greatest songs, poems, ever written. I love just thinking about the words, espcecially in these times of polarized polictics, polarized religions, polarized people in general. I have often thought of how much better we would be if we could scrap all the bogus religions and just adopt one world-wide spiritual belief in a power that lives within all of us. How much better it would be if we could scrap all these multi-party antagonistic politicical systems and just do what's right for everybody; not just the ones with the money and influence. You're right....imagine. It doesn't seem that hard. Why is it?

I don't know....but I do know I like my peaceful, loving, greater good seeking polytheism.

 

[My I]

Song penned by a friend of mine:

You are the man who shot the man
Who kept me seventeen
I know it's hurt you too
But I still can't let you slide
You waited in the shadows
Caught him in the cold
The words on me tv Screen
John Lennon has been fatally wounded
God, how I cried

(chorus)

Did you think you'd be a superstar?
Showed the world just how insane you are
Did you think you'd win eternal fame?
Well, you're wrong
Nobody knows your name.

 

[kitten1964]

Song penned by a friend of mine:

You are the man who shot the man
Who kept me seventeen
I know it's hurt you too
But I still can't let you slide
You waited in the shadows
Caught him in the cold
The words on me tv Screen
John Lennon has been fatally wounded
God, how I cried

(chorus)

Did you think you'd be a superstar?
Showed the world just how insane you are
Did you think you'd win eternal fame?
Well, you're wrong
Nobody knows your name.

god, how beautiful...and so apropos for the man who deprived us all of one of the true guiding lights in our time. You were gone far too soon, John. Would that you could return.

 

[Dual_Triode]

Song penned by a friend of mine:

You are the man who shot the man
Who kept me seventeen
I know it's hurt you too
But I still can't let you slide
You waited in the shadows
Caught him in the cold
The words on me tv Screen
John Lennon has been fatally wounded
God, how I cried

(chorus)

Did you think you'd be a superstar?
Showed the world just how insane you are
Did you think you'd win eternal fame?
Well, you're wrong
Nobody knows your name.

Mark David who?

That moment in time is forever etched into my consciousness. I remember where I was, who I was with, and the horrible feeling tearing at my gut. That feeling comes back whenever I hear one of his songs.

 

[daczew]

Song penned by a friend of mine:

You are the man who shot the man
Who kept me seventeen
I know it's hurt you too
But I still can't let you slide
You waited in the shadows
Caught him in the cold
The words on me tv Screen
John Lennon has been fatally wounded
God, how I cried

(chorus)

Did you think you'd be a superstar?
Showed the world just how insane you are
Did you think you'd win eternal fame?
Well, you're wrong
Nobody knows your name.

Very nice!

 

[Boxlicker101]

...living life in peace.

Thirty-one years ago today, John Lennon was gunned down. I wish he was still here - we need him.

Her was a pretty good song writer. Outside of that, why would we particularly need him?

Nothing against him, you understand, but he was just an entertainer and song writer. He was preceded by thousands of persons doing the same kind of thing and he will be succeeded by thousands more.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Someone did need to say that. I could never get into him or any of the other Beatles, for that matter. As for Paul . . .

 

[Dual_Triode]

Her was a pretty good song writer. Outside of that, why would we particularly need him?

Nothing against him, you understand, but he was just an entertainer and song writer. He was preceded by thousands of persons doing the same kind of thing and he will be succeeded by thousands more.

Yes, my comment was a tad inane; no offense taken. We don't really need him, of course, but I certainly do miss him. I guess I miss what might have been, had he continued to write songs.

Like Dylan, Lennon became a reluctant spokesperson for a segment of the population. Some adored John and the other Beatles; some did not. Either way, he was human, just like the thousands of other poets.

 

[My I]

Her was a pretty good song writer. Outside of that, why would we particularly need him?

Nothing against him, you understand, but he was just an entertainer and song writer. He was preceded by thousands of persons doing the same kind of thing and he will be succeeded by thousands more.

This is where you fail.

John Lennon was not JUST a song writer.

He was an INSPIRATION.

Not just to a FEW.

To the whole world.

And the Beatles WERE more popular than Jesus Christ. And there was a REASON for that. And he was a part of that reason.

And that is where the thousands you speak of fail.

 

[My I]

Mark David who?

Chapman.

for those who haven't looked it up already.

 

[Boxlicker101]

This is where you fail.

John Lennon was not JUST a song writer.

He was an INSPIRATION.

Not just to a FEW.

To the whole world.

And the Beatles WERE more popular than Jesus Christ. And there was a REASON for that. And he was a part of that reason.

And that is where the thousands you speak of fail.

I don't recall the Beatles ever inspiring me to do anything, and I was their contemporary, in terms of age. I did like listening to them, but no more than I liked listening to Elvis or Sinatra or Hank Williams or Nat "King" Cole or Ella Fitzgerald or many others.

