Imagine: This Old Brit And John Lennon ...

It must have been a long, long time ago when This Old Brit was first told that time flies faster as one gets older, since he can't remember who he first heard say so.

But he can remember as though it were only yesterday, that dismal day one full quarter of a century ago - this coming Thursday 8th - when John Lennon was murdered, by a madman in New York.

Lennon was local lad. By which is meant that the [then young] Old Brit and John Lennon were both scousers - or for the benefit of our foreign friends - were both, born & bred Liverpudlian lads.

It wouldn't exactly be true to say that This Old Brit 'knew' John, but he did meet, mingle and mix with Lennon and his musical mates, several times. Naturally, that was before John and the other boys in the band made the big time as The Beatles, and when they were playing regularly at the [yet to become] famous, original Cavern Club in Matthew Street.

Of course the only real thing This Old Brit had in common with Lennon and the other fab-fellahs, was trying to put their best chat-up-line talents to the test, on some of the lovely, local Liverpool lasses. And there's no need to tell you who turned out to be best at that. Huh; bet you can easily guess.

Well ...... y'see, This Old Brit hadn't yet gotten round to growing his hair that long, nor to combing it in that - what was at the time - real weirdo way. Nor did This Old Brit ever wear any way out, studded & buckled black leather gear. Leather cost a lot of lucre, way back then.

But This Old Brit comes here today to remember John Lennon rather than to praise him. Since to be completely honest, although he eventually had to admit to admiring Lennon's soon to become self evident, super-special talents - he viewed the aspiring scouse artiste as not much more than just another young local yokel. And, the Brit's bound to tell, a bit of a big-headed bugger, to boot.

However, as This Old Brit's always believed in being one of the first to give all credit where it's due, and has never been one to speak ill of the dead, this seems a good point to pack up the personal reminiscences - and let it be.

Though he won't - nay, can't - ever forget those famous words which follow, further down. Since to most folk, they must surely have been seen as Lennon's finest hour. Because like it or not, this wonderful piece of work definitely did help change the, even then, war torn & weary world --- particularly from an American perspective.

What a pity that change didn't prove to be as permanent as so many millions of us all across the globe, had hoped.

Imagine.

Imagine there's no heaven,
It's easy if you try,
No hell below us,
Above us only sky,
Imagine all the people
living for today...

Imagine there's no countries,
It isn't hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for,
No religion too,
Imagine all the people
living life in peace...

Imagine no possessions,
I wonder if you can,
No need for greed or hunger,
A brotherhood of man,
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer,
but I'm not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.

Well, whether you just want to learn a little more about the late John Lennon or rather to remember him -- along with his wonderful works and times at the top, This Old Brit really recommends reading these two web pages.

[And by the way, there's a fascinating video clip well worth viewing at the B.B.C. link].

1./ B.B.C. "On This Day" John Lennon Link. including video.

2./ Martin Lewis remembers Lennon in a particularly personal piece, at The Huffington Post.