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.
Critical Mass
Crosby & Nash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
By the men who threw harpoons
And in the long run he will kill you
Just to feed the pets we raise,
Put the flowers in your vase
And make the lipstick for your face.
Over the years you swam the ocean
Now you are washed up on the shoreline
I can see your body lie
It's a shame you have to die
To put the shadow on our eye
Maybe we'll go
Maybe we'll disappear
It's not that we don't know
It's just that we don't want to care.
Under the bridges
Over the foam
Wind on the water
Carry me home.
The lyrics to "The Last Whale A Critical Mass Wind On The Water" by Crosby & Nash tell a sad story of the impact that humans have had on nature, specifically on the whale population. The first verse talks about how whales, who have been hunted for years by men throwing harpoons, will eventually be killed just to feed the pets that we raise, put flowers in vases, and create lipstick. The message here is that we are destroying these magnificent creatures for frivolous things that we don't really need.
The second verse describes the whale's journey, swimming through the ocean following their own feelings, only to end up washed up on the shoreline, dead. The singer acknowledges the sadness of this event, saying that it's a shame the whale had to die to put the shadow on our eyes, meaning that we only truly see and appreciate the beauty of nature when it’s gone. The chorus suggests that maybe we humans will also end up disappearing eventually, but it’s not because we don’t know or don’t care about the damage we are causing. It’s just that we don’t want to acknowledge it.
Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the destructive relationship between humans and nature.
Line by Line Meaning
Over the years you have been hunted
For many years, humans have been pursuing and killing you.
By the men who threw harpoons
These hunters used harpoons as their weapon of choice to attack you.
And in the long run he will kill you
Eventually, one of these hunters will succeed in killing you, which will be devastating.
Just to feed the pets we raise,
The result of your death will not even benefit humans, only the animals we keep as pets.
Put the flowers in your vase
Even the plants we use as decoration will be indirectly impacted by your death.
And make the lipstick for your face.
Not only are we using parts of your body, but we're also using them to make cosmetic products that humans use to enhance their appearance.
Over the years you swam the ocean
During your life, you roamed freely throughout the vast ocean.
Following feelings of your own
You lived your life based on your own intuition and desires, rather than being influenced by others.
Now you are washed up on the shoreline
Sadly, your journey has come to an end, and your body has washed up on the beach.
I can see your body lie
The sight of your lifeless body is heartbreaking.
It's a shame you have to die
This tragedy could have been avoided if humans weren't so careless and selfish in their treatment of animals.
To put the shadow on our eye
The result of your death is an added burden for humanity to bear, causing us to feel guilty and mournful.
Maybe we'll go
Perhaps humanity will cease to exist one day.
Maybe we'll disappear
We might vanish from the planet in the future.
It's not that we don't know
We are aware of the harm we are causing.
It's just that we don't want to care.
Despite our awareness, we choose not to take responsibility for our actions.
Under the bridges
Referring to the places where humans reside.
Over the foam
Over the ocean waves, which were a once beautiful, natural wonder, but now overshadowed by pollution and destruction.
Wind on the water
A natural phenomenon still somewhat unaffected by human action.
Carry me home.
In this state of despair and frustration, the artist wishes to escape to a place where he can find peace, away from the harm being inflicted on the environment.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
colszewski75
RIP David Crosby
One of the most beautiful voices I ever had the pleasure to hear. The 70's were prolific with rock/folk talent but these three were so magical. You're singing with the angels now and I will miss you. 😪♥️
Kat Blehm
RIP David Crosby. This is my all-time fave … ❤🙏🏼🐋
Bud Judkins
The Whales across the world are mourning through their tears. RIP Master David Crosby.
Darrell Hambley
That's a beautiful eulogy. thank you.
Kat Blehm
❤️🐋🙏🏼
Javier Bermúdez Méndez
This song is a tremendous masterpiece from beginning to end and I love it to death but the a capella part in the beginning is absolutely sublime. Pure magic in those incredible voices and harmonies. It's an unsurpassable vocal symphony, possibly the best and most beautiful I've ever heard.
Jewelry Finds
The most beautiful voices on the planet singing for the ones who can't speak. Love them all.
Ahmad Soob
Rip great man. For the past 55 years been listening to your music. This tune is outstanding.
tukasa k
My old friend asked me “ What’s the most beautiful harmony you’ve ever heard?” It’s definitely this song as far as I know.
Cissy Ploegmakers
👍