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.
Guinnevere
Crosby & Nash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like yours, mi'lady like yours
When she'd walk down
Through the garden
In the morning after it rained
Peacocks wandered aimlessly
underneath an orange tree
Why can't she see me?
Guinnevere
Drew pentagrams
Like yours, mi'lady like yours
Late at night
When she thought
that no one was watching at all
She shall be free
As she turns her gaze
Down the slope
to the harbor where I lay
Anchored for a day
Guinnevere
Had golden hair
Like yours, mi'lady like yours
Streaming out when we'd ride
Through the warm wind down by the bay
Yesterday
Seagulls circle endlessly
I sing in silent harmony
We shall be free
The song "Guinnevere" by Crosby & Nash is an ode to a woman named Guinnevere who possessed many enchanting qualities like green eyes and golden hair. The song tells the story of the singer's desire for her, but also her indifference towards him. The first verse describes her beauty and the peaceful environment that surrounds her as she walks through the garden after the rain. The second verse depicts Guinnevere's secretive nature as she draws pentagrams late at night, unaware of the singer's longing gaze. The singer envisions her freedom as she looks down at him from the harbor where he's anchored.
Line by Line Meaning
Guinnevere had green eyes
The subject of the song, Guinnevere, possessed emissive green eyes
Like yours, mi'lady like yours
Her eye color is similar to that of the singer's beloved
When she'd walk down
When the woman would walk through the garden
Through the garden
Guinnevere would roam through lush foliage
In the morning after it rained
Following a thunderstorm, the woman would wander
Peacocks wandered aimlessly
Peacocks moved purposelessly
underneath an orange tree
Beneath a citrus tree
Why can't she see me?
The singer ponders why Guinnevere is not attracted to him
Guinnevere Drew pentagrams
The woman sketched pentagrams
Like yours, mi'lady like yours
Her pentagrams bear similarity to the singer's lover's
Late at night
When it's dark out
When she thought that no one was watching at all
At a time where there were no prying eyes upon her
She shall be free
Guinnevere wants to live a life unconstrained by societal norms
As she turns her gaze
The woman looks away
Down the slope
Towards a decline
to the harbor where I lay
Towards the body of water the singer is stationed at
Anchored for a day
He has been waiting in that spot for a day
Guinnevere had golden hair
The woman has hair of a golden hue
Like yours, mi'lady like yours
Her hair is akin to that of the singer's lover
Streaming out when we'd ride
Her hair would flutter when they rode
Through the warm wind down by the bay
The pair would ride near the harbor, where there is warm air
Yesterday
A time in the past
Seagulls circle endlessly
Seagulls move in a cyclical motion without ceasing
I sing in silent harmony
The singer sings alongside the seagulls, quietly
We shall be free
The subject yearns for the freedom to be with his love
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DAVID CROSBY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DrJohn-rl9zg
I married a girl I met near the end of my senior year in highschool. Her homeroom was the band room where I played trumpet every morning.
Some six or seven years later we went to see CSN in concert. I remember someone in the band asked everyone to be quiet...and Crosby launched into "Guinnevere". The whole crowd was silent but for one ahole. It was magical. After the concert, as we got up to leave, the love of my life looked me in the eyes and said "My favorite thing about going to these concerts is watching you". It just might be the most beautiful thing any woman has ever said to any man. That was nearly four decades ago. Thanks so much David, Stephen, and Graham
@joeynarciso94
Such a beautiful story, pretty remarkable for such young people ...
@elizabethlinsay9193
Wow!
@DrJohn-rl9zg
@Elizabeth Linsay forty years later, I still remember..... WOW.
@dubmaster01
Beautiful reality for you two! Respect
@jaydemo5792
Almost too incredible to believe.......But almost don't count 😜
@tomsuter2471
RIP David. This wonderful song will live forever. This song has all the feels for me and the vibe is incredible.
@paulzendo6079
You name it ❣️ May David have eternal fun , among all the others , playing The Great Gig In The Sky 🙏🎼 🎶
@carolinewoodward1016
I second that emotion.
@debradykes9793
@Paul Zendo 0aa