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.
What Are Their Names?
Crosby & Nash Lyrics
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I wonder who they are
The men who really run this land
And I wonder why they run it
With such a thoughtless hand
What are their names
And on what streets do they live
I'd like to ride right over
Them a piece of my mind
About peace for mankind
Peace is not an awful lot to ask
[Instrumental Ending (Electric Guitars)]
The lyrics to Crosby & Nash's "What Are Their Names?" express the singer's curiosity and frustration about the people who are in power and control everything in the country. The lyrics are questioning the identities of those people who are running the country with a thoughtless hand. The singer is curious about the names of these people and what they do in their daily lives. The singer expresses a desire to visit them and give them a piece of his mind about peace for mankind, because peace should not be an impossible demand.
In these lyrics, Crosby & Nash address the issue of power and control of a country. The lyrics express the idea that the people who run a country should have thought for the people who are being governed. The lyrics are calling for peace and fairness for all humanity. It is a song about accountability and responsibility for those in positions of power. The song is powerful and calls for change and a new way of thinking about leadership.
Line by Line Meaning
I wonder who they are
I am curious about the identities of those individuals who hold power over this country.
The men who really run this land
I am referring to the individuals who have significant influence and control over this country.
And I wonder why they run it
I am pondering the motives behind their actions in running this land.
With such a thoughtless hand
I believe their actions lack consideration for the impact they have on others.
What are their names
I wish to know the identities of those who hold power in this country.
And on what streets do they live
I would like to be aware of their personal homes and neighborhoods.
I'd like to ride right over
I would like to go and confront them directly.
This afternoon and give
In this moment, I have the urge to express my thoughts and opinions to them.
Them a piece of my mind
I want to express my thoughts directly and forcefully to them.
About peace for mankind
I want to discuss the importance of pursuing peace for all human beings.
Peace is not an awful lot to ask
I believe that peace is a reasonable and necessary request for our society.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID CROSBY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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here is their interview https://youtu.be/8bA6d4d3_0k