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Jens Wildman Newbie

Jens Wildman

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There's colors on the street

Red, white and blue

People shufflin' their feet

People sleepin' in their shoes

But there's a warnin' sign on the road ahead

There's a lot of people sayin' we'd be better off dead

Don't feel like Satan, but I am to them

So I try to forget it, any way I can.

Keep on rockin' in the free world,

Keep on rockin' in the free world

Keep on rockin' in the free world,

Keep on rockin' in the free world.

I see a woman in the night

With a baby in her hand

Under an old street light

Near a garbage can

Now she puts the kid away, and she's gone to get a hit

She hates her life, and what she's done to it

There's one more kid that will never go to school

Never get to fall in love, never get to be cool.

Keep on rockin' in the free world,

Keep on rockin' in the free world

Keep on rockin' in the free world,

Keep on rockin' in the free world.

We got a thousand points of light

For the homeless man

We got a kinder, gentler,

Machine gun hand

We got department stores and toilet paper

Got styrofoam boxes for the ozone layer

Got a man of the people, says keep hope alive

Got fuel to burn, got roads to drive.

Keep on rockin' in the free world,

Keep on rockin' in the free world

Keep on rockin' in the free world,

Keep on rockin' in the free world.

----

So he is being ironic in the chours?

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Analysis of "Rockin' in the Free World" Lyrics

The newspaper USA Today has called the song:

"a savage attack on the policies of Ronald Reagan and the first President Bush ... (and) anything but a celebration of democracy."

On the contrary, a strong case can be made that the song is NOT "anything but a celebration of democracy." In fact, an argument can be made that the song is very pro-democracy and is a protest song that has advanced the argument about inequities in society. The song is clearly the work of someone who could be called a courageous patriot.

The song's lyrics contain the lines:

We got a thousand points of light

For the homeless man

We got a kinder, gentler,

Machine gun hand

The lyrics are a direct reference to President George Bush's (#41) campaign pledge to create a compassionate citizenry volunteering to help cope with society's ills. The "thousand points of light" symbolize the American citizen's spirit and a shining example of giving selflessly to care for one another's neighbor and brother. Along with "a kinder, gentler hand", Bush believed that each American could contribute to helping make the United States -- and the world -- a better place to live and work.

The song is strongly democratic and with pro-American ideals in that it is a condemnation of the supply-side/trickle down politics of President Ronald Reagan. "Reaganomics" involved massive tax cuts in the wealthiest brackets which supporters claimed would trickle down to lower brackets. In fact, the policies led to huge federal deficits and exploding unemployment and social decay, particularly in large urban American cities.

The economic realities of the 1980's with increasing social problems -- such as homelessness and drug abuse -- made Young mock the campaign promises of President Bush as hollow rhetoric. The drug problems ("she's gonna take a hit") refer to the crack epidemic which swept large American cities during the 1980's.

The lyrics of "Rockin' In The Free World" also refer to the rampant consumerism of American culture and the rise of the disposable society based on waste and pollution.

We got department stores and toilet paper

Got styrofoam boxes for the ozone layer

Got a man of the people, says keep hope alive

Got fuel to burn, got roads to drive.

The lyrics "Got a man of the people, says keep hope alive" refer to the Reverand Jesse Jackson's signature phrase to "Keep hope alive." Young contrasts President Bush's rhetoric and Rev. Jackson's religion as solutions to society's ills, when in actuality, they are nothing more than "feel good" slogans with little results to show.

According to Neil Young's biography Shakey, while on tour in the late 80s, Young and Frank 'Poncho' Sampedro looked at photos in a newspaper of the Ayatollah Khomeini's body being carried to his grave. These images showed mourners burning American flags in the street, which incited fear in Poncho due to the band's up coming European tour. Sampedro commented that 'whatever we do, we shouldn't go near the mideast. Its probably better we just keep on rockin' in the free world.' Then Young asked if he could make a song out of it. (source: Wikipedia)

Edited by Jens Wildman
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81020xegw Newbie

81020xegw

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From last June onwards, when asked who I wanted to see at Glastonbury this year, my answer was Neil Young.

He will be fantastic.

You will find me near the front, a middleaged bloke in a straw hat, playing air guitar, singing along, and not caring that I look a total knob.

:-)

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bamber Experienced

bamber

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so... possibly perpetuating the usual American(/Canadian?) idea that it is they who represent the free world more than anyone or anywhere else...? Why would an image of people in the middle east, burning american flags incite fear of playing in Europe?

I also seem to remember Neil supporting Reagan on the odd issue or two...

I still like him, but....

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kohoutec Newbie

kohoutec

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Good to see this back in Neilers setlist on a regular basis. Wonder what the chances of the other three fellas turning up at Glasto a day early to play with Neil? Glasto is their first gig for two weeks!

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flyingmonkeypigs Apprentice

flyingmonkeypigs

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ARGH!!!!

just as i thought i had finally sorted between doves and NY you show me young's most recent set list

which is good, very good infact :D

Doves are my glastonbury band though, loved them since seeing them at my first in 05, then found out since thats them on a bad (or at least not so good) day

think it depends on the 'support' acts

this is the worst clash i think i've had, and the line up hasn't been released

2009, a good year for glastonbury it would seem

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redmosquito Newbie

redmosquito

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Like it or not, in most peoples eyes America does represent the "free world" more than anyone else as they have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of information and freedom to bear arms enshrined in the constitution in a way that no other country does. Not all these are necessarily good things (the bear arms bit for instance IMO) and not all Americans necessarily abide by these principles but there it is, the country represents what generally accepted to be freedom. Neil Young's songs and his ability and willingness to express sometimes conflicting views at different times within them, is one expression of this freedom. While he may have made some pro Reagan remarks (though these have been overstated at times) me mustn't forget that very recently he took a very high profile role in the anti Iraq war movement in the USA which didn't go down well with a lot Americans (Google "Let's impeach the President"). Neil like many Americans has a less sophisticated view of the rest of the world than many typical Europeans but many people around the world have distorted views of foreign lands. Neil Young's body work however is on the whole apolitical, yet at it's best he gives us an almost cinematic insight into the soul and the ways of both his home and adopted country and the American journey from a poor illegal immigrant driving to Hollywood in a Hearse with a guitar to hugely respected elder statesman of all American music .
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