His most famous work is Alice's Restaurant, a talking blues song that lasts eighteen minutes and twenty seconds (in its original recorded version; Guthrie has been known to spin the story out to forty-five minutes in concert). The song, a bitingly satirical protest against the Vietnam War draft, is based on a true incident. In the song, Guthrie was called up for a draft examination, and rejected as unfit for military service as a result of a criminal record consisting in its entirety of a single arrest, court appearance, fine and clean-up order for littering. In reality, Guthrie, though a carrier of the genetically inherited disease Huntington's chorea, was classified as fit (1A); however, his draft-lottery number did not come up.
Connection
Arlo Guthrie Lyrics
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The doctor wants to give me more injections
He's given me shots for a thousand rare infections
And they don't know if they'll Iet me go
[CHORUS:]
Connection
No I just can't make no connection
Is just to get back to you
My bags they get a very close inspection
I wonder why it is that they suspect 'em
They're just tryin' to add me to their collection
And I don't know if they'll let me go
[CHORUS]
In Arlo Guthrie's song "Connection," the singer expresses his frustration and desperation as he is trapped in a situation where everything seems to be going wrong. He is being given injections by his doctor for rare infections and he doesn't know if he'll ever be released. The singer is longing for a connection with someone they care about and just wants to get back to them. However, it seems like every time they try to connect, something obstructs their path.
The chorus of the song speaks to the singer's inability to find a connection. The repetition of the phrase "no I just can't make no connection" emphasizes the frustration and desperation in the singer's voice. The repeated phrase also hints at the theme of the song, which is the difficulty of forming meaningful connections in a world that is constantly working to keep us apart.
The second verse reveals that the singer's bags are being closely inspected, and he is unsure why. The singer is suspicious of the situation, suggesting that someone is trying to "collect" him. It is unclear who this "they" is, but it could be interpreted as the government or anyone in power who is trying to keep the singer down.
Overall, "Connection" is a song that speaks to the universal experience of feeling isolated and disconnected, even when we long for meaningful connections with others.
Line by Line Meaning
Everything seems to be going in the wrong direction
The situation is turning out to be quite unfavorable and distressing
The doctor wants to give me more injections
The medical supervisor is suggesting more treatments involving injections
He's given me shots for a thousand rare infections
Previous treatments have been for a plethora of unusual diseases
And they don't know if they'll let me go
It's uncertain if I'll get permission to leave the medical facility
Connection
The need to reunite with a loved one
No I just can't make no connection
It's difficult to establish a connection or communication
And all I want to do
The sole desire at the moment is to
Is just to get back to you
Reunite with the mentioned loved one
My bags they get a very close inspection
Personal belongings are subjected to thorough checking
I wonder why it is that they suspect 'em
The reason behind suspicion is unclear
They're just tryin' to add me to their collection
The authorities are attempting to include me in their registry or record
And I don't know if they'll let me go
It's uncertain if release will be permitted
[CHORUS]
The recurring verse relating to the desire to reconnect with a beloved person
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: KEITH RICHARDS, MICK JAGGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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