Commonly referred to by their initials CSNY, the band is primarily known for their four-part vocal harmonies. They were one of the few North American groups that rivaled the Beatles in popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
After the 1970 shootings at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, Neil Young wrote "Ohio", a tribute to the four students who were shot by the Ohio National Guard. Many radio stations would not play the song "Ohio" because of the anti-war tone of the song. Even so, largely because of its topical nature, "Ohio" bumped "Teach Your Children", released three weeks earlier, from its ascent in the charts, replacing it on the popularity climb, ending at number fourteen, while "Teach Your Children" ended at number sixteen.
In the early seventies, each member released solo albums and by 1972, the band had essentially split up. Nash and Crosby began to perform as a duo and recorded and toured as Crosby & Nash (or, alternatively, Crosby-Nash). A 1974 CSNY reunion tour was a massive success, but attempts to make a second CSNY album ended with another split and separate albums from Crosby & Nash and The Stills-Young Band, both in 1976. After a falling-out between Stills and Young, CSN reformed to release CSN and has been the primary configuration since. CSNY finally returned in 1988 with American Dream, and again in 1999 with Looking Forward. Subsequent material has mostly been from Crosby, Stills & Nash, with the exception of live releases featuring all four members.
It is important to note that on their most famous album, Déjà vu, nearly every song features the trio configuration. Neil Young joins only on a handful of songs he didn't write (guitar on "Woodstock," "Almost Cut My Hair"). Neil Young is absent on "Teach Your Children," "Our House," "Carry On," "Déjà Vu" and therefore the most famous work by the group can be credited to the original trio configuration.
In 1991, Crosby was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Byrds. Neil Young was inducted in 1995 as a solo artist. Stephen Stills was inducted in 1997 as both a member of Buffalo Springfield (along with Young) and Crosby, Stills & Nash (with Crosby & Nash), Graham Nash was inducted in 2010 as a member of The Hollies.
Country Girl
Crosby Stills Nash & Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
First fall was new
Now watch the Summer pass
So close to you
Too late to keep the change
Too late to pay
No time to stay the same
No pass out sign on the
door set me thinking
Are waitresses paying the
price of their winking
While stars sit at bars and
decide what they're drinking
They stop by to die because
it's faster than sinking
Too late to keep the change
Too late to pay
No time to stay the same
Too late to keep the change
Too late to pay
No time to stay the same
Too young to leave
Find out that now was the
answer to answers
That you gave later
She did the things that we
both did before now
But who forgave her?
If I could stand to see her crying
I would tell her not to care
When she learns of all your lying
Will she join you there?
Country girl I think you're pretty
Got to make you understand
Have no lovers in the city
Let me be your country man
Got to make you understand
Got to make you understand
Country girl
The lyrics of Crosby Stills Nash & Young's song Country Girl: Whiskey Boot Hill/Down Down Down/"Country Girl" paint a vivid picture of the fast-paced life of a young woman living in the city. The first verse implies a feeling of passing time and missed opportunities, as the summer goes by too quickly and the person singing can't seem to catch up. The second verse mentions a sign that says "No pass out" on the door, which leads the singer to contemplate the harsh realities of life for waitresses who are expected to flirt with customers for tips. The stars who sit at bars deciding what to drink are perhaps mentioned to suggest that even seemingly glamorous people have their own issues to deal with, as they "stop by to die because it's faster than sinking."
The chorus of "Country Girl" seems to offer a way out of this hectic, superficial world for the woman the singer is addressing. He tells her he thinks she's pretty and offers to be her country man, suggesting that a simpler, more authentic way of life might be more fulfilling for both of them. The final lines of the song, "Got to make you understand, got to make you understand, country girl," suggest a sense of urgency and a desire to convince the woman to come with him and leave the city behind.
Line by Line Meaning
Winding paths through tables and glass, first flowers bloom.
Amidst the chaos of life, small beginnings of beauty can still be found.
Now watch the Summer pass so close to you.
Time is fleeting, and before you know it, the good moments will be gone.
