Chicago — So your brother's bound and gagged... [View all]
This post is not meant to directly equate anything today with the Chicago 7 trial. (Or to not equate them.) Just an historical note to keep the memory of some things alive. But yes, I was reminded of this by seeing Chicago police wailing on protestors.
The Graham Nash/CSNY song Chicago was written in 1969 or 1970, and is (primarily) about encouraging protest of the trial of the Chicago 8 (later 7), who were charged with inciting riot at the 1968 Democratic convention.
The memorable first line of the song refers to the iconic moment of the trail when Judge Julius Jennings Hoffman ordered defendant Bobby Seale to be gagged and tied to his chair.
It was an indelible political image.
The Chicago 8 were Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, David Dellinger, Tom Hayden, Rennie Davis, John Froines, Lee Weiner, and Bobby Seale. Bobby Seale wanted a postponement because his lawyer was ill and scheduled for surgery. Hoffman denied the delay while also saying that Seale could not represent himself. Seale responded with ongoing outbursts that Hoffman was a "fascist dog," a "honky," a "pig," a "racist," etc.. In response, Hoffman order Seale bound and gagged.
Judge Hoffman eventually severed Seale from the Chicago 8, making them the famed Chicago 7, and sentenced Seale to four years in jail for contempt of court. (An extraordinary sentence for contempt!)
(The Seale incident is also mentioned in "H2Ogate Blues" by Gil Scott-Heron.)
(Graham Nash, 1970)
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 we can bring
We can change the world -
Re-arrange the world
It's dying - to get better
Politicians sit yourself 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 -
Re-arrange the world
It's dying - if you believe in justice
It's dying - and if you believe in freedom
It's dying - let a man live it's own life
It's 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 to 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 -
Re-arrange the world
It's dying - if you believe in justice
It's dying - and if you believe in freedom
It's dying - let a man live it's own life
It's dying - rules and regulations, who needs them
Open up the door
We can change the world
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