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.
Games
Crosby & Nash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dyin' in the rain
Raised on laughter
Lost in a game
The game was bein' better
Wiser than you
Half an inch taller
A deeper shade of blue
Or thinkin' that I loved you
More than you loved me
Failing to lay it on the line
All the time
The games of gettin' money
The game of gettin' more
The ego game of power
The ugly game of war kills love
Don't you know that?
Born in the [Incomprehensible]
Dyin' in bad air
Started out honest
Wound up down there
Love you, love you
The lyrics of Crosby & Nash's 'Games' speak about the different games that people play in their lives which ultimately lead them to their demise. The opening lines of the song, "Born in the sunshine, dyin' in the rain, raised on laughter, lost in a game," sets the tone for the rest of the song, implying that people start their lives with joy and hope but eventually get caught up in various games or pursuits that result in their downfall.
The next few lines, "Love you, love you, the game was bein' better, wiser than you, half an inch taller, a deeper shade of blue, or thinkin' that I loved you, more than you loved me, failing to lay it on the line, all the time" talks about the game of love and how people try to one-up each other in relationships, leading to a lack of honesty and communication.
The rest of the song delves into other games like the game of getting money, getting more, the ego game of power, and the ugly game of war that ultimately kills love. The final lines of the song, "Started out honest, wound up down there, love you, love you" shows that despite all of the games people play, love remains the one true constant throughout life.
Overall, 'Games' is a poignant commentary on the various things that people chase after in life that ultimately lead them down the wrong path. It serves as a reminder to focus on what truly matters in life and to not get caught up in the meaningless games that society often imposes on us.
Line by Line Meaning
Born in the sunshine
Starting life with hope and positivity
Dyin' in the rain
Dying with sadness and regret
Raised on laughter
Growing up with joy and happiness
Lost in a game
Confused and trapped in a difficult situation
Love you, love you
Expressing affection and care
The game was bein' better
Trying to outdo others and be superior in the game of life
Wiser than you
Believing oneself to be smarter than others
Half an inch taller
Thinking that one is better than others only by a small margin
A deeper shade of blue
Feeling a greater sense of sadness
Or thinkin' that I loved you
Questioning one's own feelings for another person
More than you loved me
Feeling that one's love is not being reciprocated equally
Failing to lay it on the line
Avoiding being honest and direct
All the time
Consistently and frequently
The games of gettin' money
The competition to earn more money
The game of gettin' more
The desire to have more than others
The ego game of power
The need to have authority over others to boost one's ego
The ugly game of war kills love
War destroys love and relationships
Don't you know that?
Asking someone if they are aware of this fact
Born in the [Incomprehensible]
Unclear or unidentifiable beginning
Dyin' in bad air
Dying in a polluted or toxic atmosphere
Started out honest
Began with honesty and integrity
Wound up down there
Ended up in a difficult or unfavorable situation
Love you, love you
Expressing affection and care
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CROSBY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind