Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young is a folk-rock supergroup formed when Crosby, … Read Full Bio ↴Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young is a folk-rock supergroup formed when Crosby, Stills & Nash (Stephen Stills of Buffalo Springfield, David Crosby from the Byrds, and Graham Nash from the Hollies) asked Neil Young, also of Buffalo Springfield to join them in 1969 and form "Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young".
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.

Love the One You're With
Crosby Stills Nash & Young Lyrics

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If your down and confused
And you don't remember who
Your talking to
Concentration slips away
'Cause your baby is so far away

And there's a rose in a fisted glove
And the eagle flies with the dove

And if you can't be with the one you love honey
Love the one your with

Don't be angry don't be sad
Don't sit crying over good times you've had
There's a girl right next to you
And she's just waiting for something to do

And there's a rose in a fisted glove
And the eagle flies with the dove
And if you can't be with the one you love honey
Love the one your with

Turn your heartache right into joy
She's a girl and your the boy
So together make it nice
And you won't need any more advice

And there's a rose in a fisted glove
And the eagle flies with the dove

And if you can't be with the one you love honey
Love the one your with

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Crosby Stills Nash & Young's "Love the One You're With" encourage listeners to focus on the present moment and appreciate what they have in the person next to them. The first verse speaks to the feeling of being lost and disconnected, perhaps due to missing a loved one who is far away. But instead of dwelling on that absence, the song urges us to look around and appreciate the people who are with us right now.

The chorus emphasizes this message by stating "if you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with." This phrase can be interpreted as a call to let go of longing for someone who is not present and instead channel that energy into building a connection with the people who are currently in our lives.

The second verse goes on to specifically address a male listener, suggesting that there is a woman next to him who is waiting for him to take action and engage with her. The lyrics use the image of a rose in a fisted glove to convey the idea that beauty and love can be hidden within unexpected or even difficult circumstances. Finally, the song encourages listeners to turn their heartache into joy by connecting with the person next to them and creating a positive experience together.

Overall, "Love the One You're With" is an optimistic and empowering song that encourages us to find joy and connection in our present circumstances, rather than longing for something that may not be within reach.

Line by Line Meaning

If your down and confused
If you feel lost and unsure

And you don't remember who
And you can't remember who you were talking to

Your talking to
You were just talking to someone

Concentration slips away
Your focus starts to fade

'Cause your baby is so far away
Because the person you love is not with you

And there's a rose in a fisted glove
There is something beautiful hidden beneath something tough

And the eagle flies with the dove
Conflicting things can come together and coexist

And if you can't be with the one you love honey
If you can't be with the person you love

Love the one your with
Love the person who is with you now

Don't be angry don't be sad
Don't focus on negative emotions

Don't sit crying over good times you've had
Don't dwell on past memories and feel sad