Too late to keep the change, too late to pay
You can't undo the past and make up for mistakes, no matter how much you may want to.
No time to stay the same, too young to leave.
Life is constantly changing and moving forward, but it's still too early to give up.
No pass out sign on the door set me thinking.
The absence of warning signs makes one question the potential consequences of their actions.
Are waitresses paying the price of their winking?
Those who use their sexuality for gain may end up paying a steep price for it.
While stars sit at bars and decide what they're drinking.
Celebrities who appear to have everything figured out still struggle with the same decisions as the rest of us.
They stop by to die because it's faster than sinking.
People may turn to harmful behaviors as a way to cope with their problems and escape their pain.
Find out that now was the answer to answers that you gave later.
The solutions to life's problems often lie in the present, even though we may not realize it until much later.
She did the things that we both did before now but who forgave her?
When one person commits a mistake, it may be forgiven, but when someone else does the same thing, they may not receive the same treatment.
If I could stand to see her crying, I would tell her not to care.
It's hard to watch someone you care about suffer, but sometimes the best thing you can do is remind them not to let it get to them.
When she learns of all your lying, will she join you there?
When the truth comes out, the person who lied may end up alone.
Country girl I think you're pretty, got to make you understand.
Letting someone know how you feel about them can be difficult but necessary for a healthy relationship.
Have no lovers in the city, let me be your country man.
The singer is offering a sense of stability and companionship as an alternative to the fast-paced city lifestyle.
Got to make you understand, got to make you understand, country girl
Repeating the message emphasizes its importance and intent.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DrTomoculus
A song never breaks your heart. A song never lies to you. A song is there for you when you're down, or happy, it's there for you and remains what it was when you first found it. The meaning of it can change for you a thousand times over your life, but as that band said, the song remains the same. (my god, I quoted Led Zeppelin. Not a thing I'd usually do. I don't dislike them. I've just figured out what they meant by it. It now rings true.)
Your heart is yours, the song remains the same. Once a song gets into your heart, no matter what you go through in those 49 years, that song is going to mean to you what it meant to you the first time you heard it. The hundredth time you heard it. And it will remain that song until you listen no more.
Let's hope we bring those good feelings with us into the next world, or wherever we go. Better to bring the good, and just leave all that bad behind. Because a song helps you get through that bad. The feeling should survive, if it can defeat something that's trying to end you.
The song remains the same.
(unless you find out the song was actually meant about doing underage kids, or racist, or .... you get me. You want the intent to be pure and not tainted by some nastiness underneath, or finding out how much of an asshole the writer was. ) ;)
@timoflea8417
Country Girl was maybe the best of all CSN&Y, the way it all comes together, the way it shines. Hell, I am no critic, but I damned sure know what I like when I hear it; and, I know what I love the first time I hear it and every time I hear it. When the song reaches the third part, I
am moved to tears....
"Find out that now was the answer to answers that you gave later.
She did the things that we all did before now but who forgave her?
If I could stand to see her crying, I would tell her not to care.
When she learns of all your lying, will she join you there?
Country girl I think you’re pretty, got to make you understand.
Have no lovers in the city, let me be your country man,
@JoseAntonioDuclaud
In connection with the passing of David Crosby, from the album "Deja Vu", this is not only the most interesting piece of the album, but of the group itself.
Infinitely more talented than his three colleagues, including the late Crosby, Neil Young contributed this piece to the album and his "peers" sweetened it with their magnificent vocal harmonies, which was the "deal maker" for Young to consider and agree to work with Crosby, Stills & Nash, a trio that was always aware of the superior talent of their Canadian colleague.
"Country Girl" is, in any case, one of the most important pieces that Neil Young has composed.
A propósito del fallecimiento de David Crosby, del álbum “Deja Vu”, esta no solamente es la más interesante pieza del álbum, sino de la agrupación per se.
Infinitamente más talentoso que sus tres colegas, incluido el ayer fenecido, Neil Young aportó esta pieza al álbum y sus “peers” la endulzaron con sus magníficas armonías vocales, lo cual constituyó el “deal maker” para que Young considerase y accediese a trabajar con Crosby, Stills & Nash, trío que siempre guardo consciencia del superior talento de su colega Canadiense.
