Rockin' in the Free World- Neil Young, I DON'T GET IT

[adnan]

There's something about it that's been bugging me for a long time now:

I always thought it was meant to be a bit ironic, like Born in the U.S.A. by another great left-wing icon, Bruce Springsteen, and it seems to fit that way, especially when you hear something like this:

"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,"

But then, a couple of lines in the first verse JUST DON'T FIT:

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

Which, to me, seems to be a reference to Islamic Fundamentalists, and throws the rest of the song off balance, it's not like this isn't true, but here it just doesn't seem to fit the song.

[Nightrain_Kid]

Maybe he's just referring to all the right wing nutcases who view him as a satan like character for not sharing their view's, i really dont know

[Ace Spade]

No.

The song's too old for it to be about Islamic fundamentalists.

It probably has a meaning with something related to that era.

[adnan]

No.

The song's too old for it to be about Islamic fundamentalists.

It probably has a meaning with something related to that era.

Wasn't 1989 the year in which images of burning American flags and masses calling America the Great Satan were shown to the entire world from Iran?

[Ace Spade]

No.

The song's too old for it to be about Islamic fundamentalists.

It probably has a meaning with something related to that era.

Wasn't 1989 the year in which images of burning American flags and masses calling America the Great Satan were shown to the entire world from Iran?

1989?

I thought it was older then that.

You could be right then.

[Zint]

a key line to understanding that is...

There's a thousand points of light,for the homeless man

A thousand points of light was one of George Bush Sr's key phrases as President when he was basically giving one of his standard not really answering the question answers.

Kind of like how George W. uses "evil doers".

It's a line taking a shot at Government policy....so with that in mind,

"I don't feel like Satan but I am to them", some feel was geared towards the Republican party's religous bent....if you ain't a Republican church going god fearing "Amurcan"...you're going to hell.

Some feel it's also a dig at Tipper Gore and the PMRC (and their witch hunt on rock lyrics).

Either way,both scenarios work...ultimately aimed squarely at the Government and/or Government influenced policy

Edited November 24, 2006 by zint61

[Truckin']

That does explain it pretty well, actually.

Now I'm free to enjoy this masterpiece without going "WTF?" at that point.

[JONEZY]

No.

The song's too old for it to be about Islamic fundamentalists.

It probably has a meaning with something related to that era.

Wasn't 1989 the year in which images of burning American flags and masses calling America the Great Satan were shown to the entire world from Iran?

1979-80 when Iran took over the US Embassy and took hostages. But I'm used to asswipes burning the American flag, it doesn't affect me either way. They love our money, but burn our flag. Whatever.

On topic, good song no matter what N.Young was trying to say.