I missed noweasels' Remembering John Lennon: 29 years later today. I was where I usually am on this day, paying my respects at Strawberry Fields in Central Park.
Strawberry Fields is a simple dedication to John Lennon. Not a statue or monument but a mosaic around the word "Imagine." People gather there year round and imagine but twice a year, it becomes a special event. The mosaic is decorated with mementos as the day goes on and we gather around the circle of tiles to sing into the night.
I like to think of it as the greatest cover band of all time because it is a gathering of the people singing and remembering the life and times of John Lennon.
I have a few photos of this gathering to show. Some people come back every year. Some are there for the first time. Some were not even born on December 8, 1980.
Walking from the subway station, others are headed that way.
It doesn't seem to be a very large gathering when you consider the surrounding population.
But it is very impressive to see and talk with so many.
The view with the Dakota in the background, where there is also a group of people mourning on this day.
The mosaic at around noontime.
Gary, the Mayor of Strawberry Fields.
A gathering of people of all ages.
The regular musicians that show up every year. I think they were singing "Give Peace a Chance" here.
Two beautiful young ladies, sisters that I introduced myself to and got to meet their Mom, Samantha and I think it was Katia were singing all morning. Then they took center stage and Kay borrowed a guitar to play a few Lennon tunes.
One of her songs was "Come Together" and there was not a dry eye in the house.
The music circle in the early afternoon.
Gary arranging the new flowers that people bring.
And the band plays many favorites. One of the most popular sing alongs is a song that John Lennon covered "Stand By Me."
The Mosaic later in afternoon.
Everyone sings all the early tunes by The Beatles and for the some of later songs the people just sway and sometimes hum. Strawberry Fields has a special meaning here and you can hear a pin drop for "The Long and Winding Road." The most moving this year was "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)"
But of course it is "Imagine" that really gets to the crowd. That powerful word that sits in a park in NYC.
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
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace
You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
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 that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one |
"Imagine" is also always the song when I choose to leave. The same faces say "Goodbye for now" and God bless you for coming."
I hope to see all those familiar faces and some new ones on October 9th, the day that I so wish would be John Lennon's seventieth birthday.