Mark, I think you are correct in that the question, "Who you gonna get to do the dirty
work when all the slaves are free" is essential to the meaning of Passion Play. You
hit the nail on the head when you said that the question could be interpreted two
ways. Joni is the queen of dualism, so it is hard to say which question she is really
asking - probably both! This is at least the third song with a reference to slaves in
it ("a good slave loves the good book...", "where the wealth is made, the slaves will
be taken.") This must be a question that she ponders quite often. Will empire
succeed empire ad infinitum, with the powerful preying on the weaker ones, until
mankind is no more? Or will a radical transformation occur, when there will be no
more slaves? The second scenario is possible, with the level of technology we have
reached, if it were shared with all. Much meaningless grunt work could be eliminated,
freeing everyone to live fuller lives. But Joni is more aware!
than most of the "darkness in men's eyes" that seems to kill any chance of that ever
occurring.
Thanks to all for giving me food for thought. I was totally lost on this song before
this discussion.
Ruth in Richmond
NP: 'The Job That Ate My Brain' The Ramones
