The band's original lineup consisted of Neil Young (vocals, guitar), Stephen Stills (vocals, guitar), Richie Furay (vocals, guitar), Bruce Palmer (bass) and Dewey Martin (drums). Palmer left the band in 1968 and was replaced by Jim Messina. The band's only Top 40 single, "For What It's Worth", was released in 1967. The band split in 1968. Despite lasting for under 25 months, the band was massively influential on many later folk rock and country rock artists and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.
The band only released three albums in its short life, "Buffalo Springfield" (1966), "Buffalo Springfield Again" (1967) and "Last Time Around" (1968). "For What It's Worth", which peaked at #7 in early 1967, was the band's only Top 40 single in the United States. 1967's "Rock 'n' Roll Woman" came the closest to giving the band a second Top 40 entry, peaking at #44.
Stills and Young would go on to perform with David Crosby and Graham Nash in the hugely popular rock act Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young shortly after Buffalo Springfield's demise. Furay and Messina went on to found country-rock group Poco, before Furay embarked on his own solo career. After Messina left Poco, he formed Loggins and Messina with singer/songwriter Kenny Loggins.
On October 23 and 24, 2010, Young, Furay and Stills, along with drummer Joe Vitale and Rick Rosas (replacing the deceased Dewey Martin and Bruce Palmer, respectively) reunited for two performances for the Bridge Schools Benefit concert in Mountain View, California.
The band played six concerts starting in Oakland, CA, on June 1, 2011, followed by dates in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, before moving on to play the 2011 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee. A proposed full tour in 2012 never took place. On February 27, 2012, founder member Furay announced that the band was on indefinite hiatus.
Come On
Buffalo Springfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lover
Can't you see that the time is late?
Let's run
For cover
I want you and I just can't wait
Please decide
Love me you can make the time
Don't pretend everybody's your friend
Just pick one and explore them eyes
And don't try
To figure out why
It's just the night and some chemistry, hey quit
Stalling 'cause I think I'm
falling in love with you
Like it's supposed to be
Come on
Lover
Can't you see that the time is late?
Let's run
For cover
I want you and I just can't wait
The lyrics in Buffalo Springfield's song, "Come On," feature an individual who is eager to connect with their lover and explore their chemistry. The song sets a romantic and passionate mood while urging the lover to not shy away and to follow their instincts. The repeated call to action implies impatience with the situation and puts pressure on the lover to make a decisive move before the moment passes.
The phrase, "Don't pretend everybody's your friend," speaks to the need for the lover to look beyond the surface-level relationships and pursue the deeper connection with the singer. The chorus features an appeal to their lover to take action, because time is fleeting, and their opportunity to express love may pass them by. Overall, the song is an invitation to fully embrace love and not let chances pass by.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on
Encouragement to take a chance
Lover
Affectionate term for significant other
Can't you see that the time is late?
Time is short, let's not waste it
Let's run
Escape from the world around us
For cover
Find a secret place where we can be together
I want you and I just can't wait
Expressing a strong desire for intimacy
Please decide
Asking for a commitment
Don't try to hide
Be honest with your feelings
Love me you can make the time
If you love someone, you'll find time for them
Don't pretend everybody's your friend
Be wary of false relationships
Just pick one and explore them eyes
Focus on getting to know one person deeply
And don't try
Don't overthink it
To figure out why
No need to analyze the situation
It's just the night and some chemistry, hey quit
The moment is right, don't waste time
Stalling 'cause I think I'm
Delaying due to fear
falling in love with you
Becoming emotionally attached
Like it's supposed to be
Natural and inevitable
Contributed by Gabriella P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@tiffsaver
Many, many people believe that this song was written for the Vietnam War... but it wasn't. It was describing a street demonstration in Hollywood in 1966 when teenagers were protesting police brutality, cops throwing kids in jail just for being out after 10PM. How do I know that?? BECAUSE I WAS ONE OF THEM.
@antoniofongaro6833
Someone should write a song for what has just happened (DEATH OF FLOYD)
@1BoodaCat
all around Pandora's Box if I'm not mistaken?....
@tiffsaver
@@1BoodaCat
Hah! Yes. I was only 16 at the time, and in the Sixties they had a law that anyone under 18 could not be out after 10PM. Can you imagine?? The the sheriffs locked me up in jail like a common criminal as I was walking home. In the prison bus ride to the Hollywood Sheriff station, one of the cops hit the guy sitting next to me in the face, his saliva hitting me in the face, just for fun. It was only then that I realized what we were protesting.
@1BoodaCat
@@tiffsaver Yup...and as an under 18 year old myself I remember my girlfriend and I piling into my VW Bug to get out of there when it started getting crazy, and as we were driving down Holloway to get away from the strip we were stopped by a cop who decided to search my car...I asked him if he could legally do that...and he just looked at me, laughed and said; "girly we can do anything we damn well want to..."
I've never forgotten him or that comment...
@TillWeFindOurPlace
incredible to think about the real meaning of the song but how it fit the kate 60's and now 2020 so w... Goes to prove to songs
are just floating out in the ethers ad they get grabbed and turned into a song.
@kirstinalphabet796
It's 2023 and we need more radio play for music like this...reconnect humanity..
@Babatende
Even if it doesn't reconnect humanity...
@andymatthews7617
Humanity is diving down to hell.
@MultiCgp
Exactly