Imagine...If I Were (Still) A Boy

Newsletter + On This Day

Oct 08, 2024

1×

0:00

-3:27

This week, in 1971, John Lennon released “Imagine” as a single.
It’s a song I’ve listened to and played/sang along with many, many times.

Its simple, idealistic lyrics have always stuck with me—its dream of a better world, a world without division, war, or hate. Lennon's voice, floating over that haunting piano, calls for something deeper than mere change. He invites us to imagine what could be, if only we had the courage to dream.

On this day in 2008, Beyoncé released “If I Were A Boy” as a single.
It’s a song I’ve listened to and played/sang along with almost as much.

Unlike Lennon's hopeful anthem, Beyoncé's song delivers a raw emotional honesty. It’s not a dream of what could be, but a view of the complex relationship between modern-day men and women. The song exposes the harsh reality of gender roles, the expectations and limitations society imposes on us, and the frustrations of not being understood. It’s a song about empathy. The desire to be seen, to be heard, and the deep questioning of why love often fails to bridge the gender gaps.

In my mind, the lyrics of these songs tell a profound story about what it’s like to navigate a world filled with ignorance and intolerance while still trying to find new ways to hope and love.

READ-SING-WATCH A-LONG

LYRICS = IMAGINE BY JOHN LENNON
Producers = Phil Spector + Yoko Ono + John Lennon
Writers = Yoko Ono + John Lennon

LYRICS = IF I WERE A BOY BY BEYONCÉ
Producers = Beyoncé + Toby Gad
Writers = Toby Gad + BC Jean

"Imagine" paints a picture of unity and peace, envisioning a utopian world where differences are celebrated and divisions disappear. In contrast, "If I Were a Boy" highlights the challenges faced by modern men and women, reminding us of the ongoing struggle for recognition and the fight to break free from societal confines that keep us from truly understanding and loving each other—and even ourselves.

To me, these songs feel like two sides of the same coin. One offers a vision of what humanity could become; the other reflects what it still is. Lennon asks us to dream big, to imagine a world without barriers. Beyoncé challenges us to confront the harsh truths of gender roles and consider how they limit our lives and loves.

Perhaps that’s what makes these songs so powerful together to me.

It’s hard for me to imagine a better world without first addressing the inner challenges we face. I have a hard time hoping for change without acknowledging how and where we fall short.

Both songs speak to the need for something greater—whether it’s a dream of peace or a cry for empathy. They remind us that even though the journey may be long, it all starts with challenging and questioning the world around us.

Imagine if we all had the courage to see beyond ourselves. Imagine if we could break through the ignorance and intolerance that still bind us. Imagine... if we were (still) boys (or girls or whatever gender identity works for you) willing to embrace the full range of human experience, not as something to overcome, but as a fact of life, as something to celebrate and cherish.

Like I said, I’ve listened to both songs a lot. I’ve also thought deeply about them. You might have a different experience or interpretation of what they mean—separately and together. And that’s what makes art, music, and poetry so powerful. They allow us to connect, reflect, and engage with the world—and with each other—in ways that words alone sometimes can’t.

While our “comfort zones” and the status quo may make us feel “at home,” are they truly where we want to live?

Thanks for reading and subscribing,
Clint

ON THIS DAY = OCTOBER 7

BIRTHDAYS

1917 = Billy Conn = American boxer
1920 = Frank Herbert, American journalist, photographer, and author
1943 = R.L. Stine = American author, screenwriter, and producer
1949 = Sigourney Weaver = American actress and producer
1970 = Matt Damon = American actor, producer, and screenwriter

EVENTS

1871 = The Great Chicago Fire kills an estimated 300 people and destroys over four square miles of buildings and the original Emancipation Proclamation
1904 = Anna Ruhling became one of the first feminists to publicly speak out in favor of rights for same-sex attracted women. At a meeting of the Scientific-Humanitarian Committee, Ruhling attempted to link the women's movement with rights for lesbians, criticizing her colleagues for not taking an active role in fighting oppression against same-sex attracted women.
1927 = "The Second Hundred Years,” a short starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, is released. It is their first film together prior to being known officially as Laurel and Hardy and appearing in 100+ films.
1974 = An episode of the American medical drama "Marcus Welby, M.D.," titled "The Outrage," became the center of a massive protest organized by The National Gay And Lesbian Task Force. The episode equated homosexuality with pedophilia by depicting a gay may as a middle school teacher who preyed on his students. In response, many sponsors pulled their advertising from the episode, including Bayer, Gallo Wine, Listerine, Ralston-Purina, Colgate-Palmolive, Shell Oil, Lipton, American Home Products, Breck, Sterling Drug and Gillette.
1985 = A group of Latina/o LGBTQ activists formed the Austin Latina Latino Lesbian and Gay Organization (ALLGO). It acted as an LGBT rights organization that "envision[ed] a just and equitable society that celebrates and nurtures vibrant people of color queer cultures."
1997 = The “Roomates” episode of the ABC sitcom Ellen received an “adult content warning” because it contained a kiss between Ellen and another woman. The network label reportedly infuriated Ellen DeGeneres. She tells reporters, "I never wanted to be an activist, but now they’re turning me into one."
2001 = POTUS George W. Bush announces the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security.
2008 = “If I Were A Boy” by Beyoncé is released.

WORDS OF WISDOM

“Any road followed precisely to its end leads precisely nowhere. Climb the mountain just a little bit to test it's a mountain. From the top of the mountain, you cannot see the mountain.”
Frank Herbert

“When I write for kids, I have to make sure they know what can't happen. They have to know it's a fantasy. But when I write for adults, they have to think it's real. Every detail has to be real or they won't buy it.”
R.L. Stine

“I'm a natural golden retriever at heart. I'm fine with that now, but there was a time when I tried to keep myself from jumping up on people. I had to make myself sit.”
Sigourney Weaver