After the success of Déjà Vu, all four members of CSNY released solo albums. Crosby released If I Could Only Remember My Name, while Nash released Songs for Beginners. In the autumn of 1971 the best friends toured together as an acoustic duo to favorable reviews; consequently, in 1972 the two decided to record an album together and the result was Graham Nash David Crosby. The album reached #4 on the American Billboard charts and ensured that the twosome were still a viable draw without the more successful and prolific Stills and Young. Further work together was precluded by the CSNY reunion of 1973-1974, Nash's solo effort Wild Tales, Byrds' reunion album, and Crosby's ongoing collaboration with early electronica artist and Grateful Dead associate Ned Lagin.
Deciding to continue working together, the two signed a contract with ABC Records and began recording what would become Wind on the Water. However, Stills and Young invited the duo to recording session for their duo album Long May You Run. Crosby & Nash were forced to leave the recording session because they had a duo album due for ABC Records and Stills and Young wiped their vocals from Long May You Run instead releasing it as The Stills-Young Band. Crosby & Nash said that they wouldn't work with either Stills or Young again.
Crosby & Nash ended up releasing three albums for ABC. Wind on the Water came out in 1975 and was followed the next year by Whistling Down the Wire and Crosby-Nash Live in 1977. All three albums featured a backing band called The Mighty Jitters featuring: Russ Kunkel (drums), Tim Drummond (bass), Craig Doerge (keyboards), Danny Kortchmar (guitar), and David Lindley (guitar/violin). Famed session bassist Leland Sklar alternated with Drummond in the studio. All of these musicians were among the most in demand in Los Angeles at the time, and the line-up of Kunkel, Doerge, Kortchmar, and Sklar had previously recorded as The Section. Depending upon avaliability of the various members, the twosome would either tour as a full blown electric-based aggregation or in a semi-acoustic format with Doerge and Lindley. When CSN reunited on a more or less permanent basis in 1977, Doerge would follow the group to Miami for the CSN sessions, contributing to several songs and collaborating on the song "Shadow Captain" with Crosby. Crosby and Doerge would continue to collaborate regularly until the early 1990s.
In addition to their album work, Crosby & Nash were the harmony vocalists of choice for a number of prominent singer-songwriters and AOR rock performers in the mid to late 1970s. Among their most recognizable session work is Joni Mitchell's "Free Man in Paris" and the James Taylor hit "Mexico". They also appeared on albums by Dave Mason, J.D. Souther, Elton John, Art Garfunkel, Gary Wright, Carole King (who sat in with them at various concerts), the Section and latest on David Gilmour's 2006-album On An Island.
In 1979 they reconvened to record a new album for Capitol Records, but sessions were dampened by Crosby's increased dependence upon freebase cocaine; this was eventually released as Nash's Earth & Sky without any songs from Crosby. The CSN album Live It Up was also supposed to be a Crosby & Nash record, but Atlantic Records refused to release anything that didn't feature the full CSN trio.
In 2004, Crosby & Nash released their first studio record since 1976 with the double-album Crosby & Nash. The album featured Crosby & Nash backed mostly by members of Crosby's solo band CPR. A single CD version was released in 2006 when CSNY began its "Freedom of Speech '06" tour.
Blackbird
Crosby & Nash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night
Blackbird fly,
Blackbird fly
Into the light
Of the dark black night
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
"Crosby & Nash's Blackbird" is a song about freedom and the capacity for change. The opening lines of the song speak of a blackbird singing in the dead of night, a metaphor for someone feeling trapped or struggling to break free. The next line invites the bird or the person to "take these broken wings and learn to fly," suggesting that this moment is an opportunity to overcome obstacles and move forward. The chorus reinforces this idea, with the repeated line "you were only waiting for this moment to arise," implying that the individual has been preparing for this moment of change their entire life.
The second verse continues this theme, this time addressing the inability to see clearly. The invitation to "take these sunken eyes and learn to see" suggests that in order to break free and fly, one must have a clear vision and understanding of their direction. The song culminates in a powerful repetition of the chorus, with the blackbird urged to "fly, blackbird fly, into the light of the dark black night." The repeated "fly" feels determined and empowering, driving the idea that now is the time to leave the darkness behind and embrace the possibilities of the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
The Blackbird is a symbol of hope, singing in the middle of darkness.
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
Even when we are broken and hurt, we can still rise up and overcome our hardships.
All your life
We all have a purpose, a destiny to fulfill, and it takes time to realize it.
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
The culmination of all our struggles and waiting comes together at this very moment, where we can finally take flight like the Blackbird.
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
Even when our vision is clouded, we can still learn to see the light and goodness in life.
You were only waiting for this moment to be free
Waiting patiently for the right time to break free from our limitations is a necessary step towards true freedom.
Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
A call to action, encouraging us to take flight like the Blackbird, to leave our comfort zones and soar towards our aspirations.
Into the light of the dark black night
Even in the midst of darkness and uncertainty, we must seek the light and find our way through the journey of life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Tratore
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@williammahaffy4642
David Crosby...
Few people in our lives are this iconic.
Undeniably talented and will live forever through the music of CSN(Y).
Got to see him at the Beacon Theatre in NYC 2014. Magic!
CSN, Eagles, Stones, the Dead and the Beatles before them.
There is now greater music in heaven than there was before.
Safe travels until you return to us in the next life.
Namasté
@kimberly3733
My Dad passed away 2 weeks ago and I have had a blackbird come to my yard and sing to me every morning ever since that day.
@rossscott1922
Hello 👋 kim
@Milan74
@kim Evans Blackbirds are loving birds that can sense heartache...they know
@Mandycat1969
My mother leaves me little white feathers all over.
@wesweldon8350
Big love to you. When my pops passes it will be this band sending him off.
@user-vg3yc6gk5f
🤗
@paulakintigh3298
Steven Stills is underrated. What a singer and guitar player. Love him. Ah the music of my youth, and RIP David Crosby.
@patrickirvin1486
Saw him @The Grizzly Rose in Denver in the 90's. You're right he was fantastic
@hettyslooter4533
I adore him. Check Manasass and the album Stephen Stills 2
@CajonAudrum
underrated by who? no one I know, one of the greats!