"Chicago" (often listed as "Chicago / We Can Change the World") is the
debut solo single by English singer-songwriter Graham Nash, released in
1971 from his debut solo album Songs for Beginners. The song reached #35
on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and is his highest-charting single.
The title and lyrics of the song refer to the anti-Vietnam War protests
that took place during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago
and the subsequent trial of the Chicago Eight, where protest leaders were
charged with conspiracy to incite a riot. The first line of the song,
"So your brother's bound and gagged, and they've chained him to a chair",
refers to Black Panther leader Bobby Seale, the sole African-American
defendant, who was gagged and chained to a chair in the courtroom following
repeated outbursts in protest of rulings by Judge Julius Hoffman. The line
"Won't you please come to Chicago just to sing?" refers to Nash pleading
with bandmates Stephen Stills and Neil Young to come to Chicago to play
a benefit concert for the Chicago 8 defense fund.
Songs for Beginners is British singer-songwriter Graham Nash's debut
solo studio album. Released in May 1971, it was one of four high-profile
albums (all charting within the top fifteen) released by each partner
of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young in the wake of their chart-topping
Déjà Vu album of 1970. It peaked at #15 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums
chart, and has been certified a gold record by the RIAA.
A Playlist of all HT Class of '73 Songs of the Day is available by clicking below:
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