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Are You Ready for The Country? Lyrics

Slipping and sliding
and playing domino
Lefting and then Righting,
it's not a crime you know.
You gotta tell your story boy,
before it's time to go.

Are you ready for the country
Because it's time to go?
Are you ready for the country
Because it's time to go?

I was talkin' to the preacher,
said God was on my side
Then I ran into the hangman,
He said it's time to die
You gotta tell your story boy,
You know the reason why.

Are you ready for the country
Because it's time to go?
Are you ready for the country
Because it's time to go?
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Cover art for Are You Ready for The Country? lyrics by Neil Young

On the country show Nashville Now in 1984 Neil explained to the host Ralph Emery that he originally got the idea of this song from looking at the picture of Uncle Sam. He imagined the Uncle Sam poster with it's finger pointed out at us and saying "Are you ready for the country? Because it's time to go" I assume he was talking about the Vietnam war seeing as he wrote it in the early 1970's.

Cover art for Are You Ready for The Country? lyrics by Neil Young

A guy just got drafted (VietNam). The "country" (government) is saying, "Are you ready, 'cause it's time to go." Guy is desperately looking for answers - talks to the Preacher (who says his thing about God); talks to the Hangman (who gives his line). Anti-war song.

Cover art for Are You Ready for The Country? lyrics by Neil Young

I think the subject of this song is suffering from sort of crunch time dilemma. It's like he about to die or commit to something that is utter and total. In a way, it must be a song about a man being told that his story may matter to future generations and he has to tell it before the Angel of Death strikes.

Cover art for Are You Ready for The Country? lyrics by Neil Young

A guy just got drafted (VietNam). The "country" (government) is saying, "Are you ready, 'cause it's time to go." Guy is desperately looking for answers - talks to the Preacher (who says his thing about God); talks to the Hangman (who gives his line). Anti-war song.

Cover art for Are You Ready for The Country? lyrics by Neil Young

Definitely agree with ma namaste. It's an anti-war thing. Country is refering to the U.S., not country as in urban vs. rural

Cover art for Are You Ready for The Country? lyrics by Neil Young

One feeling that I get from this song is to not procrastinate. This stems from the line "You gotta tell your story before it's time to go."

My Interpretation
 
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