What songs really mean

[tlawler]

I didn’t want to hijack chiefs’ thread, but I wanted to ask what y’all thought about “Rockin’ in the Free World”. I’ve never been a Neil Young fan (partly because Mr. Van Zant said we don’t need him around, anyhow), but I do have to admit he has some rocking songs.

Rocking’ in the Free World, to me, never seemed Un-American. More of just a lament of the way things were going when the song was written.

Anyhow, the reason I’m asking about this, is that I went to see my favorite band, The Florida Guitar Army AKA The Outlaws over the weekend out in Immokalee. Despite a few personnel changes and the fact that Henry Paul is 75, they rocked the house! Henry Paul’s son came out to play guitar on a couple songs and did a pretty rousing rendition of Neil’s song. The kid has got his father’s chops, that’s for sure.

Now, I’ve seen The Outlaws somewhere between 30 and 40 times, starting when I was 15. I’ve never seen them play a cover of another artist and certainly not someone that Ronnie Van Zant himself put his personal Hex on.

Anyway, they rocked and Henry Paul IV rocked Neil’s song. The whole night was awesome, and I hope I have more chances to see them before they throw in the towel.

So, to my point, what do you guys think of any meaning in “Rockin’ in the Free World”?

 

[soFlaNative]

I won't attempt to go into what an artist is thinking but there was a lot of sideways looks at the theatre surrounding "a kinder, gentler nation" just before the trip to the Gulf.

 

[cadmike]

Great song IMO. I think it’s Neil’s very sarcastic take on the American way of wastefulness and general ignorance in regards to our environment. The line “got fuel to burn, got roads to drive” is very prescient thinking from Neil.

 

[Ματθιας]

I like most of Young's earlier songs and some of the newer stuff, but I've never really liked "Rocking the Free World". Yeah, it was made in the late 80s before the wall fell as an anthem, but...I just didn't like the song. Neil Young isn't a rocker.

The fact that Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam likes and covers it, made me dislike it even more. I can't stand Vedder for a number of reasons.

Anyway, I think it's an anthem for the time in Europe and a commentary on the USA.