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.
Sea Of Madness
Crosby Stills Nash & Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To the Sea of Madness
I love you so much
It's gonna bring me sadness
I've never seen you
Through these eyes before
Now I don't believe it
I think I'll take it
All I need is your sweet sweet loving
Fill my life with happiness
All I want is your heart
Every time I think of you
Mine falls apart.
I went to heaven
And I stood at the crossroads
I'll love you tomorrow
As sure as the wind blows
Silver rain
On the mountain clover
Washes away
Until the music is over
The lyrics of the song Sea of Madness by Crosby Stills Nash & Young seem to convey the feeling of intense love that leads to a state of confusion and chaos for the singer. The singer seems to be desperately in love and willing to do all it takes to make their love interest reciprocate the feeling. The phrase "Sea of Madness" could symbolize the turmoil that love brings with it. The first two lines of the song highlight the dilemma that the singer faces. They want their lover to feel the same way but are fearful that it will lead to sadness. However, they cannot help the strong feeling of love that they have and want to take the chance despite the potential heartbreak.
The second paragraph talks about how the singer's life revolves around their lover. They seek happiness, love, and want their heart, which highlights the intensity and depth of their feelings. The lines "I went to heaven And I stood at the crossroads" might connote the feeling of being in a constant state of limbo, which comes with uncertainty in love. However, the singer still believes that their love will last, as they compare it to the certainty of the wind blowing. The last line of the song, "Silver rain On the mountain clover Washes away Until the music is over," could symbolize the fleeting nature of love and how it could end abruptly, just like a song.
Line by Line Meaning
How can I bring you
The singer expresses his desire to take his loved one with him to the Sea of Madness.
To the Sea of Madness
The Sea of Madness is a metaphor for a wild and adventurous journey that the singer is inviting his loved one to experience with him.
I love you so much
The singer expresses how deeply he feels for his loved one.
It's gonna bring me sadness
Despite his love for his beloved, the artist predicts that their relationship might bring him sadness.
I've never seen you
The artist is expressing that he is seeing his loved one in a new light, with fresh eyes.
Through these eyes before
This refers to the singer's perspective, which has changed, allowing him to appreciate his loved one differently.
Now I don't believe it
The singer expresses his disbelief in his previous perspective.
I think I'll take it
The artist is going to embrace the fresh perspective and move forward with it.
Or leave it.
Alternatively, the artist could disregard the new perspective, but he chooses to accept it.
All I need is your sweet sweet loving
The artist professes his love and desire for his beloved.
Fill my life with happiness
He wants his beloved to make his life happier and better.
All I want is your heart
The artist desires his beloved's heart and affection.
Every time I think of you
The singer thinks about his beloved frequently.
Mine falls apart.
The singer is saying that he is overcome by emotions when he thinks of his beloved.
I went to heaven
The singer may be expressing his happiness and contentment with his beloved, as though he has found heaven.
And I stood at the crossroads
The artist is momentarily uncertain, trying to decide which path to follow.
I'll love you tomorrow
The artist is saying that he will continue to love his beloved in the future.
As sure as the wind blows
The singer is confident that his love will endure and is using the phrase to emphasize his certainty.
Silver rain
The singer is describing a beautiful and tranquil image.
On the mountain clover
This is a poetic and picturesque way of describing the setting of the image that the artist is describing.
Washes away
The beautiful image that he is describing dissipates and disappears.
Until the music is over
This line could be interpreted in several ways, but it may suggest that everything is temporary and will come to an end eventually. The 'music' could be a metaphor for life or happiness that will end eventually.
Lyrics © Broken Arrow Music
Written by: NEIL YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Luis bernardo Castro
Creo muy dificil superar a esta musica por su calidad y nivel de creatividad aun acusticamente tenian un sonido que junto a las voces hacian. Poesia a nuestros oidos que epoca
Dean Allen
This is a golden four minutes of history. We're so lucky this made it to tape and then to the album.
James H.
no kidding!
Luis bernardo Castro
Yo naci en los sesenta y con relacion a estos anos me quedo con lo que aprendi a escuchar no solo por lo que escuche si no tambien por lo que significo esta musica. Para nuestra sociedad como cultura musical
Dean Allen
There is a film of them doing it at Big Sur, not really as good, but to have it on film is a treasure. Somebody needs to sync that video with this audio. They play the same exact arrangement.
Peter Gerstenzang
How many great songs has this guy written?
Hennie Bresler
The music of the 60's is unsurpassed in variety and quality, I was a teenager during those years and the music still reverberates in my head, indelibly etched and unforgettable lyrics, by comparison today I have no idea what the youngsters can remember...no big name bands, and no songs lasting more than a week.....except for a few of course, the rest a babble of rap and background noise....guess my folks said the same about my music those years...?
David Antonacci
Jennie Bresler Yes your parents were saying the same thing about the music of the sixties that you're saying now about the current scene, that it's crap. The difference is that they(your parents) were wrong.
Cyclops Rowe
David Crosby is in the gates of heaven!!!!
Anthony Beck
and smokin a dube while saying "let me in man!