Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

boppers

(16,588 posts)
93. A response from John:
Tue Jan 3, 2012, 02:07 AM
Jan 2012

"If you can imagine a world at peace, with no denominations of religion—not without religion, but without this 'my God is bigger than your God' thing—then it can be true."
Harry, Bill. The John Lennon Encyclopedia. Virgin; 2000b. ISBN 0-7535-0404-9. pp382-383

He's already "rewriting" his own lyrics. It wasn't a world without religion he imagined, it was a world without people being assholes about religion.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Cee Lo Green Outrages John Lennon Fans By Changing Lyrics to 'Imagine' spanone Jan 2012 #1
Thanks for explaining this mysterious OP. undeterred Jan 2012 #10
ignoramus getdown Jan 2012 #15
thank you. barbtries Jan 2012 #22
Thanks for posting the link malaise Jan 2012 #29
hehehe spanone Jan 2012 #41
Not everyone pays attention to New Year's shenanigans. HuckleB Jan 2012 #128
Cool malaise Jan 2012 #167
Hey "Cee-Lo" Warren DeMontague Jan 2012 #33
Just dropped him from my FB like list. Uggggh* glinda Jan 2012 #96
Why did you "like" him in the first place?!?!? bigwillq Jan 2012 #156
Work he did with Mighty Mouse. Soulful. Bluesy voice. Liked it. Did glinda Jan 2012 #162
Rememeber when that asshat from Limp Bizkit shat all over "Wish You Were Here"? Warren DeMontague Jan 2012 #36
I don't think he is a moron Motown_Johnny Jan 2012 #2
he showed no judgement. that's a moron. you don't just change lyrics like that. moron getdown Jan 2012 #17
He showed judgment alright malaise Jan 2012 #24
well put getdown Jan 2012 #54
Exactly right. AngryOldDem Jan 2012 #106
I heard it on NYE Politicalboi Jan 2012 #3
Changing the words changes the meaning...and that ruins the song. That said... Solly Mack Jan 2012 #4
That's why I'm surprised at the reaction... jberryhill Jan 2012 #6
So to you whatchamacallit Jan 2012 #11
They are all mutually contradictory jberryhill Jan 2012 #12
Well you can, but it would be nonsensical, as Ce Lo's version is whatchamacallit Jan 2012 #18
I try to be an omnitheist. boppers Jan 2012 #56
I respect your belief(s) whatchamacallit Jan 2012 #60
atheism is the complete lack of a belief in the supernatural. not a belief system. piratefish08 Jan 2012 #77
Atheists tend to believe in gravity, mass, logic, reason, etc. boppers Jan 2012 #84
I think you may be confusing Atheism with Objectivism Warren DeMontague Jan 2012 #151
I said "tend to believe". boppers Jan 2012 #171
Agree. If I "imagine" that all religion's true, the world becomes a freaky place. McCamy Taylor Jan 2012 #66
That's kind of the beauty of it. boppers Jan 2012 #85
Uh, no. Only a very few "exclude" other religions. johnaries Jan 2012 #73
And.... jberryhill Jan 2012 #75
My head wouldn't be exploding either way. (all or no) Solly Mack Jan 2012 #13
You kind of editorialized. boppers Jan 2012 #86
I'll stick with mine and I'm sure you'll stick with yours. Solly Mack Jan 2012 #87
Well, he was already asked, fortunately: boppers Jan 2012 #92
There is also an interview from the 80's where he says something along the lines of.... Solly Mack Jan 2012 #95
Actually there's a huge difference Scootaloo Jan 2012 #23
Tell me more about that dancing naked part jberryhill Jan 2012 #27
Than all "religions true" is a Hieronymous Bosch painting then? glinda Jan 2012 #97
Yeah, that sounds about right Scootaloo Jan 2012 #102
I propose we stop the DUzies deucemagnet Jan 2012 #166
Big difference. Not the same at all. yardwork Jan 2012 #52
There's a difference between "interpreting a song" and changing the lyrics justiceischeap Jan 2012 #104
Well said loyalsister Jan 2012 #122
Ha, yeah I thought that too whatchamacallit Jan 2012 #8
LOL Could very well be Solly Mack Jan 2012 #14
For real - LOL malaise Jan 2012 #25
he should have skipped the "no possessions" line Enrique Jan 2012 #5
Lennon made it clear that was the toughest one. JackRiddler Jan 2012 #81
If you're gonna do that pick another fucking song! whatchamacallit Jan 2012 #7
That's how I feel about Wang Dang Sweet Poontang nt Dreamer Tatum Jan 2012 #143
John Fugelsang changed up some CeeLo lyrics: PeaceNikki Jan 2012 #9
