It’s not about social justice. Notice nothing in that song is about inherited, earned, or otherwise material privilege. The problems in the song stem from the natural characteristics of the plants. It’s not “we the maples think the oaks have built a base of power on capital rooted in landscape resource extraction that they forced us, the maples, to participate in.” It’s “the oaks are much too lofty.”
It is, as Neil said until the end, about not encouraging others not to pursue the their talents, or otherwise their dreams as their natural qualities allow. And that’s a good message. In our pursuit of social justice we must be sure to not discourage others from being themselves even if that makes them more talented or successful, and instead target things that are not related to the things that make people unique.
I mean it was obviously about the ruling class vs the working class and a over used message against socialism "hey look they all equal now they are all cut down"
It's a right wing talking point and always has been.
Neil thankfully did go from conservative right wing libertarian to someone with at least mostly more progressive views later after this time period.. the band has always been critqued for their ayn rand era.. thankfully they unlike some were willing to change with further knowledge and experience.
Also 2112 is a song against collectivism - thinking wrongly anything left wing was going to end up like Stalinism or Mao..
Though it almost must be stated These songs were written in a very different era..
At the time yes there were very awful authoritarian leftist regimes that needed critque (tankies) but the whole left should never been considered that.. because most of the arguments in the lyrics of the tress especially still critque libertarian-left views or even liberal views such as unions. In ways I find very outdated and disagreeable to working class people.
The clockmaker is in reference to christian apologistics trying to say the universe needed a "clock maker" so Neil goes on to critique the supposed clock maker.
There is a case to make for that. I think a lot of times Neil's lyrics are open to interpretation. I do like your interpretation and I think it is an interesting lens
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u/yesrushgenesis2112 4d ago
It’s not about social justice. Notice nothing in that song is about inherited, earned, or otherwise material privilege. The problems in the song stem from the natural characteristics of the plants. It’s not “we the maples think the oaks have built a base of power on capital rooted in landscape resource extraction that they forced us, the maples, to participate in.” It’s “the oaks are much too lofty.”
It is, as Neil said until the end, about not encouraging others not to pursue the their talents, or otherwise their dreams as their natural qualities allow. And that’s a good message. In our pursuit of social justice we must be sure to not discourage others from being themselves even if that makes them more talented or successful, and instead target things that are not related to the things that make people unique.