Chicago (1970 song)

"Chicago" is a song written by Graham Nash for his solo debut Songs for Beginners. As a single, it reached #35 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.

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,^[1] the 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. 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.[1]

Gary McKinnon

In August 2009, Pink Floyd's David Gilmour released an online version, titled Chicago - Change the World, on which he sang and played guitar, bass and keyboards, to promote awareness of the plight of Gary McKinnon. It featured Chrissie Hynde and Bob Geldof, plus McKinnon himself. It was produced by long-time Pink Floyd collaborator Chris Thomas and was made with Nash's support.^[2]. A video was also posted on-line^[3].

Credits for 2009 version:

Vocals: Chrissie Hynde, David Gilmour, Bob Geldof, Gary Mckinnon
Production: Chris Thomas and Damon Iddins
Engineer : Andy Jackson and Damon Iddins
Addition Engineering : Julie Gardner
Electric Guitar,Bass and Keyboards : David Gilmour
Keyboards and programming : Damon Iddins
B/V's : Sophia Hutchinson and Angela Moikeenah
Guitar,Vocals and additional Engineering : James Litherland
Drums programming: Wilson Sharp
Additional Lyrics : Janis Sharp

Hip-hop samples

In 1999, rapper Beanie Sigel sampled Chicago on his single The Truth; in 2003, Westside Connection used the same sample for their single, Gangsta Nation.

References

1. ^ Mr. Fish in Conversation With Graham Nash
2. ^ "Chicago". http://www.londontv.net/freegarymckinnon.html. Retrieved 2009-08-04. 
3. ^ "McKinnon Camapign". http://www.londontv.net/latestnews.html. Retrieved 2009-08-04.