1983... (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2008)

"1983... (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)" (also known as "1983") is a song by American psychedelic rock band The Jimi Hendrix Experience, featured on their 1968 third studio album Electric Ladyland. Often recognised as one of the most psychedelic songs written by Jimi Hendrix, "1983" is also the second longest song by the band, surpassed only by the fifteen-minute "Voodoo Chile."

"1983" details a science fiction scenario of an apocalyptic war and the protagonist/Hendrix' desire to "take our last walk through the noise to the sea" with his female companion in order to escape the destruction.^[1] The song segues into Moon, Turn the Tides...Gently Gently Away, which represents their descent together into the ocean depths.^[2]

[By some 1983 a merman I should turn to be is considered Jimi Hendrix most philosophical and political song. The lyric of the song talks about a man who awakes and says "hurray" from waking up from yesterday. His aim is to be a Merman. For Jimi a Merman is somebody that walks away from war, oppression and does what the government tell him is against god and the king (meaning the president). Man has been told that he can't live underwater. He can't be against good (meaning the powers that be). Jimi tells us to walk straight into the sea. 1983 the number of a section in the [[Civil Rights Act of 1871]] gives his dream meaning. 1983 isn't a year in this case. It envisions the freedom of man especially the minority man or woman. Section 1983 says that an opressed person can seek his right in the court of laws. Ergo: Freedom against the oppressor whoever he may be. To call it Pchycadelic is Reductio Ad Absurdum. Catherina his lover is a symbol of love. Refering to Catherine Pavlovna of Russia. If I be free, 1983 a merman I should be]

[edit] References

{{Saul Williams, Saul Williams , Faderlabel. Copywright and production 2004}