Neil Young: I Am A Child Meaning
No tags, suggest one.

I Am A Child Lyrics
You can't conceive
of the pleasure in my smile.
You hold my hand,
rough up my hair,
It's lots of fun
to have you there.
God gave to you,
now, you give to me,
I'd like to know
what you learned.
The sky...
-
anonymous May 31st, 2020 5:15am report
Has anyone thought of just asking Neil Young what he meant by the song? He has been open to discussing his other songs, right? I dont really want other peoples interpretations --I want HIS reason for writing the song.
This is obviously a song that he wrote for "Buffalo Springfield." -
anonymous Mar 26th, 2020 3:00am report
Here's the gay sex thing, as this song feels to me.
The song is sung with great vulnerability and fragility.
He's into what is happening, but is following the more experienced guys lead. "You say what's fair". Starting out with some affectionate touching, leading to unexpected pleasure. The lyrics speak for themselves if you go with this.
He is surprised by his acceptance of the forbidden pleasure, condemning neither himself or his partner. "The sky is blue and so is the sea." It is what it is, learning to accept life's experiences for growth. He can't really feel anything is bad.
This was the 60s, and "free love" was linked with inner personal freedom, and freedom from society's repressive rules. "What is the color, when black is burned?" Teachings accepted in black and white have to be reexamined when reality is directly encountered, creating the need for new definitions. That right/ wrong 'piece of paper' goes up in smoke.
It is not precisely a 'gay lib' song, it is only gay in the sense that both partners here are men. It uses the imagery of both sex and innocence to go beyond labels and negativity in a gentle, lightly spiritual way that is life affirming.
-
anonymous Mar 25th, 2020 3:25pm report
It is a simple existential question, "What is the color, when black is burned", like "What is time?" or "How does gravity work?", or the basic child's unwitting question, "Where do people go when they die?".
This question follows a very mundane, tactile declaration that most people grasp easy, "The sky is blue...", so I believe he setting up a basic philosophical exchange.
First-time sex? I'm lost to that interpretation. -
-
-
anonymous Apr 8th, 2017 4:23am report
The poet says the child is the father of the man/ mother of the woman. Chronologically and spiritually we all share this common experience. This song reminds me of that reality as the circle of our lives plays itself out.
-
anonymous May 3rd, 2014 5:40am report
This song was first performed in 1968 by Buffalo Springfield. Mr. Young's first child hadn't been born yet, so the song is not about his child or Young's relationship with his child. Incidentally, the mother of his first child, Carrie Snodgrass, had to sue old Neil in 1983 for child support. He is an entertainer and, as with many of that flock, a fraud.
-
anonymous Oct 29th, 2013 10:47am report
Is it possible this has to do with the little black girls that were burned in the church that was bombed?
-
anonymous Sep 23rd, 2013 9:15pm report
I always thought it had something to do with a young girl first having sex.
-
lovesMusic Nov 17th, 2012 11:52pm report
When Young sings "You can't conceive of the pleasure in my smile" he means that when he sees his child as very happy, but he doesn't at all get the joy his child feels.
When Young sings "I last a while" he means that childhood is fleeting, and possibly the innocent joy that comes with it.
"God gave to you, now you give to me. I'd like to know what you've learned." These lyrics show that Young believes his child is a gift from God, but the child then taunts him by somehow asking him what has he learned from this. Young is showing that as a father he has no answers.
As far as what is the color when black is burning is a question that a child could ask to show Young that as a father he has no answers again. -
lovesMusic Nov 17th, 2012 11:41pm report
The song is about his child and what Mr. Young thinks his child is thinking. Lovely tune, playful beat -- like a kid
More Neil Young song meanings ยป
Submit Your Interpretation
Trending:
Just Posted
Hello Kitty | anonymous |
The House Of The Rising Sun | JJJ |
Seen It All Before | anonymous |
Building a Mystery | anonymous |
Drunk on You | anonymous |
Put Me in a Movie | anonymous |
Lodi | anonymous |
I Built a Friend | anonymous |
Eyes Blue Like The Atlantic | anonymous |
I'll See You Again | anonymous |
Rehab | anonymous |
Benighted | anonymous |
God's Gonna Cut You Down | anonymous |
For You | anonymous |
Silence | anonymous |
Weekly Most Popular
Latest Releases
Breakthrough Miracle Power Passion |
Bucket List Mitchell Tenpenny |
Love Not War (The Tampa Beat) Jason Derulo |
All God's Children Tauren Wells |
Goosebumps HVME |
A Little Bit Yours JP Saxe |
I Bet You Wanna Know Priscilla Block |
Right Where You Left Me Taylor Swift |