The bells of Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral are to ring out to John Lennon's anti-religious anthem Imagine.
The bells will play the 1971 song, which begins "Imagine there's no Heaven", as part of an arts festival on 16 May at 1300 BST and 1430 BST.
A cathedral spokesman said: "Allowing Imagine to be pealed on our bells does not mean we agree with the song lyric."
The song has drawn criticism from some religious figures as Lennon himself as called the anthem "anti-religious".
Liverpool Cathedral said it had carefully considered the "sensitivities" surrounding the song's lyrical content.
The original idea to ring out Imagine came from artist Cleo Evans, who was commissioned by Futuresonic, a cultural festival, to develop the concept with the Anglican Cathedral.
She said: "Imagine is an incredibly gentle, philosophical and moving song which speaks strongly of the need for peace.
"It is an iconic song which will be performed in a thought-provoking and surprising setting."
I love the song -
3 comments:
I love the song too and I'm a Christian.
In fact I love all great art. God is, after all, a creative God
All the best with your sponsor child too.
Amber
One of my favorites...ok, don't throw rotten food at me, but I think I like Jack Johnson's cover better than the original. Have you heard it?
and then there is A Perfect Cirle's dirge-like re-creation (using Lennon's lyrics with new music. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpqKA9_ddFk Warning: some disturbing images in the video). My sons always said that Lennon's tune was too happy to go with his lyrics.
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