To me, "wrote a Song For everyone" Seems to be a Civil war ballad. "Got myself arested, wound me up in Jail,
richmond 'bout to blow up,communication failed" In 1863, Union troops destroyed the city of Richmond,Virgina.
The reason for this is that Richmond, VA was the capitol of the confederacy. By Knockin out the confederate capitol, they weakend the confederate Goverment. The man in the story was probably a southerner during the civil war. He did somthig bad and got jailed just before the Union blew up Richmond."Saw the pepole standin' thousand years in chain, Sombody said its different now, Look it's Just the same" Was most probably a refrence to slavery. In 1865, President Abraham Licolon signed the Emancipation Proclimation. the emancipation proclimation changed the meaning of the war. Not only were we fighting a war to save the union, we were now fighting a war to end slavery. The emancipation proclimation stated that if the Union
won the war, witch it did, Slavery would be outlawed in the US. "Met myself A'comin, County welfare line, I was feelin' strung out, hung out on the line" This refers to the Reconstruction period, After the civil war. The
Union healped the south to get back on its feet after its Defeat. Day after day, Hundreds of pepole would line
up outside county welfare office to recive food, drink and medical attention. Its a pretty deep song.
- JLB

The line Saw the pepole standin' thousand years in chain, Sombody said its different now, Look it's Just the same" Could me both slavery in the US during the civil war, segrigation (sp?) and even when the Hebrews were slaves to the Egyptians? Thats how I read in to it.

Wrot
 

The body of this song is a poetic meditation on freedom and man's relationship to the state ("Saw the people standing, thousand years in chains. Somebody said it's different now, but look it's just the same."), and how when the role of government is changed from the protector of rights to the provider of goods and services, that it is not surprising if it then demands the individual to sacrifice his rights ("Met myself a-comin', county welfare line...Saw myself a-goin', down to war in June...").

The chorus muses about the irony of crying out in the wilderness in an attempt to communicate these complicated thoughts with others when it is difficult enough to simply communicate with one's mate. The complications of communication are further reinforced in the verses ("Richmond about to blow up, communications failed...") and the need to speak up emphasized ("If you see the answer, now's the time to say..."), while describing how the powers that be are able to counteract cries of freedom with propaganda ("Pharaohs spin the message, round and round the truth...") regarding why subjugation of the people is deemed both necessary and proper.

Because of the universal themes addressed and the poetic references employed, the meaning of this song can be applied to many different circumstances. This is a truly great song.