The title and lyrics of the song refer to the anti-Vietnam War protests that took place during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago and the subsequent trial of the Chicago Eight , where protest leaders were charged with conspiracy to incite a riot . The first line of the song , " So your brother 's bound and gagged , and they 've chained him to a chair " , refers to Black Panther leader Bobby Seale , the sole African-American defendant , who was gagged and chained to a chair in the courtroom following repeated outbursts in protest of rulings by Judge Julius Hoffman . The line " Wo n't you please come to Chicago just to sing ? " refers to Nash pleading with bandmates Stephen Stills and Neil Young to come to Chicago to play a benefit concert for the Chicago 8 defense fund . The chorus contains the lines , " We can change the world / Rearrange the World "
1968 Democratic National Convention
1968 Democratic National Convention
Chicago (Graham Nash song)