It unnerves me a great deal that people only see a part of this song\'s meaning. I\'m here to set this straight.\n\n1stly, this song was written regarding Denver\'s increasingly estranged relationship with his wife (Annie) and son, at the time, both of whom he wrote many songs. This was somewhat of his way of both apologizing for being away so much and accepting his part of the blame for the inevitable dissolution of these relationships.\n\nHowever, as much as he takes the blame for the distance (being on tour, like "in China") and the way things were, between seemingly blaming himself for everything he recognizes that this is somewhat facetious and silly at the same time (really, "the way things are in China?") and that he is ultimately having himself a minor pity party ("more than anything else, I\'m sorry for myself, cuz you\'re not here with me...") or "living without her" because they or she\'s decided not to have a locomotive relationship, and instead she\'s "chained down" to a life for which he again solely blames himself. While being solely sacrificial, it also means she\'s not responsible for her own destiny, hinting that her happiness is also her own out, and that while he accepts full responsibility for his foibles, she needs to accept responsibility for hers, and find a way to make herself happy when he is unable to fulfill his duties as a husband.\n\nSo perhaps a better title for the song might be, "I\'m Sorry, but I Cannot Help You to Help Yourself." Ugh, nvm. That title sucks. Original SHOULD be good enough. It\'s true though. Try defying nature if you desire. You can\'t always count on others. Fundamental impossibility.
It unnerves me a great deal that people only see a part of this song\'s meaning. I\'m here to set this straight.\n\n1stly, this song was written regarding Denver\'s increasingly estranged relationship with his wife (Annie) and son, at the time, both of whom he wrote many songs. This was somewhat of his way of both apologizing for being away so much and accepting his part of the blame for the inevitable dissolution of these relationships.\n\nHowever, as much as he takes the blame for the distance (being on tour, like "in China") and the way things were, between seemingly blaming himself for everything he recognizes that this is somewhat facetious and silly at the same time (really, "the way things are in China?") and that he is ultimately having himself a minor pity party ("more than anything else, I\'m sorry for myself, cuz you\'re not here with me...") or "living without her" because they or she\'s decided not to have a locomotive relationship, and instead she\'s "chained down" to a life for which he again solely blames himself. While being solely sacrificial, it also means she\'s not responsible for her own destiny, hinting that her happiness is also her own out, and that while he accepts full responsibility for his foibles, she needs to accept responsibility for hers, and find a way to make herself happy when he is unable to fulfill his duties as a husband.\n\nSo perhaps a better title for the song might be, "I\'m Sorry, but I Cannot Help You to Help Yourself." Ugh, nvm. That title sucks. Original SHOULD be good enough. It\'s true though. Try defying nature if you desire. You can\'t always count on others. Fundamental impossibility.