Is John Lennon's 'Imagine' the best athiest or humanist anthem ever written? What are some others?
Great tune! Never heard it before....
I particularly like the use of 'doomsdayin'' as a verb and the lyric 'the business of what's going on between these thighs' lol.
Thanks for sharing it.....might slip in into the mix at the Brother-in-laws next church member BBQ.
Bobby Darin had a few songs that showed he was questioning - wouldn't call them anthems - but pretty daring for the time. "Hey, Magic Man" and "Sunday" come to mind.
Bobby Darin (born Walden Robert Cassotto; May 14, 1936 – December 20, 1973)
Hey Magic Man, Bob Darin
Hey Magic Man
Come when you can
I’ve got a plan
If you’re willing
Come show your face
Any old place
You can’t erase
All this killing
Some thundered word
Spoken and heard
Keeping the third
From your children
Some little sign
If you don’t mind
Help us define
What we’re building
You know lunacy lives
And nobody gives
And vegetable sieves
Win elections
So if you exist
How have you missed
Making a list
Of corrections
Hey Magic Man
Come when you can
I’ve got a plan
If you’re willing
Come show your face
Any old place
You can’t erase
All this killing
Sunday, Bob Darin
Sunday -
Where has what you stood for gone
Sunday
- Have you been asleep
You say keep the faith but there's no faith to keep.
Sunday -
Master of a dyin' breed
Sunday
- Lyin' in a heap
You say keep the faith but there's no faith to keep.
Sunday -
Virgin child who can't wear white
Sunday
- Much too late to weep
You say keep the faith but there's no faith to keep.
Sunday -
Tellin' lies on history
Sunday -
Ain't you in too deep
You say keep the faith but there's no faith to keep.
Sunday -
Bow down to the blood you've shed
Sunday
- Bodies piled so steep
You say keep the faith but there's no faith to keep.
Sunday
- Build your house of solid gold
Sunday -
Let the people sleep
You say keep the faith but there's no faith to keep.
You say keep the faith but there's no faith to keep.
There's no such thing as an "atheist anthem" - it's nonsense like this that motivates some to view atheism as a religion - a cult following. If a song resonates with you - fine - but to suggest that it encapsulates those who might agree for different reasons that there's no divine sugar daddy is as bat sh-t nuts as those who use the bible or a particular Christian song as their anthem.
The haters gunna hate. The brilliance of the song IMHO is that it only asks you to 'imagine'..... Imagine there's no heaven.....no hell below us.....Imagine no religion....etc. It doesn't ask you do anything, or believe anything.....other than join us to live our lives in peace....that's a long way from a cult following and quite the opposite of most music rooted in theology. The song also suggests....living for today.....without the escatological discourse....of course.
Sunday Morning Sidewalk and The Pilgrim written by Kris Kristofferson.
I'm thinking Kris was actually pretty religious when he wrote those songs, but a lot of his songs offered some pretty good philosophical food for thought back in the day. I was one of his biggest fans.
@Julie808 His Song Why Me Lord and how he came to compose it is hilarious especially to hear him relate it. I'm sure he was probably hung over at the time and was more personally reflecting about his past life then being actually religious. Likewise the Beatles did numerous forms of Drugs and other experiences that promoted and produced Imagine which is a great song. I don't care if it rains or freezes sung by Paul Neuman in Cool Hand Luke is another scenario song that provokes a moment when a person can existentially portray a moment with their feelings.
@Nevermind345 "I don't care if it rains or freezes, long as I got my plastic Jesus sitting upon the dashboard of my car.."?
Imagine is more of a humanist anthem but it still might fit
Agreed... but some of the lyrics clearly are confrontational of religious dogma...and go beyond the mere promotion of the tenets of humanism?
Imagine there's no heaven...above us only sky,
No hell below us.
Imagine no religion.....etc.