How John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “Imagine” Became the Refrain of Jimmy Carter’s Funeral

No American president, or any president since, has thought more deeply about the causes of war and the prospects for peace than Jimmy Carter. So the most compelling musical performance at the 39th president’s funeral on Thursday quietly raised fundamental challenges to militarism, nationalism, capitalism, and the exploitation of religious differences for political purposes. It was not surprising that this was expressed in

When country stars are Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood sang Up-and-coming artists from Japan and abroad gather to perform “Imagine” by John Lennon and Yoko Wang leader The reading of the lyrics, gathered Thursday inside the National Cathedral to honor Carter, touched on the hope for a world without war that fueled and inspired Carter during his presidency and the 44 years that followed.

At funerals, a rich tapestry of devotional music, secular music, and lofty rhetoric lends itself to the pursuit of “peace on earth,” in the moving words of former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young’s sermon. It highlighted Carter’s prophetic accomplishments as a uniquely dedicated leader dedicated to public service. and goodwill towards all men, especially women and children. ” It covers the former president’s foreign affairs, from his work in the White House as an architect of the 1978 Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt to his later years as an outspoken advocate of justice for the Palestinian people. He praised his dedication and belief in the possibility of justice for the Palestinian people. A world where swords may be hammered into plowshares. Lennon shared that yearning, and expressed it in the title song of his second solo album. The former Beatle and anti-war activist spoke of a world torn apart by conflict, which at the time stretched from Vietnam and Cambodia to India, Pakistan, southern Africa, Northern Ireland and the Middle East. “Imagine that,” he asked. ”

Carter has expressed his enthusiasm for the song many times. He rejoiced in the fact that “Imagine” had become a truly international anthem. “[I]”In many countries around the world, and my wife and I have visited about 125 countries, we hear John Lennon’s song ‘Imagine’ being used almost as the national anthem,” the former president said. said. said In a 2006 NPR interview. “So John Lennon has a huge influence on some of the developing countries of the world.”

The Associated Press asked him about his favorite Beatles song at the time. Attended the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival As Jonathan Demme’s documentary debut, jimmy carter the man from the plainsAt the time of the premiere of beyond the universewith music by Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, Carter again referenced Lennon’s epic solo work.

“My favorite is ‘Imagine.’ When you go to Cuba or other strange countries, depending on those countries, “Imagine” [an unofficial] national anthem. If you go to Havana, for example, you’ll see a statue of John Lennon. ” he saidreferring to the monument to John Lennon in a Havana park. “When I go to see folk performances, symphony orchestra concerts, or contemporary American music, “Imagine” always plays, and personally, this is one of my favorite songs.If you listen to the lyrics carefully, you can hear it. You can see that it is against religion, against national borders, against nationalism, against patriotism, but its impact on people is profound.”

Carter is not alone in his nuanced understanding of the song, with Lennon stating that he was inspired and influenced by the song. Onohis wife and musical partner. (In 2017, Ono was credited as a co-writer on the song, based on an interview the former Beatle gave before his death in 1980.) rolling stone David Fricke, one of the magazine’s most insightful writers, once described ‘Imagine’ as John Lennon’s ‘greatest musical gift to the world’. observed“‘Imagine’ is a subtly controversial song and Lennon’s greatest achievement as a balladeer and agitator.”

The song’s politics have been controversial over the years, especially the lyrics that invite listeners to “Imagine there’s no heaven / It’s easy if you try / There’s no hell beneath us / We There’s nothing but the sky above / Imagine all the people / Living for today,” and “Imagine no country / It’s not hard / No killing, no dying. / And no religion.”

The song resonated around the world over the years, but social media existed. Post on that thursday criticized The inclusion of “Imagine” at Carter’s funeral. Critics suggested that this was an inappropriate choice to celebrate the life of a very passionate evangelical Christian. John Lennon, as a Beatles author and historian, was aware of these concerns during his lifetime. Kenneth Womack pointed outWhen the Library of Congress added “Imagine” to the National Recording Registry in 2023, it said, “Lennon also cited the Christian prayer book as part of the song’s impetus.” Womack wrote. “In June 1969, he was given the book by comedian and civil rights activist Dick Gregory. As Lennon later explained, [interviewer David] According to Scheff, this book gave him an important concept about the nature of “positive prayer”, which influenced the composition of “Imagine”. “If you can imagine a peaceful world where there are no religious sects, where there is no religion, where there is no ‘My God is bigger than your God,’ then that might be true.”

Carter, a progressive evangelical, said: he tried to do that “Apply your Christian faith more regularly to your secular life,” he said, well aware of the song’s message and John Lennon’s influence as a musician and political activist.

The former Beatle attended President Carter’s 1977 inauguration ceremony with Ono. When John Lennon was murdered in New York City in December 1980, Georgians, who were nearing the end of one term as president, decided to extend the White House and mourned the news. statement “It is especially painful that John Lennon died in violence despite his years of campaigning for peace,” he said.

In his later years, it became clear that Carter highly valued “Imagine.” When Georgia Tech students surprised Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter. song performance In 2017, the former president stood and led the applause. Brooks and Yearwood, who worked with the Carters, attended Rosalynn Carter’s funeral in 2023. Habitat for Humanity Project–Performing “Imagine”.

The selection of songs at both funerals reflected music taste About the Carters and their families, along with the message they want to convey.

As his grandson Jason Carter told mourners at Thursday’s memorial service, Jimmy Carter was a practical idealist who “made peace with love and respect.” preached “The power of human rights…is given to all people, not just some people.” He also believes in the power of music, citing the global reach and influence of the song, which ends with the words: I highly appreciated it. I hope you will join us someday/And the world will live as one. ”