Chicago (1970 Song)

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, 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.

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.