Crosby, Stills & Nash - Suite: Judy Blue Eyes (1969)

According to singer/songwriter Judy Collins, she first met Stephen Stills at a party in 1967. She thought Stephen was “possibly the most attractive man” she had ever seen. And although the two became romantically linked for the next two years, it was clear to Stephen that breaking up was imminent when Judy had fallen in love with Stacy Keach, her co-star in a stage musical.

The deteriorating relationship led a devastated Stills to pen multiple songs about Collins, who was known for her piercing blue eyes; and the song heard below is a weaving of four of those pieces of work. The “Suite” in the title was a pun, half indicating that the song was a musical suite or, a collection of songs in the classical sense, and half referencing the meaning of its homophone, implying “sweet” Judy Blue Eyes.

Although the song didn’t convince Collins to remain with Stills, she admits that it did make her feel more regretful about her decision to leave him. And when the song climbed to number twenty-one in the United States, it certainly made it that much more difficult for her to avoid hearing it.



Crosby, Stills & Nash - Suite: Judy Blue Eyes (1969)

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Lyrics:

It's getting to the point where I'm no fun anymore
(I am sorry)
Sometimes it hurts so badly I must cry out loud
(I am lonely)
I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are
You make it hard

Remember what we've said and done and felt about each other
(Oh, babe, have mercy)
Don't let the past remind us of what we are not now
(I am not dreaming)
I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are
You make it hard

Tearing yourself away from me now, you are free
And I am crying
This does not mean I don't love you; I do; that's forever
Yes, and for always
I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are
You make it hard

Something inside is telling me that I've got your secret
(Are you still listening?)
Fear is the lock and laughter the key to your heart
(And I love you)
I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are
You make it hard

(And you make it) hard
(And you make it) hard
(And you make it) hard

Friday evening
Sunday in the afternoon
What have you got to lose?

Tuesday morning
Please be gone, I'm tired of you
What have you got to lose?

Can I tell it like it is?
(Help me, I'm sufferin')
Listen to me, baby
It's my heart that's a’sufferin'; it's a’dyin'
(Help me I'm dyin')
And that's what I have to lose (lose)

I've got an answer
I'm going to fly away
What have I got to lose?

Will you come see me
Thursdays and Saturdays?
(Hey, hey, hey)
What have you got to lose?

Chestnut-brown canary
Ruby-throated sparrow
Sing a song; don't be long
Thrill me to the marrow

Voices of the angels
Ring around the moonlight
Asking me, said she’s so free
How can you catch the sparrow?

Lacy lilting lyric
Losing love, lamenting
Change my life, make it right
Be my lady

¡Que linda! Me acuerdo a CubaHow pretty! She reminds me of Cuba
La reina de la Mar CaribeThe queen of the Caribbean Sea
Quiero sólo visitarle allíI only want to visit her there
¡Y que triste que no puedo vaya!And how sad that I can't go
O Va! O Va!Oh, go! Oh, go!

Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth (1967)

Named for a steamroller parked across the street from a friend’s house, this group debuted April 11, 1966 at a popular nightclub in West Hollywood, California, called The Troubadour. Within days, the group was on a California-based tour opening for The Dillards and The Byrds. When the tour ended, Byrds-member Chris Hillman persuaded another popular nightclub, Whiskey a Go Go, to make this group their house band. Naturally, their exposure and popularity increased, landing the group a record deal with Atlantic Records. It would be only a short few months before Stephen Stills would write the group’s signature song, heard below.

In November 1966, laws were rushed into effect by the older Sunset Strip-area residents in Los Angeles, California, in an attempt to discourage young nightclub-goers. Between newly created loitering laws and a 10:00pm curfew, the young people in the area handed out fliers on November 12th, 1966 urging people to protest their perceived infringement of civil rights. Among those to show up that night in support of the protest were young actors Jack Nicholson and Peter Fonda. All in all, over one thousand protestors showed up and police reportedly became violent. Stephen Stills, witnessing the event, wrote this song about the event and the group recorded it December 5th, 1966.



Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth (1967)

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Lyrics:

There's somethin' happenin' here
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Tellin' me I got to beware

I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's goin’ down

There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speakin' their minds
Gettin' so much resistance from behind

It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's goin’ down

What a field day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, “Hooray! for our side”

It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's goin’ down

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
You step out of line, the man come and take you away

We better stop, hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's goin’ down

We better stop, hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's goin’ down

We better stop, now, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's goin’ down

We better stop…

Crosby, Stills & Nash - Lady of the Island (1969)

This supergroup, abbreviated CSN, was composed of some of rocks greatest icons: David Crosby, previously of The Byrds; Stephen Stills, previously of Buffalo Springfield; and Graham Nash, previously of The Hollies. Later in their career they would occasionally be accompanied by Neil Young (previously of Buffalo Springfield, as well) and then referred to as CSNY.

