Graham Nash Songs - Chicago (We Can Change The World) Lyrics

Graham Nash - Chicago (We Can Change The World)

Graham Nash - Chicago (We Can Change The World) Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Songs For Beginners
Released: 1971

Chicago (We Can Change The World) Lyrics

Though your brother's bound and gagged
And they've chained him to a chair
Won't you please come to Chicago
Just to sing
In a land that's known as freedom
How can such a thing be fair
Won't you please come to Chicago
For the help we can bring
We can change the world

Re-arrange the world
It's dying, to get better
Politicians sit yourself down,
There's nothing for you here
Won't you please come to Chicago
For a ride

Don't ask Jack to help you
Cause he'll turn the other ear
Won't you please come to Chicago
Or else join the other side

We can change the world,
Re-arrange the world
It's dying, if you believe in justice
It's dying, and if you believe in freedom
It's dying, let a man live it's own life
It's dying, rules and regulations, who needs them
Open up the door
Somehow people must be free

I hope the day comes soon
Won't you please come to Chicago
Show your face
From the bottom to the ocean
To the mountains of the moon
Won't you please come to Chicago
No one else can take your place

We can change the world,
Re-arrange the world
It's dying, if you believe in justice
It's dying, and if you believe in freedom
It's dying, let a man live it's own life
It's dying, rules and regulations, who needs them
Open up the door
We can change the world

Writer/s: GRAHAM NASH
Publisher: SPIRIT MUSIC GROUP
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Chicago (We Can Change The World)

This song was written in reference to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1968. The times were very violent, and riots were threatened at the Convention. The mayor of Chicago, Richard Daley, basically told the police to use all necessary force to keep order. They did, with a vengeance. Civil rights and the Vietnam War were major issues, and there were many protesters at the convention. There were lots of arrests, with the police basically beating into submission anyone who had the nerve to speak out. (thanks, Andrea - Denton, TX)

Some of the lyrics refer to the "Chicago 7" trial, where protesters at the convention were charged with intent to incite a riot. The first line of the song refers to Bobby Seale, the only black plaintiff and the eighth member, who was actually gagged and bound to a chair in the courtroom. He was later removed from the trial, leaving 7. The 3 most famous names from this trial are Tom Hayden, Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin. (thanks, rosebud - oregon city, OR)

Speaking to UK newspaper The Guardian in a 2015 interview, Graham Nash said that this song contains the only ever line that he wishes he'd never written. Nash said: "We were pretty blitzed. The line, 'Regulations – who needs them?' We need regulations. You're not allowed to drive through a red light. There are certain societal rules that we have to live by. So I sing it differently now. I say: 'Some of those regulations – who needs them?'"