☝️ Key Points
- The song lyrics contain both Christmas greetings and an anti-war message.
- The opening lines are personal messages to John Lennon's children, Kyoko and Julian.
- The lines of the chorus are wishes for a peaceful and joyful new year without fear and conflicts.
- The line 'War is over, If you want it, War is over now' calls for peace and states that war will only end if people want it and fight for it.
- Overall, the song conveys a message of hope and peace, urging the listener to reflect on their actions and their impact on the world.
Interpretation
The lyrics to 'Happy Xmas (War Is Over)' by
John Lennon are a mix of a Christmas message and an anti-war song.
The opening lines 'Happy Christmas Kyoko, Happy Christmas Julian' are a personal message to his children. 'So this is Christmas, And what have you done, Another year over, And a new one just begun' is a reflection on the past year and the question of what we have achieved.
The chorus 'A very merry Christmas, And a happy New Year, Let's hope it's a good one, Without any fear' is a wish for peace and joy in the coming year, free from fears and conflicts.
The lines 'War is over, If you want it, War is over now' are a call for peace. John Lennon is saying here that war will only end if people want it and fight for it.
Overall, the song conveys a message of hope and peace, and urges the listener to reflect on their actions and their impact on the world.