This song comes from the group’s first album, Crosby, Stills and Nash. It was written by Graham Nash about Joni Mitchell, his love interest at the time. Quite interesting is that another song on the album, “Guinnevere,” was also written about Joni Mitchell, but by her other love interest in the group, David Crosby.



Crosby, Stills & Nash - Lady of the Island (1969)

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Lyrics:

Holding you close, undisturbed before the fire
The pressure in my chest when you breath in my ear
We both knew this would happen when you first appeared
My lady of the island

The browness of your body in the fire glow
Except the places where the sun refused to go
Our bodies were a perfect fit in afterglow
We lay; my lady of the island

Letting myself wander through the world inside your eyes
You know I'd like to stay here until every tear runs dry
Doo, doo, doo…
My lady of the island

Wrapped around each other in the peeping sun
Beams of sunshine light the stage; the red light's on
I never want to finish what I've just begun with you
My lady of the island
Doo, doo, doo…

Ringo Starr - It Don't Come Easy (1971)

Born Richard Starkey, this legend got his big break replacing Pete Best as permanent drummer for The Beatles. He was also the first member of The Beatles to quit (temporarily) when he could no longer take the constant bickering between members in 1966 while recording The Beatles (White Album). He was a left -handed drummer that played on a right-handed drum kit and had a successful solo career before creating The All-Starr Band. As with all members of The Beatles, his entire story is much larger than this entry shows.

This song, co-written by George Harrison and released by Apple Records in 1971, was his first single released in the UK after the break-up of The Beatles. George Harrison played guitar; Klaus Voormann played bass; Stephen Stills played piano; and Pete Ham and Tom Evans (both of Badfinger) performed backup vocals.



Ringo Starr - It Don't Come Easy (1971)

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Lyrics:

It don't come easy
You know it don't come easy
It don't come easy
You know it don't come easy

Got to pay your dues if you wanna sing the blues
And you know it don't come easy
You don't have to shout or leap about
You can even play them easy

Forget about the past
And all your sorrows
The future won't last
It will soon be over tomorrow

I don't ask for much; I only want your trust
And you know it don't come easy
And this love of mine keeps growing all the time
And you know it just ain't easy

Open up your heart
Let's come together
Use a little love
And we will make it work out better

Got to pay your dues if you wanna sing the blues
And you know it don't come easy
You don't have to shout or leap about
You can even play them easy

Please remember peace
Is how we make it
Here within your reach
If you're big enough to take it

I don't ask for much; I only want trust
And you know it don't come easy
And this love of mine keeps growing all the time
And you know it don’t come easy

Buffalo Springfield - Out of My Mind [Demo] (1966)

This group is primarily remembered for their song "For What It's Worth". Despite that song being a contender for my all time personal favorite, they had a slew of other great songs.

Being composed of two future twice-inducted members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, they were destined for greatness. Unfortunately, internal conflicts led the group to split up after releasing only three albums. Stephen Stills went on to great success in Crosby, Stills, & Nash (and sometimes Young), whereas Neil Young went on to have a wonderful solo career and success in CSNY.

This song in particular is not the initial release. This version, the acoustic version recorded in 1966, comes from the Buffalo Springfield Box Set released in 2001. A big difference between the two versions is that this one consists of an entire extra verse where Neil Young just sings "da da da da da da da..."



Buffalo Springfield - Out of My Mind [Demo] (1966)

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Lyrics:

"Out of My Mind"

Out of my mind
And I just can't take it anymore
Left behind
By myself and what I'm living for
All I hear is screams
From outside the limousines
That are taking me

Out of my mind
Through the keyhole in an open door
Happy to find
That I don't know what I'm smiling for
Tired of hanging on
If you've missed me, I've just gone
Cause they're taking me

Out of my mind
Da da da da da da da da da
Da da da da
Da da da da da da da da da
Da da da da da
Da da da da da da da
Da da da da da da da

Out of my mind
And I just can't take it anymore
Left behind
By myself and what I'm living for
All I hear is screams
From outside the limousines
That are taking me
Out of my mind