Additional Coverage:
- John Lennon once said he wasn’t ‘man enough’ to give wife Yoko Ono credit for co-writing ‘Imagine’ (businessinsider.com)
John Lennon’s “Imagine,” perhaps the most recognizable protest anthem ever written, has a secret history. While Lennon was initially listed as the sole songwriter upon the song’s release in 1971, he later confessed to biographer David Sheff that his wife, Yoko Ono, was instrumental in its creation.
In Sheff’s biography, “Yoko,” Lennon admits, “I wasn’t man enough to let her have credit for it. I was still selfish enough and unaware enough to sort of take her contribution without acknowledging it.”
This wasn’t simply about sharing credit, something Lennon was accustomed to as part of the famed Lennon-McCartney songwriting duo. Lennon revealed a deeper bias, telling the BBC that if it had been a male collaborator, like David Bowie, he wouldn’t have hesitated to share the credit. He dismissed Ono’s contribution because she was “just the wife.”
Sheff’s in-depth interviews with Lennon and Ono, conducted around the release of their 1980 album “Double Fantasy,” form the basis of the biography. While Lennon tragically died a month after the album’s release, Sheff maintained a close relationship with Ono, gaining valuable insights into her influence on Lennon’s life and art.
The couple’s initial meeting in 1966 at Ono’s art exhibition, where Lennon famously took a bite out of her apple sculpture, sparked a connection. Lennon became fascinated by Ono’s avant-garde work, particularly her book of instructional poems, “Grapefruit,” which he kept by his bedside.
He described the book’s impact, saying, “Sometimes I’d get very annoyed by it… Then sometimes I’d be very enlightened by it.”
The influence of “Grapefruit” is evident in “Imagine.” Ono’s abstract instructions, such as “Imagine letting a goldfish swim across the sky,” resonate with the song’s lyrics.
Sheff credits Ono with the song’s title, concept, and much of the lyrical content, while Lennon composed the melody. He calls “Imagine” “a synthesis of Yoko’s philosophy.”
Ono’s focus on peace and connection is a recurring theme throughout their collaborative work, despite the media’s often negative portrayal of her. From the “Bed-In for Peace” to the formation of the Plastic Ono Band, their projects reflected a shared artistic vision.
David Geffen, founder of Geffen Records, highlighted Ono’s influence on “Double Fantasy,” stating that Lennon’s primary goal was to showcase her talent and ensure she received the recognition he felt she deserved. Tragically, Lennon’s life was cut short just weeks after the album’s release.
Yoko Ono, now 92, continues to champion Lennon’s music and legacy. In 2017, she finally received official credit as co-writer of “Imagine,” a moment her son Sean described as one of the happiest of their lives. This recognition solidified Ono’s place in music history and validated her profound impact on one of the most iconic songs of all time.