Today is the 28th anniversary of John Lennon's death. He was more than a musician and a songwriter. He was a visionary. He was able to see through the bullshit in the world. He would do whatever he could to make the world a better place, if that meant simply singing a song. Songs like "All You Need is Love", "Power to the People", and "Give Peace A Chance" were both simple and powerful. The message was/is direct. There was no beating around the bush with these songs. The message was the lyric, the song title, the chorus sung over and over like a mantra. Through his songwriting, the purest statement became the most artistic.
Now that we've reached the holiday season, we'll be hearing "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" in our shopping malls and on the local oldies station that turns to all-holiday-music-all-the-time for 2 months. Thank Jesus and Santa that this song gets play, and next time you hear it, listen to the words: "War is over if you want it / War is over now." These lyrics are so appropriate right now. We have soldiers fighting in a foreign land who won't be able to be with their families this holiday season. And we have an incoming president that embodies the kind of optimism and hope that these lyrics express.
"A dream you dream alone is only a dream.
A dream you dream together is reality."
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