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Who really said it

You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one

Sung & written by John Lennon 1940–1980 · English musician, co-founder of the Beatles & peace activist
Verified In copyright

These are the words of the chorus of “Imagine,” written by John Lennon and released in 1971 on the album and single of the same name. The line is genuine and correctly attributed; since 2017 Yoko Ono — whose 1964 book Grapefruit Lennon credited as the source of the “lyric and concept” — shares the official songwriting credit.

Last verified 8 Jul 2026 · how we verify · spot an error?

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Verified quote & credit

“You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one” John Lennon, "Imagine" (1971)

Can you use it?

Still under copyright (rights held by The Estate of John Lennon and Yoko Ono (published through Lenono Music)). A short, credited quote is generally fine for talks, teaching, and internal decks; for commercial, published, or large-scale reuse, get permission.

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In context

Evoking the world of John Lennon — English musician, co-founder of the Beatles & peace activist. Theme: "You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one". Atmospheric and restrained, cinematic directional light, a muted period-appropriate palette, fine grain and texture. Compose with generous empty space for the quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.

Minimalist

Minimalist editorial slide for the quote "You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one". Clean background, a single muted accent color, generous negative space, subtle paper or linen texture, no literal illustration — let the words carry it. Reserve clear space for a serif quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.

Provenance

The source

Work
“Imagine” (song)
Writer
John Lennon (Yoko Ono added as co-writer, 2017)
Released
Album 9 Sep 1971; US single 11 Oct 1971 (Apple Records)
Location in song
Second couplet of the chorus

Imagine all the people living life in peace. 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 live as one. From the chorus of “Imagine” (1971)

The chorus of “Imagine.” Reproduced here in brief for identification; the song remains under copyright.

John Lennon — official “Imagine” single page

How we know

In copyright

“Imagine” was first published in 1971 and remains firmly under copyright in the United States. The composition is controlled by John Lennon’s estate and Yoko Ono through Lennon’s publishing company, Lenono Music; the sound recording rights sit with the album’s label. This line may be quoted briefly for commentary, but the lyric is not in the public domain.

Fact-check

The credit question

The line is correctly remembered as John Lennon’s — but there is a genuine authorship nuance worth knowing.

Yoko Ono Co-writer since 2017

For decades the song was credited to Lennon alone. Lennon later said its “lyric and concept” came “straight out of” Ono’s 1964 book Grapefruit, and in June 2017 the National Music Publishers Association recognised her as a co-author, per Wikipedia ↗.

“Anonymous” / generic inspiration posters Stripped of source

The line circulates on social media as a free-floating “dreamer” slogan detached from the song, which obscures that it is a copyrighted 1971 lyric, not a public-domain proverb.

It really is Lennon — the chorus of “Imagine” (1971) — with Yoko Ono now a credited co-writer, per the song’s history ↗.

Context

Why it mattered

“Imagine” asks listeners to picture a world without borders, possessions or religion, and this couplet is its emotional hinge: Lennon concedes he may sound naive, then insists his hope is shared. That turn — from ‘dreamer’ to ‘not the only one’ — is what made the line a rallying cry for peace movements for half a century.

You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.

Read the full story

The recording was added to the U.S. National Recording Registry in 2023, one marker of its lasting cultural weight.

Explore

Filed under

More provenance-checked quotes on the same theme, each with its reuse status.

Hope Freedom

Go further

Dig deeper

Trusted places to keep pulling the thread — primary archives, fact-checks, and scholarship. We show how we used each one before you leave.

“Imagine” (song) — Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

Full history of the song: 1971 writing/recording, release, and Yoko Ono’s 2017 co-writing credit.
John Lennon — official “Imagine” singlejohnlennon.com

The estate’s official page for the single, carrying the chorus lyric.
John Lennon’s “Imagine” is releasedhistory.com

This-day-in-history entry dating the single’s 11 October 1971 US release.
“Imagine” — National Recording Registry essay (2023)loc.gov

Library of Congress essay on the recording, added to the National Recording Registry in 2023.
Imagine (album) — Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

Context on the 1971 album that opens with the title track.

The true author

About John Lennon

John Lennon

1940–1980 · English musician, co-founder of the Beatles & peace activist

John Lennon (1940–1980) was an English singer, songwriter and peace activist who rose to worldwide fame as a co-founder of the Beatles. His 1971 solo album Imagine and its title track became an enduring anthem of pacifism and utopian hope. Lennon was shot and killed in New York City in December 1980.

For writers & researchers

Cite this

Primary source — Chicago

John Lennon, “Imagine,” on Imagine (Apple Records, 1971); words and music by John Lennon (co-credited to Yoko Ono from 2017).

MLA (9th ed.)

Lennon, John. “Imagine.” Imagine, Apple Records, 1971.

APA (7th ed.)

Lennon, J. (1971). Imagine [Song]. On Imagine. Apple Records.

This verification page

Quotle.info. “Who really said ‘You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one’?” Last verified 8 Jul 2026. https://quotle.info/who-said/you-may-say-im-a-dreamer-but-im-not-the-only-one

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