Lyric discussion by StlChef 

Im sure that you all are right.. However, I kinda look at this song in a different way. (Sorry, ended up a little longer than I expected..)The way I see it,

Close your eyes Have no fear The monster's gone He's on the run and your daddy's here

He is most likely talking to his son. Maybe he could be talking to us? We are in a time of war. A time of seperatness. A time with more borders than bridges. Hard times for sure, just as it was for them. Maybe he is saying close your eyes, and have no fear. The monster (this attitude, or feeling of seperatness which governs our reality) is on the run (as a peace activist, he believed what he was doing was making a change) and your daddy's here (maybe you could look at him as the father figure, trying to protect the world from war and hate.)

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful Beautiful boy

Again.. I'm sure you are all right and he is talking about his son.. I interpret as he sees 1) the tremendous amount of beauty this world has to offer, 2) how much beauty is being ignored, and 3) he sees the unlimited amount of potential beauty. Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful (three times..)

Out on the ocean sailing away I can hardly wait To see you come of age But I guess we'll both just have to be patient 'Cause it's a long way to go A hard row to hoe Yes it's a long way to go But in the meantime

Out on the ocean sailing away.. I believe I heard somewhere that he had prophesized his own death? I'm sure the Nixon Administration and their antics had led him to believe that this was possible. I think, and again this is just my interpretation, he is saying that he may not live to see (sailing away) this world become a better place (or come of age), but he can hardly wait. So I guess we'll both just have to be patient, because it's a long way to go. This isn't going to be easy, and there's a lot of progress to be made (A hard row to hoe).

Before you cross the street Take my hand Life is what happens to you While you're busy making other plans

Again.. My interpretation.. Before you cross the street, take my hand. Maybe before people make rash, life altering, world impact decisions (like going to war, whether it be Vietnam or Iraq..) they should listen to what he has to say (take my hand), and "Give Peace A Chance". We are constantly drawing Battle Lines, (making plans) for war, or drawing borders (too keep people out instead of welcoming them in). We are too busy.. And what life could be is just passing us right by. I believe we get a glimpse every once in a while though. But somehow the people that understand this "pose a threat". I guess it lightens one too many pocketbooks for comfort...

Before you go to sleep Say a little prayer Every day in every way It's getting better and better

Maybe he is saying that once brought to light, we can fix the situation. Put in a little effort (say a little prayer), and every day in every way, it's going to get better and better...

Just a thought..

I like the way you think

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