Album: Imagine
Year: 1971
Artist: John Lennon
Key: C Major
Difficulty: Intermediate
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✨ About the Song
Released in 1971, Imagine is Lennon at his most idealistic — part dreamer, part agitator, all peace-lovin’ rebel. Written at his home in Tittenhurst Park and produced with Yoko Ono and Phil Spector (yes, that Spector), it became the unofficial anthem for anyone who’s ever rolled their eyes at war, greed, or politicians in general.
The song invites you to picture a world without countries, religion, or possessions — which sounds suspiciously like a nightmare for estate agents, but Lennon’s heart was in the right place. It’s been covered, banned, worshipped, and played at more peace rallies than any other song in human history.
Fun fact: Yoko Ono later got a co-writing credit, which is fair enough considering half the lyrics sound like they came straight out of her 1964 art book Grapefruit.
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🎸 Ukulele Tips
• Chords: C, Cmaj7, F, Am, Dm, G. Classic uke-friendly shapes, and no awkward finger yoga required.
• Strumming: Try a gentle down-down-up-up-down-up pattern in 4/4. Keep it floaty and mellow — if you’re sweating, you’re doing it wrong.
• Tempo: Nice and lazy, around 75 bpm. Don’t rush it; imagine you’re on a cloud with nothing better to do.
• Tone: If your uke’s a bright little bastard, try playing closer to the neck for a softer, piano-like sound.
• Vibe: Whisper the first verse like you’re telling the world a secret, then open up on the chorus.
• Extra Credit: Slide a few slow arpeggios on the C chord to mimic that famous piano intro — works beautifully on a tenor uke.
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💡 Trivia You Can Drop Casually
• The piano from the original recording was later owned by George Michael, who shelled out over £1.5 million for it — because why not.
• The song was briefly banned during the Gulf War for being “anti-patriotic.” Imagine that.
• It was the closer for the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony. Goosebumps, mate.
• Rolling Stone ranked it #3 in their 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, right behind “Like a Rolling Stone” and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” Not bad company.
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🌈 Final Word
Imagine isn’t just a song — it’s a bloody manifesto, wrapped in a lullaby. Simple chords, deep message, timeless vibe. Play it with your heart, not just your hands… and for the love of Lennon, don’t speed it up like you’re busking for the last train.
