The majestic, flowing, colourful, silk robes, the powerful choir, carefully selected wonderful solo voices, first-rate musicians on organ, piano, drums, bass and saxophone: the pulsing New York quarter of Harlem – home to more than 400 religious communities and above all cradle of the rich, Afro-American culture – was the inspiration at the beginning of the 90s for establishing the Harlem Gospel Singers. Their typical, contemporary, modern, unmistakable sound is also the result of virtuoso musical excursions into the areas of blues and jazz. With no fear of “worldly influences”, choreographed perfectly towards a strong, dynamic, quick-paced firework of rhythm and passion, the Harlem Gospel Singers have been enthusiastically celebrated at concerts in Madrid, Paris and London, in Milan, Vienna and Berlin. Alone audiences of 300 000 saw the group play during a concert for the pope in Bologna. Including the metropolitan cities of Europe, the group has won the hearts of way over two million people and has triggered a real Gospel comeback – with a wave of more or less able musicians following the barrel.
But even greater than their technical perfection, the miracle of this unique, emotional show is seen in the powerful display of beauty and clarity, faith, hope and all-embracing love, which is conveyed to the audience: “At the beginning, they just look at you. Then they start to move their legs and clap their hands. Then they’re up on their feet. And during the show they rush up to the stage as if they’re at a rock concert,” is how Queen Esther Marrow, superstar of the Gospel scene and founder of the Harlem Gospel Singers describes the happenings at concerts. Infectiously enthusiastic, radiating, happy faces, a heavenly musical celebration: a concert by the Harlem Gospel Singers is a rousing, intensive expression of energy-giving love – and this is what remains even once this unique musical happening has come to an end.
Imagine
THE HARLEM GOSPEL SINGERS Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 isn't hard to do
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace, you
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people sharing all the world, you
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one
The Harlem Gospel Singer's rendition of John Lennon's "Imagine" captures the essence of the original song which was released in 1971. The opening line, "Imagine there's no heaven," suggests that there would be no afterlife, no reward or punishment awaiting individuals for their actions on earth, and no need to follow the rituals of any religious institution. The song urges listeners to adopt a secular approach in their lives and to live each day as it comes, enjoying whatever it brings.
The next stanza envisions a world without national boundaries, where people can coexist in peace and harmony. This is followed by a call for humanity to move beyond its physical and material needs and instead work towards sharing the wealth of the planet and fostering a sense of brotherhood. Throughout the song, the message is clear: the world would be a better place if we could all live in harmony, without the prejudices and boundaries that have kept us apart.
The line "You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one" offers an invitation to those who may not yet see the world as Lennon imagined it. It suggests that the dream of a better world is not a far-fetched ideal, but rather an achievable goal if enough people are willing to work towards it. Finally, the call to action "I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one" conveys unity amongst all people, regardless of their differences, a message that is so relevant in today's world where division and polarisation seem to be rampant.
Line by Line Meaning
Imagine there's no heaven
Try to conceive of a world without the idea of an afterlife or any concept of divine beings.
It's easy if you try
Although it may seem difficult to let go of the idea of heaven, it is possible to do so if you make an effort.
No hell below us
Imagine a world without the fear of eternal damnation, where you don't have to worry about punishment for your actions.
Above us only sky
In this version of reality, the sky is just a vast expanse of natural beauty without any divine significance.
Imagine all the people living for today
Instead of living for the promise of an afterlife, people would focus on living in the present and making the most out of their lives on earth.
Imagine there's no countries
Imagine a world where there are no borders that separate us, where nationalism is replaced by a sense of global community.
It isn't hard to do
Although it may seem difficult to imagine a world without countries, it is actually not that difficult to make this mental shift.
Nothing to kill or die for
Without nationalistic ideals and the desire to kill or die for your country, conflict and warfare would not exist.
And no religion too
In this world, people are not bound by religious ideologies and dogmas, and are free to pursue their own beliefs or lack thereof.
Imagine all the people living life in peace, you
Without political division, religious tension, or war, people would be able to live their lives in peace and harmony.
You may say I'm a dreamer
The singer is aware that these ideas may seem idealistic and unrealistic to some.
But I'm not the only one
However, the artist knows that there are other people who share these same ideas and hopes for the world.
I hope some day you'll join us
The singer is optimistic that others will come to embrace these ideas, leading to a better world for everyone.
And the world will be as one
This collective effort to imagine a different world will lead to a unified humanity that works together for the common good.
Imagine no possessions
Imagine a world without materialism and the accumulation of personal wealth and possessions.
I wonder if you can
The artist challenges the listener to imagine a world where materialism doesn't exist, because it may seem impossible for some.
No need for greed or hunger
In this world, everyone would have what they need and no one would be motivated by the desire for more possessions or resources.
A brotherhood of man
Without the competition and conflicts that arise from the desire for individual gain, people would work together as equals and brothers for the betterment of society.
Imagine all the people sharing all the world, you
Everyone would be united in sharing the resources of the world equally, without the greed or competition that often arises in our current world.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul Mccartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind