Chicago

Graham Nash

About Chicago

"Chicago" (often listed as "Chicago / We Can Change the World") is a song written by Graham Nash for his solo debut album Songs for Beginners. As a single, it reached number 35 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and 29 on the Cash Box Top 100. It is his highest charting single. In Canada, "Chicago" peaked at number 19. The song also made the Dutch Charts in 1971, peaking at number 5.


Year:
1971
2:55
202 
#2

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So 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 that we can bring
We can change the world rearrange the world
It's dying - to get better
Politicians sit yourselves 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 rearrange the world

It's dying - if you believe in justice
Dying - and if you believe in freedom
Dying - let a man live his own life
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 of 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 rearrange the world
It's dying - if you believe in justice
Dying - and if you believe in freedom
Dying - let a man live his own life
Dying - rules and regulations, who needs them open up the door

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Graham Nash

Graham William Nash, OBE (born 2 February 1942) is an English singer-songwriter known for his light tenor voice and for his songwriting contributions with the British pop group The Hollies, and with the folk-rock super group Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Nash is a photography collector and a published photographer. Nash was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Crosby, Stills & Nash in 1997 and as a member of The Hollies in 2010. more »

3 fans

Written by: DONALD CLINT GOODMAN, JACK S. CONRAD

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Origin
"Chicago" is a song by British-American singer-songwriter Graham Nash. He wrote this song as a protest against the Chicago Eight trial.
Album Information
This song was originally released in 1971 and appeared on Nash's debut solo album, "Songs for Beginners."
Noteworthy Collaborations
Many high-profile musicians played on the album "Songs for Beginners," including David Crosby and Neil Young, Graham's bandmates from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Other performers included noted drummer Russ Kunkel and multi-instrumentalist session musician Joe Yankee.
Song Inspiration
Graham Nash wrote "Chicago" after his friend and bandmate David Crosby was denied entry into the US because of a drug conviction. The lyrics in the song "Won't you please come to Chicago for a ride" beckons listeners to join him in his protest.
Social Impact
The song is a protest against the political unrest surrounding the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The so-called Chicago Eight were activists who were charged with inciting a riot during the convention.
Impact on the Music Industry
"Chicago" helped establish Graham Nash as a prolific solo artist outside of his work with Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young.
Chart Performance
The song reached number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Unique Song Structure
Unlike many popular songs, "Chicago" does not contain a chorus. Instead, it relies on a powerful arrangement and poignant lyrics to deliver its message.
Recognition and Popularity
The song remains one of the most popular and recognized songs from Graham Nash because of its historical context, its heartfelt lyrics, and the passionate performance by Nash and his fellow musicians.
Cover Versions
Several artists have covered "Chicago" at various times, further enhancing its reputation as a classic protest song.

Discuss the Chicago Lyrics with the community:

1 Comment
  • Dave Mathews
    Dave Mathews
    Um, yeah, the lyrics were written by Graham Nash, not Goodman and Conrad. Those two are sometimes credited with writing another song also titled Chicago, sung by Frank Sinatra (in 1953) and Judy Garland.
    "Chicago, Chicago
    That toddlin' town, the toddlin' town...."
    And the Sinatra and Garland version is also credited to others on the Internet, such as Freddy Fisher, Sammy Cahn, and Jimmy Van Heusen. So, who knows about that one.
    But the lyrics shown above are clearly not from 1953 and instead are Nash's song about events stemming from the 1968 Democratic National Convention held in Chicago, in which the Chicago Eight were arrested while protesting. During the trial of Black Panther Bobby Seale, he was gagged and chained to a chair in the courtroom.
    "So your brother's bound and gagged
    And they've chained him to a chair...."
     
    LikeReply5 years ago

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"Chicago Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 3 Dec. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/809960/Graham+Nash/Chicago>.

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Chicago

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Top Hot 100 Songs 1971

Billboard #35


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