Editor | On 10, Jun 2018

Darrell Mann

Let’s play Spot The Baby-Boomer. Specifically those born in the ‘cusper’ period between 1961 and 1964. Some fell on the Boomer side of the fence, some ended up Xers. One way to spot the difference is look to see if the wear ‘Old Guys Rule’ apparel (see Issue 138). The other is to play John Lennon’s 1971 hit-record, Imagine and watch what happens.

Baby-Boomers will automatically go misty-eyed and start singing along. If there are two Boomers, they’ll look at each other as they each mime the perfectly-remembered words. They’ll smile at each other. Nostalgia rules. A small tear begins to appear in the corner of their eyes. It could’ve – should’ve – turned out so differently…

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…

You may say 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

Nomads, on the other hand, are more likely to reach for the off button. Bloody hippies. Bloody fur-coat. Bloody mansion. Bloody white piano. ‘Imagine no possessions’ my arse. Bloody hypocrite with your naïve utopian bullshit. Strawberry Fields Forever, ha. You sell-out. You embarrassment. You has-been. Don’t ever darken my door again.