Chicago (2:51)
12,437 plays (3,155 listeners)
The song refers to both the riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, as well as the trial of the Chicago Eight, where protesters at the convention were charged with intent 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 Bobby Seale, the only black defendant, who was gagged and bound to a chair in the courtroom following repeated outbursts. On Four Way Street, Nash dedicates the song to “Mayor Daley”.
The line “Won’t you please come to Chicago just to sing” refers to Nash pleading with band mates Stephen Stills and Neil Young to come to Chicago to protest the Chicago Eight trial.
CSN and CSNY still play the song live as they do with other solo material, particularly Stills’ “Love the One You’re With”. There is a live version of “Chicago” (and “Love the One You’re With”) on the live Four Way Street album.
In June, 2008, in Denver, Colorado, CSN played a slightly rewritten version of the song called “Denver”, in anticipation of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
While lyrically the song serves as an account of the riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, the melody of the song has striking similarities with the main theme in Duke Ellington’s 1930 hit ‘Shout ‘Em Aunt Tillie’.
The line “Won’t you please come to Chicago just to sing” refers to Nash pleading with band mates Stephen Stills and Neil Young to come to Chicago to protest the Chicago Eight trial.
CSN and CSNY still play the song live as they do with other solo material, particularly Stills’ “Love the One You’re With”. There is a live version of “Chicago” (and “Love the One You’re With”) on the live Four Way Street album.
In June, 2008, in Denver, Colorado, CSN played a slightly rewritten version of the song called “Denver”, in anticipation of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
While lyrically the song serves as an account of the riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, the melody of the song has striking similarities with the main theme in Duke Ellington’s 1930 hit ‘Shout ‘Em Aunt Tillie’.
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Vingar wrote:
38 years later it still sounds like an amazing recording. Genius.
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majself wrote:
Amazing :) Sampled in Beanie Sigel song "The Truth".
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lihei wrote:
Classic!
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laquesha wrote:
the greatest
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Recent Activity
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paulo1110 added Chicago to his Loved Tracks. 9 days ago
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lucyleelloyd, idofu12 and kxelfm added Graham Nash – Chicago to their libraries. 16 days ago
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lucyleelloyd added Chicago to the playlist cd6 track 4. 16 days ago
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Lady_Elaine and Mattybear10 added Graham Nash – Chicago to their libraries. November 2009
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Lady_Elaine added Chicago to the playlist Acoustic Royale Cafe. November 2009
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jwamusic added Chicago to jwamusic’s library. November 2009
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jwamusic added Chicago to the playlist John's even newer playlist. November 2009
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EvanFixler, djirtsdew, rico2380 and 2 other people loved Graham Nash – Chicago. November 2009
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agaponis updated the wiki page for Chicago. (diff) September 2009
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agaponis created the wiki page for Chicago. September 2009
