Chain Gang

The subject of the song is chain gangs. These were groups of people that were linked to one chain at all times. They worked all day long under the hot sun. This song was written around the 1960's, when the civil rights movement was taking place. At the time, black people were discriminated against by white people. Chain gangs represent conformity. Individuals became one when they were linked together and forced to work, much like white people at the time. White people chose to all discriminate against black people, almost becoming one unit.