Which famous song did Madonna record that begins with the line: "Imagine there's no heaven"?

The story behind the answer

The song Madonna recorded in a live version that begins “Imagine there’s no heaven” is “Imagine.”

The original song was written and recorded by John Lennon for his 1971 album Imagine. Its opening line introduces a deliberately provocative vision of a world without religious, national, or material divisions. The song became one of Lennon’s best-known solo compositions and is frequently associated with peace and humanitarian causes.

Madonna performed “Imagine” during her 2004 Re-Invention World Tour, where the performance was paired with stark imagery of war and suffering. A recording of that concert version appeared on her 2006 live album and documentary, I’m Going to Tell You a Secret. That is why the answer is often styled “Imagine (Live)” or “Imagine [Live].”

The important distinction is that Madonna did not originate the song or release it as a standard studio single. She performed and released a live rendition of Lennon’s composition. The song’s authorship remains credited to Lennon, with Yoko Ono later recognized for her contribution to its concept.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Aug. 2026

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