Maybe it's because it came after the harrowing "Ditch Trilogy" (Time Fades Away, Tonight's the Night and On The Beach), but I used to get an ethereal "imagining death" vibe from this song. Maybe I saw Neil "On the Beach" again, with all deathly imagery that conveys, but the spooky lightness of his voice singing "it feels like I'm gone" reminds of the Yes song "To Be Over".
Knowing what I know now about Neil's life at the time, he had just gotten into sailing (maybe through Crosby) and bought a place in Hawaïi. So the most serene and tranquil, relaxed interpretation is probably what it's about. Just getting away from it all on his boat in Hawaïi. "Paradise" is Hawaii.
Maybe it's because it came after the harrowing "Ditch Trilogy" (Time Fades Away, Tonight's the Night and On The Beach), but I used to get an ethereal "imagining death" vibe from this song. Maybe I saw Neil "On the Beach" again, with all deathly imagery that conveys, but the spooky lightness of his voice singing "it feels like I'm gone" reminds of the Yes song "To Be Over".
Knowing what I know now about Neil's life at the time, he had just gotten into sailing (maybe through Crosby) and bought a place in Hawaïi. So the most serene and tranquil, relaxed interpretation is probably what it's about. Just getting away from it all on his boat in Hawaïi. "Paradise" is Hawaii.