This morning, local "album oriented rock" radio station KFOG played several John Lennon songs to commemorate his life. Lennon was murdered by a deranged fan twenty-five years ago today.This is a photo of me from 1978. That's an abstract image of John Lennon on my T-shirt. Since my early teenage years, right up to today, I have been a devotee of The Beatles as a group and of John, Paul, George, and Ringo; as a group and as solo artists. John was always my favorite.
Let's pause and reflect on the freethinking lyrics to one of his best known solo songs, Imagine.
Imagine there's no heaven,
It's easy if you try,
No hell below us,
Above us only sky,
Imagine all the people
living for today...
Imagine there's no countries,
It isnt hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for,
No religion too,
Imagine all the people
living life in peace...
Imagine no possesions,
I wonder if you can,
No need for greed or hunger,
A brotherhood of man,
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...
You may say Im a dreamer,
but Im not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.
On December 8, 1980, I was living in Texas and was into country music at the time (think Urban Cowboy mania). My radio alarm clock was set to a country music station. I went to bed early on this Monday night -- no TV, no radio. The next morning, the alarm clock went off and John Lennon songs were playing on my country station. Odd, I thought! I got out of bed and picked up my Dallas Morning News from my doorstep. The headline read "John Lennon Murdered in New York." Okaaaayyyy ... the Lennon songs on the country station made sense now. But I was stunned and in a state of denial. I had to get to work so I did not have time to dwell on this. Co-workers barely knew who Lennon was, so I had no sympathy there. It wasn't until that evening that it really hit me that John Lennon was really dead, and the dream was over.
13 comments:
I remember being at my friends house in Alexandria, VA playing with our toys in front of the tv. I was only 5 and didn't know who John and the Beatles were except that my Mom used to play their records. But even without knowing much about them I was transifxed by the message across the tv about his death. This may have been a result of the gasps that came from the adults in the room and the shock that they went through but all I knew was something truly big had just happened. It wasn't until I began listening to the Beatles in junior high and beyond did what happened that day truly hit me. A great one was lost that day, as evidenced by his life and music, but, Free, I think as long as we have the music he gave us the dream will never truly die.
I think we all posted somthing yesterday for John. Great thoughts.
Peace
http://ibethinking.blogspot.com/
I was so wrapped up in thinking about John Lennon I forgot to comment on the most excellent 'fro you're rockin' back in the day. Quelle coiffure monsieur :)
NICE!! you haven't changed a bit.
Very nice tribute - my son (now 15) was born on John Lennon's birthday and he's always been proud of that.
Radio - Well said; fascinating perspective. You are right about the Dream -- it will never truly die as long as we remember Lennon and his music. I was paraphrasing the final lines of his profound 1970 song titled "God."
AMG - Thanks for remembering too!
Radio - Just call me Undercover Brother. My 'fro has been even bigger than this! If you were around in the 70s, you'd understand.
Allison - There is a 27-year span between the 1978 photo in this post and the photo in the post below (which was taken last Sunday). Still have the curly hair, but the 'fro days are long gone. And my size 28 Levi's don't fit anymore!
Jessica - John Lennon's birthday is October 9, 1940. His son Sean's birthday is October 9, 1975. Also, Jackson Browne and John Entwistle were born on October 9. Your son's in good musical company!
I think Allison needs glasses more than you do! I woke on December 9th in a freezing rented bedsitter in Sheffield and there was the news on my radio - Lennon dead - it was only then in that moment that I realised what he meant, how important he was. I scribbled out a note and shoved it under my friend and neighbour's bedsit door, "John Lennon is dead". Later I painted a picture of Lennon for him and I paid a special visit to Strawberry Fields near his Aunt Mimi's home in Liverpool - "Strawberry Fields forever", yes my friend, "forever".
I was just 3 so I don't remember that day! But... once I learned more about him and grew up to become a fan, the pain of his loss hit. Awful for him to have gone that way... beautiful how very much he is still missed...
I do love the 'fro, FT...
Yorkie - That's a very nice memory of your fellow Brit. You should scan that Lennon picture you made and post it on your blog.
Miz B - You were only 3? Just a boho babe! One thing's for sure, my 'fro was bigger than your 'fro in 1978! Anyway, I'm happy you eventually came to learn about Lennon.
Zhadi - Perhaps it's your turn to post some old hairstyle pics on your blog?
JWL would just love it that his 'Imagine' has been taken up by people in general, as the complete opposite of what he wrote it to be (deeply sardonic no?).
On that dreadful day, a kind friend phoned me fast so I would not hear it from the impersonal radio.
Brownie - Yes, ironies abound in the life and legacy of Lennon. Most people don't pause and ponder the lyrics of the beautiful "Imagine."
Most people, probably, heard of Lennon's death from - of all people - Howard Cosell, who relayed it during Monday Night Football. This was before the internet and CNN - back when there were only three main channels on TV!
a day late and a dollar short in my comment. hanks for the comments on my Neil Young, I too was in Texas when John was killed. I was with a girl I had come down to see in Ft Worth, and we were returning from visiting my brothers in Houston, when it came on the radio. I had to get the truck onto the shoulder, and because I was with a girl I was trying to impress. my tears weren't there- until later that night when she was asleep, but I had to reflect on the news while at the side of the road for about 15 minutes
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