Neil Young: I Am A Child Meaning

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I am a child, I'll last a while.
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...

1.  

   anonymous

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   Nov 6th, 11:15pm report

   
   

   I thought it was about gay sex

   
   
   
   

2.  

   anonymous

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   Mar 31st, 2018 3:01pm report

   
   

   About his feud with stephen stills.

   
   
   
   

3.  

   anonymous

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   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.

   
   
   
   

4.  

   anonymous

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   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.

   
   
   
   

5.  

   anonymous

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   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?

   
   
   
   

6.  

   anonymous

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   Sep 23rd, 2013 9:15pm report

   
   

   I always thought it had something to do with a young girl first having sex.

   
   
   
   

7.  

   lovesMusic

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   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.

   
   
   
   

8.  

   lovesMusic

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   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