I figured DU would get around to this. Union Scribe Jan 2012 #16
Your issue is what. Spit it out. Logical Jan 2012 #72
response from the guy Charlemagne Jan 2012 #19
or write your own malaise Jan 2012 #46
So a second rate singer changes the words to a song that he will sing once and noone will remember Synicus Maximus Jan 2012 #20
I remember the Clear Channel memorandum whatchamacallit Jan 2012 #45
Never seen that list, the entry for RAtM made me laugh: boppers Jan 2012 #59
Lol, I know! whatchamacallit Jan 2012 #61
Hadn't seen that list before but it made me remember the Oct 2001 Groundworks concert suffragette Jan 2012 #101
I'll bet the Christians said that when the Romans decided to rewrite the words of Jesus to prop up McCamy Taylor Jan 2012 #67
what did they do? barbtries Jan 2012 #21
Oh my go... eh, sorry, don't give a shit. hughee99 Jan 2012 #26
Sure and that ReTHUG ahole Cain malaise Jan 2012 #28
Some people are grntuscarora Jan 2012 #38
When your children grow up, they will either recognize Lennon's version as a classic, hughee99 Jan 2012 #43
I submit: grntuscarora Jan 2012 #51
I doubt that a one-off New Year's Eve performance will become the classic for many, even youngsters fishwax Jan 2012 #90
Though it's like the Demi Moore film version of Scarlet Letter Goblinmonger Jan 2012 #79
I don't think he changed the whole *song* 180 degrees.... boppers Jan 2012 #88
That was simply outrageous. AngryOldDem Jan 2012 #30
I find it ironic to the nth degree that people who decry fundamentalism Dreamer Tatum Jan 2012 #99
Sorry that I have an opinion on this. AngryOldDem Jan 2012 #103
Imagine no kids...on my lawn...nt Dreamer Tatum Jan 2012 #108
360 degrees opposite? Dr. Strange Jan 2012 #137
Like all non-believers, Lennon was supposed to keep his trap good and shut Warren DeMontague Jan 2012 #31
Lol, why are you so mad? nt Union Scribe Jan 2012 #117
I don't like to see no-talent assclowns crap all over great songs. Warren DeMontague Jan 2012 #120
meh fishwax Jan 2012 #32
Oh the irony. boppers Jan 2012 #34
There is some music that is sacred to me. MilesColtrane Jan 2012 #49
Imagine is pure? What horseshit. AngryAmish Jan 2012 #109
Yeah, that's the thing about art, your mileage may vary. MilesColtrane Jan 2012 #112
There are huge multinational corporations pushing this shit AngryAmish Jan 2012 #113
"Realize that you are being manipulated" MilesColtrane Jan 2012 #115
So if I like John Lennon's "Imagine" song, then I'm a corporate mark? Hugabear Jan 2012 #116
That idiot with the fur coat, what a tool that creep is. The first I heard of him was his Bluenorthwest Jan 2012 #35
i find this VERY disturbing. Greybnk48 Jan 2012 #37
Ding ding we have a winner malaise Jan 2012 #48
Oh fuck that shit. The song was used in a Cisco commercial. Dreamer Tatum Jan 2012 #142
He's clearly not a fan of it, so why was he singing it it the first place? limpyhobbler Jan 2012 #39
What it was about. Burgman Jan 2012 #40
My that is a nice photo. glinda Jan 2012 #98
As a fan of his since his Goodie Mob days, Cee-Lo was dumb for doing this boxman15 Jan 2012 #42
If you don't like the song's lyrics, write your own damn song. Trekologer Jan 2012 #44
Not a big fan of folk music, then? boppers Jan 2012 #89
Least he didn't change John's name.... A-Schwarzenegger Jan 2012 #47
Heh, no shit. whatchamacallit Jan 2012 #50
haha! getdown Jan 2012 #55
Next he'll change Hyphen Jan 2012 #53
Thanks for this I added my own comments. Lint Head Jan 2012 #57
*** Warren DeMontague Jan 2012 #58
A nice cover. Burgman Jan 2012 #76
This message was self-deleted by its author inna Jan 2012 #62
This message was self-deleted by its author A-Schwarzenegger Jan 2012 #63
But didn't Lennon also write "the goddess really smiled thucythucy Jan 2012 #64
god is not religion spanone Jan 2012 #70
I agree. thucythucy Jan 2012 #74
A response from John: boppers Jan 2012 #93
Well that's going to ruin the song Union Scribe Jan 2012 #119
One can have faith without organized religion. McCamy Taylor Jan 2012 #65
Remember the movie "Breaking Glass"? They made the singer change "Kick Big Brother in the Ass" to McCamy Taylor Jan 2012 #68
