Imagine all the people
John Lennon
Living life in peace
We previously featured “Give Peace a Chance” by John Lennon on a Songs of Peace post. “Imagine” is arguably his greatest song with or without the Beatles, and certainly one of the most loved and most played songs of the 20th Century.
Other “Songs of Peace” in this series:
“Let’s get together and feel all right”
–Bob Marley, “One Love”
There are many songs by Bob Marley that are considered “Songs of Peace.” Today we take a moment to consider “One Love.”
Other “Songs of Peace” in this series:
“All we are saying is give peace a chance.”
–John Lennon
The antiwar movement of the 1960s and early 1970’s focused on the American war in Vietnam and other parts of Southeast Asia. Many songs became forever associated with this era, perhaps none more so than “Give Peace a Chance.”
Although he was still a member of the Beatles, this was John Lennon’s first single released without the “Fab Four.” Originally the writing credits went to both Lennon and Paul McCartney, however later Lennon claimed that Yoko Ono deserved a credit, not Paul. The song was the musical highlight of the “Bed-In” of Lennon and Ono in Montreal in 1969. “Give Peace a Chance” would become what many consider to be the ultimate antiwar anthem.
Of course, many others will argue the ultimate antiwar anthem is John Lennon’s masterpiece, “Imagine.” Look for that in a future “Songs of Peace” post.
Find out more:
Give Peace a Chance (Wikipedia)
Other “Songs of Peace” in this series:
“This song is not a rebel song. This song is Sunday Bloody Sunday.” (U2)
Sunday Bloody Sunday, by U2, is one of the Irish band’s signature tunes, one of the greatest rock songs of all time, and amongst the greatest calls for an end to violence and war that can be found in popular music.
The title refers specifically to the events of Bloody Sunday during the height of “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland. More generally the song is a denunciantion of the sectarian violence in Northern Ireland and a profoundly anti-war anthem.
Find out more about “Sunday Bloody Sunday”:
Other “Songs of Peace” in this series:
Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School Library 