I find it somewhat strange and a bit humorous that this song, which if not absolutely straightforward, is nevertheless certainly not that ambiguous. I was 16 when it hit its peak. For folks my age or a bit older, it was a confusing time, especially in terms of societal absolutes — every possible issue or way of seeing the world seemed to be split right down the middle, everything seemed to be defined as an absolute either/or: each one a perfect example of the duality of nature. And to make matters worse, it was absolutely unacceptable for most folks to not take one side or the other on each and every thing. The pressure was tremendous. But when you are 16, you are forming your entire life’s identity and not having very well defined ideas about things when confronted with someone who did was a nightmare, at least for me. So for me, this song put its arms around me and reassured me I was not by myself in this mess. The lyrics are almost a stream of consciousness thing — the thoughts constantly running through our heads, the absolute either /or choices bombarding us and demanding resolution, juxtaposed with simple recognition of, and the pleasure of, taking the world as it is and not trying to impose our concept on it. The “I don’t know what to do” part was exactly where I was then and I took comfort in knowing someone else felt that way, but it also haunted me, because I knew if you allowed others to solve the problems, you were signing over your right to have any say-so in the future — and this went against my nature — it just seemed to be a “cop-out”. But this was just the kind of internal conflict that tore at our souls at that time. So now I find it ironic and a bit funny that when you read folks’ interpretations of this song today you see examples of what the song tried to illuminate. That is, that one must first take a stand either liberal/conservative or old/young or etc.., etc.., and then and only then can the meaning be determined. Whichever side you fall on today, you seem to want to use this song as an example of your belief system. As far as I can recall, there were no conservative firebrands demonstrating in the streets while co-opting this song as their anthem. Anyone I knew that knew who Ten Years After were, were wannabe hippies or anti-establishment types — I seriously can not recall ever hearing a pro-Nixon, pro-establishment, war supporter quoting this song in order to illustrate their ideology. If there were any, I never saw them. So, I think that those interpretations are a humorous reflection of what our world has changed into since then. Even more divided, still confused, but still hoping it will get better.
@Geezeration The best explanation by far, and definitely a pleasure to read. "Whichever side you fall on today, you seem to want to use this song as an example of your belief system." Well put.
@Geezeration The best explanation by far, and definitely a pleasure to read. "Whichever side you fall on today, you seem to want to use this song as an example of your belief system." Well put.
@Geezeration Then there is 79 year-old me, in 2021,v saying human nature does not change. We just have more of the same 50 years later. Praying God's mercy
@Geezeration Then there is 79 year-old me, in 2021,v saying human nature does not change. We just have more of the same 50 years later. Praying God's mercy
@Geezeration So true! I was 16 then, also, although I wasn’t very confused about these issues. I knew I was on the hippie-counterculture-Vietnam War protestor side of issues and was very inspired to take actions to try to change the world: inspired by the first Earth Day to recycle for my whole neighborhood (back when it was a lot of work), starting an organic garden (back when that was very counterculture), later campaigning for equal rights for women and for McGovern for President…
I don’t think we were as comfort with homosexuality as we are today, but I don’t remember...
@Geezeration So true! I was 16 then, also, although I wasn’t very confused about these issues. I knew I was on the hippie-counterculture-Vietnam War protestor side of issues and was very inspired to take actions to try to change the world: inspired by the first Earth Day to recycle for my whole neighborhood (back when it was a lot of work), starting an organic garden (back when that was very counterculture), later campaigning for equal rights for women and for McGovern for President…
I don’t think we were as comfort with homosexuality as we are today, but I don’t remember that we young people really so bigoted to refer to “dykes and fairies” as lacking sanity — the one line I don’t like in this song.
I find it somewhat strange and a bit humorous that this song, which if not absolutely straightforward, is nevertheless certainly not that ambiguous. I was 16 when it hit its peak. For folks my age or a bit older, it was a confusing time, especially in terms of societal absolutes — every possible issue or way of seeing the world seemed to be split right down the middle, everything seemed to be defined as an absolute either/or: each one a perfect example of the duality of nature. And to make matters worse, it was absolutely unacceptable for most folks to not take one side or the other on each and every thing. The pressure was tremendous. But when you are 16, you are forming your entire life’s identity and not having very well defined ideas about things when confronted with someone who did was a nightmare, at least for me. So for me, this song put its arms around me and reassured me I was not by myself in this mess. The lyrics are almost a stream of consciousness thing — the thoughts constantly running through our heads, the absolute either /or choices bombarding us and demanding resolution, juxtaposed with simple recognition of, and the pleasure of, taking the world as it is and not trying to impose our concept on it. The “I don’t know what to do” part was exactly where I was then and I took comfort in knowing someone else felt that way, but it also haunted me, because I knew if you allowed others to solve the problems, you were signing over your right to have any say-so in the future — and this went against my nature — it just seemed to be a “cop-out”. But this was just the kind of internal conflict that tore at our souls at that time. So now I find it ironic and a bit funny that when you read folks’ interpretations of this song today you see examples of what the song tried to illuminate. That is, that one must first take a stand either liberal/conservative or old/young or etc.., etc.., and then and only then can the meaning be determined. Whichever side you fall on today, you seem to want to use this song as an example of your belief system. As far as I can recall, there were no conservative firebrands demonstrating in the streets while co-opting this song as their anthem. Anyone I knew that knew who Ten Years After were, were wannabe hippies or anti-establishment types — I seriously can not recall ever hearing a pro-Nixon, pro-establishment, war supporter quoting this song in order to illustrate their ideology. If there were any, I never saw them. So, I think that those interpretations are a humorous reflection of what our world has changed into since then. Even more divided, still confused, but still hoping it will get better.
@Geezeration The best explanation by far, and definitely a pleasure to read. "Whichever side you fall on today, you seem to want to use this song as an example of your belief system." Well put.
@Geezeration The best explanation by far, and definitely a pleasure to read. "Whichever side you fall on today, you seem to want to use this song as an example of your belief system." Well put.
@Geezeration Then there is 79 year-old me, in 2021,v saying human nature does not change. We just have more of the same 50 years later. Praying God's mercy
@Geezeration Then there is 79 year-old me, in 2021,v saying human nature does not change. We just have more of the same 50 years later. Praying God's mercy
@Geezeration So true! I was 16 then, also, although I wasn’t very confused about these issues. I knew I was on the hippie-counterculture-Vietnam War protestor side of issues and was very inspired to take actions to try to change the world: inspired by the first Earth Day to recycle for my whole neighborhood (back when it was a lot of work), starting an organic garden (back when that was very counterculture), later campaigning for equal rights for women and for McGovern for President… I don’t think we were as comfort with homosexuality as we are today, but I don’t remember...
@Geezeration So true! I was 16 then, also, although I wasn’t very confused about these issues. I knew I was on the hippie-counterculture-Vietnam War protestor side of issues and was very inspired to take actions to try to change the world: inspired by the first Earth Day to recycle for my whole neighborhood (back when it was a lot of work), starting an organic garden (back when that was very counterculture), later campaigning for equal rights for women and for McGovern for President… I don’t think we were as comfort with homosexuality as we are today, but I don’t remember that we young people really so bigoted to refer to “dykes and fairies” as lacking sanity — the one line I don’t like in this song.