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Sunday Classics: ‘Happy Xmas (War is Over)’ by John Lennon

Lennon's song may have carried the true meaning of Christmas

41 years after his shocking death The Beatles frontman John Lennon remains an icon and his Christmas song can help us see why. Happy Xmas (War Is Over) was released in 1971 as a single by John and Yoko Ono with the Harlem Community Choir. Many of Lennon’s fans consider this an anthem for Lennon’s peace activism since this was also written as a protest song against the Vietnam War.

The song begins with Christmas greetings from Ono and Lennon to their children from previous marriages. Ono sings, "Happy Christmas, Kyoko", and Lennon whispers, "Happy Christmas, Julian''. Lennon conceived "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ as a way of addressing the themes of social unity and realised that a hint of optimism would make his political message more popular. Today, the song has more than seven million views on YouTube and it has been covered by some of the most popular contemporary artistes from Alanis Morisette to Dua Lipa.

_{^{- Ujjainee Roy}}