So interesting to read people's different responses to these lyrics! Like all great songs, it is open to a lot of interpretations.

I think what John was saying was that if we took away all the things that divide us, like allegiances to different nations and religions, desire for heaven, fear of hell, lust for possessions etc., and realised that all we really have is the here and now, how differently we might live our lives and how differently we might treat each other.

A beautiful, timeless song!