“Country Girl” es, en todo caso, una de las más trascendentes piezas que ha compuesto Neil Young.
@pigurine
Is it just me or does
Listening to this
Actually hurt
To think that I
Lived in the greatest
Time to be a teenager.
Was it a dream or was
I sleeping?
I awaken and realize
It will never come again
I close my eyes and begin weeping.
@brotherthor8699
Winding paths
through tables and glass
First fall was new
Now watch the summer pass
So close to you.
Too late to keep the change,
Too late to pay,
No time to stay the same
Too young to leave.
No pass out sign on the door
set me thinking
Are waitresses paying the price
of their winking?
While stars sit in bars and decide
what their drinking,
They drop by to die 'cause it's
faster than sinking.
Too late to keep the change,
Too late to pay,
No time to stay the same
Too late to keep the change,
Too late to pay,
No time to stay the same
Too young to leave.
Find out that now was the answer
To answers that you gave later
She did the things
that we both did before, now,
But who forgave her.
If I could stand to see her crying
I would tell her not to care.
When she learns of all your lyin'
Will she join you there?
Country girl I think you're pretty,
Got to make you understand,
Have no lovers in the city,
Let me be your country man.
Got to make you understand.
No copy write infringement intended.
@dragonsong1023
"Country Girl (Medley)"
Winding paths through tables and glass
First fall was new
Now watch the summer pass
So close to you.
Too late to keep the change
Too late to pay
No time to stay the same
Too young to leave
No pass out sign on the door set me thinking
Are waitresses paying the price of their winking?
While stars sit in bars and decide what they're drinking
They drop by to die 'cause it's faster than sinking
Too late to keep the change
Too late to pay
No time to stay the same
Too late to keep the change
Too late to pay
No time to stay the same
Too young to leave
Find out that now was the answer
To answers that you gave later
She did the things that we both did before, now
But who forgave her
If I could stand to see her crying
I would tell her not to care
When she learns of all your lyin'
Will she join you there?
Country girl I think you're pretty
Got to make you understand
Have no lovers in the city
Let me be your country man
Got to make you understand
Got to Make you Understand
Country girl.
@DrTomoculus
I've worked on Déjà Vu a long time. The whole album. But as YouTube or publisher kind of saw the response my upload of "Country Girl" received, I'm not allowed to upload any further tracks from it. So I stopped working on it as frequently.
David Crosby was my favourite voice in Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. He was also my favourite songwriter in the group. His songs were jigsaw. Like fragments of a dream. Floating in from a misty lake, or gliding along pebbles down a stream. His songs were visions and spells, rapture and chaos. And his voice the beacon through the foggier landscapes, and a celebration on the return of the sun.
David Crosby. May his soul rest in peace.
@MrRonk55
Been a long time. Was that John Sebastion on harp?
@987mikio
The final transition makes it one the greatest songs of all time: the pipe organ, the armonica solo (bone chilling), the voices harmonization... a true masterpiece
@gardensofthegods
ABSOLUTELY... I know what you mean about The Chills ...
... the harmonica ... and even that last echo coming forward after the rest of them singing the words country girl ... all it is real brilliant genius .
Nobody has been able to write anything like this since ... too bad so many younger people will never hear this song .
@drdavid1963
I totally agree. It's always been in my top 5. It's also a brilliantly constructed song, the way each verse changes and the finale is epic - gives me shivers every time
@deborahboyd598
Truly..and the way Neil just changed that ending like another song almost, with the lyrics and the sound of his voice like he wanted this country girl to know how much she meant.. beautiful!.love entire song but I could play that ending on loop all day long!
@radiodead745
I totally agree, this song has such a climax to it! So incredible!!
@c.s.mcleod7383
'Segue' my friend,''segue".
@waynemoores
RIP David. Your backing vocals on this are amazing.
@melissatodd673
I agree....that manly voice lingering a little longer on the chorus is so THRILLING.....always been the element of this song that really grabbed me