Do you really believe they were more popular than Jesus? I had no particular affection for JC, but hundreds of millions of people all over the world did then, and still do, either as The Messiah or as a major prophet.

ETA: I didn't say he was JUST a song writer. I said he was a pretty good song writer.

 

[Handley_Page]

Her was a pretty good song writer. Outside of that, why would we particularly need him?

Nothing against him, you understand, but he was just an entertainer and song writer. He was preceded by thousands of persons doing the same kind of thing and he will be succeeded by thousands more.

Here Here.

Someone did need to say that. I could never get into him or any of the other Beatles, for that matter. As for Paul . . .

Well, Bear, I grew up with thteir music. Frankly, I think the Searchers were better in the beginning, but by the time 'Rubber Soul' was released the "Fab Four" were getting very good; interesting rhythms, rhymes & harmony (surely what a song should be?).

This is where you fail.

John Lennon was not JUST a song writer.
He was an INSPIRATION.
Not just to a FEW.
To the whole world.
And the Beatles WERE more popular than Jesus Christ.
And there was a REASON for that. And he was a part of that reason.
And that is where the thousands you speak of fail.

Lennon might have been an inspiration to some but, frankly, many his later songs were not up to much. Attempts as his "sainthood" (Liverpool Airport being a good example, IMO), have mostly failed thank Goodness.

He had some good talent, but he was a sarcastic cynic and, to many, plain rude.

 

[kitten1964]

Maybe because I'm from the next generation down, but for me that was what made him so important...he was sarcastic, cynical, not afraid to tell the powers-that-be that yeah, you fucked up royally. But then he combined it with that hope of maybe, just maybe we can have a better day, if we could only just imagine, just wrap our stupid minds around the fact that we're all we've got and we need to work together, not tear each other apart. My generation responds to that blend of idealism and cynicism...and he embodied that for us in spades. I really don't care much one way or the other for his music, except as a vehicle for his ideas. I'd never be able to tolerate pure idealism...too unrealistic, too syrupy-saccharine sweet. And pure cynicism...might as well blow your brains out and call it a day. He hit the right note...and in a way very few have ever done. That's why I miss him.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

No dear, cynicism makes you an enthusiastic serial killer cuz the whole world is grist for your mill. Every victim is a trophy winner.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Yes, my comment was a tad inane; no offense taken. We don't really need him, of course, but I certainly do miss him. I guess I miss what might have been, had he continued to write songs.

Like Dylan, Lennon became a reluctant spokesperson for a segment of the population. Some adored John and the other Beatles; some did not. Either way, he was human, just like the thousands of other poets.

Poets are humans...I had no idea.

 

[Verdad]

Someone did need to say that. I could never get into him or any of the other Beatles, for that matter. As for Paul . . .

Someone did have to say it.

Might be generational with me, but I think not.

 

[kitten1964]

No dear, cynicism makes you an enthusiastic serial killer cuz the whole world is grist for your mill. Every victim is a trophy winner.

*sigh* I guess that's why I'd never make it as a serial killer...enthusiasm takes just too darn much energy.

 

[PennLady]

Lennon might have been an inspiration to some but, frankly, many his later songs were not up to much. Attempts as his "sainthood" (Liverpool Airport being a good example, IMO), have mostly failed thank Goodness.

He had some good talent, but he was a sarcastic cynic and, to many, plain rude.

Not to mention, from what I've read/heard, he wasn't all that great when it came to his first wife and oldest son. That takes a lot of the shine off for me. I was ten when he died, and not steeped in pop music or anything, but I knew who he was. Even at the time, though, I thought all the tribute was a little much.

 

[Trinique_Fire]

Maybe because I'm from the next generation down, but for me that was what made him so important...he was sarcastic, cynical, not afraid to tell the powers-that-be that yeah, you fucked up royally. But then he combined it with that hope of maybe, just maybe we can have a better day, if we could only just imagine, just wrap our stupid minds around the fact that we're all we've got and we need to work together, not tear each other apart. My generation responds to that blend of idealism and cynicism...and he embodied that for us in spades. I really don't care much one way or the other for his music, except as a vehicle for his ideas. I'd never be able to tolerate pure idealism...too unrealistic, too syrupy-saccharine sweet. And pure cynicism...might as well blow your brains out and call it a day. He hit the right note...and in a way very few have ever done. That's why I miss him.

Thank you.

 

[Trinique_Fire]

This is where you fail.

John Lennon was not JUST a song writer.

He was an INSPIRATION.

Not just to a FEW.

To the whole world.

And the Beatles WERE more popular than Jesus Christ. And there was a REASON for that. And he was a part of that reason.

And that is where the thousands you speak of fail.

I concur.