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.
Hot Dusty Roads
Buffalo Springfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I make no excuses, I just don't want to roam,
And I don't like being alone.
I'll give you loving and a place to take off your shoes,
It does surprising things for a case of the blues,
It ain't no club, you don't have to pay no dues,
You just love me and I'll love you.
And if you take some pride in being alive,
Just drop on by, baby ask me why,
At least you don't have to be by yourself
Just come knock, most likely I'll be there,
Then you look around and find a comfortable chair,
And then you sit and you might think about why he's there,
I can't tell you why, only where.
The lyrics of Buffalo Springfield's song "Hot Dusty Roads" express a sentiment of loneliness, but also an openness towards love and human connection. The singer, a self-described city boy, admits to his homebody ways but also acknowledges his need for companionship. He offers to provide both physical comfort (a place to take off your shoes) and emotional support (loving) to anyone who seeks it. The song speaks to the healing power of love and human connection, and the importance of reaching out to others when feeling alone.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the simplicity of this connection: "It ain't no club, you don't have to pay no dues / You just love me and I'll love you." This theme of simplicity and ease is reiterated throughout the song, with the singer encouraging anyone who feels lonely or disconnected to simply drop by and visit, without needing to explain themselves or justify their presence. The song celebrates the idea that human connection should be easy and accessible, rather than exclusive or conditional.
Overall, "Hot Dusty Roads" is a hopeful song that acknowledges the challenges of being alone but also suggests that love and human connection can be found in unexpected places. It encourages listeners to seek out these connections and to be open to them when they arise.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a city boy and I stay at home,
I prefer to stay in the comfort of my home and not venture out.
I make no excuses, I just don't want to roam,
I don't have reasons to justify my decision to not be a wanderer; I just don't enjoy it.
And I don't like being alone.
I don't like the feeling of being isolated.
I'll give you loving and a place to take off your shoes,
I'll provide you with affection and a welcoming environment.
It does surprising things for a case of the blues,
It has a positive influence on one's mood and can alleviate sadness.
It ain't no club, you don't have to pay no dues,
It's not a formal organization, and there is no obligation to contribute financially or otherwise.
You just love me and I'll love you.
If you show me affection and care, I will reciprocate with the same level of attention.
And if you take some pride in being alive,
If you have a sense of self-worth and appreciate your existence,
And you're interested in looking inside of yourself,
And you have an inclination to examine your inner self,
Just drop on by, baby ask me why,
Feel free to visit me, and inquire about my motivations and perspectives.
At least you don't have to be by yourself
You won't need to be alone, as I'll offer companionship.
Just come knock, most likely I'll be there,
If you visit me, it's highly probable that I'll be present and available.
Then you look around and find a comfortable chair,
You can survey your surroundings and locate a cozy seat.
And then you sit and you might think about why he's there,
You'll settle down and ponder why I choose to remain in one place.
I can't tell you why, only where.
I can't provide a justification for my decision, only the location where I reside.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEPHEN STILLS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind