Buffalo Springfield was a folk rock band which formed in 1966 in Los Angele… Read Full Bio ↴Buffalo Springfield was a folk rock band which formed in 1966 in Los Angeles, California, United States. The band split in 1968 and reformed briefly in 2010. On February 27, 2012, founder member Richie Furay announced that the band was on indefinite hiatus.

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.

Flying On The Ground Is Wrong
Buffalo Springfield Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Is my world not falling down
I'm in pieces on the ground
And my eyes aren't open
And I'm standing on my knees

But if crying and holding on
And flying on the ground is wrong
Then I'm sorry to let you down

But you're from my side of town
And I'll miss you

Turn me up or turn me down
Turn me off or turn me round
I wish I could have met you in a place
Where we both belong

But if crying and holding on
And flying on the ground is wrong
Then I'm sorry to let you down
But you're from my side of town
And I'll miss you

Sometimes I feel like I'm just a helpless child
Sometimes I feel like a kid
But baby, since I have changed
I can't take nothing home

City lights at a country fair
Never shine but always glare
If I'm bright enough to see you
You're just too dark to care

But if crying and holding on
And flying on the ground is wrong
Then I'm sorry to let you down
But you're from my side of town
And I'll miss you

I'll miss you
I'll miss you

I'll miss you
I'll miss you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song Flying On The Ground Is Wrong by Buffalo Springfield speak about a person who feels lost, broken and helpless in their world. The person expresses their sadness and despair through the metaphor of flying on the ground, which means that they are trying to escape their problems but are still grounded and unable to move forward. The chorus of the song acknowledges that holding on and crying might not be the right way to deal with problems, but the singer cannot help but feel this way. The song expresses a deep sense of sadness and loss, but also an acceptance of the situation and a recognition of the importance of the person they are losing.

The second verse of the song speaks about the singer's desire to meet the person they are losing in a place where they both belong. This could be interpreted as a desire for a deeper connection or understanding between them, or simply a desire to escape their current circumstances together. The third verse talks about the contrast between city lights and the darkness of the country, and how this relates to the relationship between the two people. The song ends with a repetition of the phrase "I'll miss you", emphasizing the deep sadness and sense of loss felt by the singer.

Line by Line Meaning

Is my world not falling down
Doesn't it seem like everything is falling apart?

I'm in pieces on the ground
I feel completely broken and shattered.

And my eyes aren't open
I am blind to what's really happening.

And I'm standing on my knees
I am in a helpless and vulnerable position.

But if crying and holding on
Even though it may seem weak and futile,

And flying on the ground is wrong
Even though it appears foolish and impossible,

Then I'm sorry to let you down
I apologize for not being what you expected.

But you're from my side of town
However, you and I come from the same place and share similar experiences.

And I'll miss you
I am going to miss you.

Turn me up or turn me down
Amplify or decrease my presence and influence.

Turn me off or turn me round
Ignore or redirect me.