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I Am A Child Lyrics
I am a child, I 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
I gave to you, now you give to me
I'd like to know what you've learned
The sky is blue and so is the sea
What is the color when black is burned?
What is the color?
You are a man, you understand
You pick me up and you lay me down again
You make the rules, you say what's fair
It's lots of fun to have you there
I gave to you, now you give to me
I'd like to know what you've learned
The sky is blue and so is the sea
What is the color when black is burned?
What is the color?
I am a child, I last a while
You can't conceive of the pleasure in my smile
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
I'd like to know what you've learned
The sky is blue and so is the sea
What is the color when black is burned?
What is the color?
You pick me up and you lay me down again
You make the rules, you say what's fair
It's lots of fun to have you there
I'd like to know what you've learned
The sky is blue and so is the sea
What is the color when black is burned?
What is the color?
You can't conceive of the pleasure in my smile
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"What is the color when black is burned?" It's an example of a kid's odd and innocent questions, probably not to be taken literally. It represents things children ask that are difficult to answer, or that require a complicated explanation.
Coming with that is a realization that parenting isn't just about having fun with your kid, but that they need your insight and guidance. And along the way, your own worldview might be shaken up. When they ask you an innocent question, you might have to think carefully to give an informed answer.
But then: "I gave to you, now you give to me. I'd like to know what you've learned." Perhaps it's not a question TO the adult from the child, but FROM the adult to the child, who sees the world through fresh eyes. To relearn innocence, perhaps.
"What is the color, when black is burned?"
Possibly one of Neil's most enigmatic riddles. Surprised there's not more posts.
Anyway, when you burn black (like ashes) they turn white. I dont know if this is the answer, only Neil does, but I think it fits both literally and figuratlively into the song.
Agreed! Having observed my grandson's fascination with campfire there are indeed many colors -- white, reds, oranges, blues, and of course black literally. But as you and others observed it captures perfectly the innocent questions children ask all the time which is just so amazing and gives me great hope for these young minds.
Agreed! Having observed my grandson's fascination with campfire there are indeed many colors -- white, reds, oranges, blues, and of course black literally. But as you and others observed it captures perfectly the innocent questions children ask all the time which is just so amazing and gives me great hope for these young minds.
These lyrics are incorrect. He doesn't say "God gave to you..." he says "I gave to you..."
Like Harry Chapin's "Cat in the Cradle", this song makes one reflect on fatherhood. Interesting to hear from the child's point of view.
by phisherofsouls on 11-22-2007 @ 05:30:00 AM
"What is the color, when black is burned?"
My "educated guess: The child that is in Neil Young, as well as, to some extent, every child, when they first experience a form of destruction, is frightened. Here, the child is exploring the scary landscape of that aspect of life and is looking to a caring adult to assure him or her that everything is alright. Perhaps, as phisherofsouls also suggests, it has to do with the breakthrough of ashes being lighter than the black material they began as... nice thought...
Ok, I have an 8-year-old son and just read the lyrics for first time.
"I'd like to know what you learned" = child wondering in amazement of father's knowledge.
"What is the color, when black is burned?" = the kind of question an innocent child asks.
"It's lots of fun to have you there" My favourite line. The idea that my child has fun when I'm around.
That's what I've always thought. Since most things turn black when they are burned, the child honestly and innocently wants to know what happens to something that has already been reduced when you try to reduce it further. Being a dad myself, this song seriously almost reduces me to tears when I hear it.
That's what I've always thought. Since most things turn black when they are burned, the child honestly and innocently wants to know what happens to something that has already been reduced when you try to reduce it further. Being a dad myself, this song seriously almost reduces me to tears when I hear it.
Simple and very efficient explanation. Thank you.
Simple and very efficient explanation. Thank you.
Many years ago I read that during one of their many spats Steven Stills wrote a song about Neil called "A Childs Claim To Fame" and, having heard it, Neil responde with "I Am A Child"
It was Neil's response to Richie Furay's "A Child's Claim to Fame." Who Neil references in the lyrics as to whom etc. I guess is still up to debate. Neil was notorious for missing bookings and leaving etc. from what I've read.
It was Neil's response to Richie Furay's "A Child's Claim to Fame." Who Neil references in the lyrics as to whom etc. I guess is still up to debate. Neil was notorious for missing bookings and leaving etc. from what I've read.
I really like the chord changes in this song. It puzzles me that the song just fades out after two minutes, almost like Young didn't know what to do with the melody (odd since it's such a beautiful little ditty). Anyway, the lyrics strike me the same manner. They are simple and literal and do not build to any grand conclusion, or have any grand symbolism. They describe the world from a child's point of view, a child who is looking to his father (or mother, I guess) for answers about the world. The lyrics end in a similar manner as the melody, with an unsatisfying, "It's lots of fun to have you there." Maybe a lighthearted song was all that Young was trying to write here.
@dairyking887 I've loved this song forever. And now with 3 beautiful grandkids at that young age I think about these words every time I hear it. My thought on your question is that the song is short by intension and fades out at the end reflecting "... I only last awhile"
@dairyking887 I've loved this song forever. And now with 3 beautiful grandkids at that young age I think about these words every time I hear it. My thought on your question is that the song is short by intension and fades out at the end reflecting "... I only last awhile"
it is like a prayer, to God, he is like a father, like a mother, like a friend. We have to become like kids (again). :) otherwise I know another version, he is singing : " ..the sky is blue and my soul used to see .." Very deep lyrics in my opinion, maybe even Neil didn't knew how deep when he was writing this song.
@highflying I love this song, which I just heard for the first time sitting at Panera, and they are playing some really mellow and sweet and evocative tunes at breakfast time. I wonder who's picking the songs? Anyway, the song is sweet and winsome, and it pulls you in and makes you wonder and reflect on life and goodness by speaking to the child in us, and the fleetingness and mystery of childhood, and the wonder and divinity and knowing and unknowing of our childhood that persists throughout our whole life. It puts me right in touch with longing to...
@highflying I love this song, which I just heard for the first time sitting at Panera, and they are playing some really mellow and sweet and evocative tunes at breakfast time. I wonder who's picking the songs? Anyway, the song is sweet and winsome, and it pulls you in and makes you wonder and reflect on life and goodness by speaking to the child in us, and the fleetingness and mystery of childhood, and the wonder and divinity and knowing and unknowing of our childhood that persists throughout our whole life. It puts me right in touch with longing to know and mystery and the inadequacy of my words and my thoughts to reach and express what I feel and know about n my heart. Heart-knowledge precedes expression, which is why when we hear something said right, we recognize something that we already knew. That is the eternal spark that draws us forward, pulls us up toward Heaven, the home in our hearts.
It could just be me but I think Neil Young wrote the lyrics sarcastically, whether he was trying to represent the angst between most any human and their parent(s), or more personally between himself and his own father, or perhaps as previously mentioned by winterlong, in retaliation to the song A Child's Claim to Fame.