Yep. whatchamacallit Jan 2012 #71
Cee Lo Green is another religious fundamentalist who will twist and lie to Dawson Leery Jan 2012 #69
well, not sure he is a fundie, just anti atheist maybe, he said all religions are true, not JI7 Jan 2012 #80
hahaha nt Dreamer Tatum Jan 2012 #82
Considering John's TOLERANT nature, johnaries Jan 2012 #78
I tend to think John would have adopted it for his own version. boppers Jan 2012 #91
Oh brother. Get over it, Lennon fundies. nt Dreamer Tatum Jan 2012 #83
Heh. Union Scribe Jan 2012 #118
Don't give a fuck really. More bothered by Slayer's cover of Minor Threat's "Guilty of Being White" ButterflyBlood Jan 2012 #94
I thought I misheard Cee Lo when he sang that. It is ridiculous to change Liquorice Jan 2012 #100
Yoko's been doing some odd things with John's work. T S Justly Jan 2012 #105
Artists don't have to seek permission to perform a published song. MilesColtrane Jan 2012 #114
WKRP in Cincinnatti would agree. sofa king Jan 2012 #107
This is simple for me. 99Forever Jan 2012 #110
Oh geez, You are all being "war on christmas" O'Reilly crazy over this. phleshdef Jan 2012 #111
Thankfully that's your opinion malaise Jan 2012 #121
You must be CeLo Green's agent... joeybee12 Jan 2012 #124
It's just a song. Nuclear Unicorn Jan 2012 #127
Then take a knife to the Mona Lisa and cut out part of it... joeybee12 Jan 2012 #129
Theres only one Mona Lisa. John Lennon's recording of the song still exists, undamaged and you can.. phleshdef Jan 2012 #132
So Mona Lisa = Imagine? Hahahahhhhhha Dreamer Tatum Jan 2012 #133
If the idea of shedding dogmatic assertions in the name of peace is so important Nuclear Unicorn Jan 2012 #135
It's an irony sandwich: in defending no religion whatsoever, people deify Lennon. Dreamer Tatum Jan 2012 #138
It's irony when one can claim the innocence of not being aware Nuclear Unicorn Jan 2012 #144
I can't even name one song by him. I'm a rock music only kind of person. phleshdef Jan 2012 #130
Some things cross the line and are unacceptable. 99Forever Jan 2012 #126
Grow up. phleshdef Jan 2012 #131
Can you add me, too? Because it's just a fucking song. Dreamer Tatum Jan 2012 #134
No problem. 99Forever Jan 2012 #136
"and a terrible one at that" Warren DeMontague Jan 2012 #145
Not shitty music, for openers. nt Dreamer Tatum Jan 2012 #146
yeah, right. Warren DeMontague Jan 2012 #149
My ipod could be a carbon copy of yours Dreamer Tatum Jan 2012 #150
I doubt it. But it's nice to know I have a 160GB dick. Warren DeMontague Jan 2012 #152
Anything I say will be seized upon, even if it's your favorite, too. Dreamer Tatum Jan 2012 #153
try me. Warren DeMontague Jan 2012 #154
Said the scorpion to the frog. nt Dreamer Tatum Jan 2012 #155
I'm a Deadhead, so I'm used to hearing hipsters make fun of my music. Warren DeMontague Jan 2012 #157
New Mastersounds. The Perceptions. Johnny Hammond. Boogaloo Joe Jones. Dreamer Tatum Jan 2012 #158
Never heard of 'em, but that means nothing, being that I am out of touch Warren DeMontague Jan 2012 #160
Less electric than P-Funk. Even old P-Funk. nt Dreamer Tatum Jan 2012 #161
fair 'nuff. I'll check em out Warren DeMontague Jan 2012 #164
How could ALL religion be true, anyway? AzDar Jan 2012 #123
It's the sort of new-agey gibberish that many believers like to float, but that Warren DeMontague Jan 2012 #147
It could all be a different cultural expression for the same thing treestar Jan 2012 #170
It's just a song. A pretty song with nice thoughts, but just a song. Nuclear Unicorn Jan 2012 #125
My opinion doesn't spring from dogma. MilesColtrane Jan 2012 #140
In college Nuclear Unicorn Jan 2012 #141
Bad Cee Lo Green AtomicKitten Jan 2012 #139
How DARE you change those lyrics??!!?? hfojvt Jan 2012 #165
"Imagine there's no outrage, over trivial things..." Throd Jan 2012 #148
that's pretty hard to do hfojvt Jan 2012 #163
it staggers the imagination hfojvt Jan 2012 #159
You ever create an original work? whatchamacallit Jan 2012 #168
I love John Lennon but this is just silly easttexaslefty Jan 2012 #169
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Johm Lennon wrote 'no rel...»Reply #93