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.
There Goes My Babe
Buffalo Springfield Lyrics
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The sky has lost its sun
The harm is done
He was the only one
There goes what might have been
There goes my babe
In the cool morning rain
And now my heart
Lies empty and still again
If he were here
I'd long to hold him near
But now it's clear
The price of love is dear
There goes my babe
There goes what might have been
There goes my babe
In the cool morning rain
And now my heart
Lies empty and still again
In "There Goes My Babe," Buffalo Springfield sings about heartbreak and the pain of losing a loved one. The song mourns the loss of a relationship and the hopelessness that follows. The lyrics speak of the finality of the situation, as the end has come and the sky has lost its sun. The harm is done and the singer realizes that he was deeply in love with his partner, who has now moved on. The lines, "There goes my babe, there goes what might have been," signify the loss of potential and possibilities that could have come with the relationship.
The chorus is repetitive, emphasizing the loss of the singer's love interest. The only solace that the singer has is knowing that the other person is not in pain or danger since he can see them through the cool morning rain. The song touches upon the reality that love comes with a price, and when it's gone, it leaves a void in a person's heart. The lyrics, "And now my heart lies empty and still again," captures the emptiness of losing someone you loved.
Buffalo Springfield's "There Goes My Babe" speaks to how heartbreak and loss can leave someone feeling despondent and hopeless. Although the song is poignant, it resonates with people who may have undergone similar experiences. It's a timeless piece that portrays the harsh reality that not every relationship is meant to last forever.
Line by Line Meaning
The end has come
It's over.
The sky has lost its sun
I'm sad and things feel bleak.
The harm is done
Something bad happened and it can't be undone.
He was the only one
He was the only person for me.
There goes my babe
He's gone.
There goes what might have been
We had potential but it's never going to happen now.
In the cool morning rain
It's a sad and lonely time.
And now my heart
My emotions.
Lies empty and still again
I feel nothing right now.
If he were here
If he was still around.
I'd long to hold him near
I would want to be close to him.
But now it's clear
I understand now.
The price of love is dear
Love can be costly and painful.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Neil Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind