The article reassesses John Lennon’s 1971 song ‘Imagine’, which Lennon described as the best song he had written, against criticisms that it is naïve, overly sentimental or hypocritical. It argues that the song’s plain language and gentle melody helped make its challenge to religion, nationalism, capitalism and materialism widely accessible, explaining its enduring cultural influence despite those objections.

‘Imagine’ was written during sessions for Lennon’s album of the same name and drew substantially on ideas in Yoko Ono’s book Grapefruit; Lennon later said she should have received co-writing credit, which she was formally given in 2017. Released as a single in the United States in October 1971, it became Lennon’s biggest solo hit and later reached number one in the UK after his death in 1980. Its lyrics, especially the call to imagine a world without heaven, countries or possessions, have attracted criticism while also making it a prominent peace anthem.