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.
Ohio
Crosby & Nash Lyrics
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We're finally on our own
This summer I hear the drumming
Four dead in Ohio
Gonna get down to it soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been down long ago
What if you knew her and found her dead on the ground
Gonna get down to it soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been down long ago
What if you knew her and found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know.
The song "Ohio" by Crosby & Nash is a powerful protest song that highlights the senseless killing of innocent protesters at Kent State University on May 4, 1970. The first verse "Tin soldiers and Nixon's coming, we're finally on our own" refers to the National Guard troops that were sent to Kent State by then-President Nixon to quell student protests against the Vietnam War. The use of the term "tin soldiers" implies that they are merely pawns in a larger political game. The line "we're finally on our own" implies that the protesters are taking control of their own lives and fighting against a government that they see as corrupt.
The chorus of the song repeats the line "Gonna get down to it, soldiers are cutting us down" which emphasizes the violent nature of the conflict. The line "Should have been done long ago" implies that the protesters had been fighting against the government for some time but the situation had escalated. The most poignant verse portrays the senseless killings of innocent protesters, "What if you knew her and found her dead on the ground, how can you run when you know?" This line invokes a sense of guilt and accountability for the events that took place at Kent State and highlights the fact that these students could have been anyone's friends or family members.
Overall, "Ohio" is a song that protests the Vietnam War and highlights the senseless killing of innocent protesters. The lyrics are poignant and powerful, invoking a sense of guilt and accountability for the events that took place at Kent State University.
Line by Line Meaning
Tin soldiers and Nixon's coming
The US National Guard, nicknamed 'tin soldiers,' is being sent to handle the upcoming unrest caused by President Nixon's policies.
We're finally on our own
The youth of America have realized they can't rely on those in power to protect their rights, and must band together themselves.
This summer I hear the drumming
The sound of impending conflict and protests is growing louder, with more people joining the cause.
Four dead in Ohio
Four unarmed college students were killed by the National Guard during a peaceful protest at Kent State University, which became a catalyst for youth uprisings across America.
Gonna get down to it soldiers are cutting us down
We need to take action and fight back against the oppressive forces, as they continue to harm and kill innocent protesters.
Should have been down long ago
This systemic oppression and violence has been going on for far too long, and should have been addressed and resolved by now.
What if you knew her and found her dead on the ground
Imagine if one of the victims was someone you knew and cared about, and seeing their lifeless body on the pavement. It's a tragedy that cannot be ignored.
How can you run when you know.
It's impossible to turn a blind eye to the injustice and violence happening across the country. We must stand up and fight for what is right, even if it means putting our own lives in danger.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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