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.
Wooden Ships
Crosby & Nash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause that is something
Everybody everywhere does in the same language
I can see by your coat, my friend
You're from the other side
There's just one thing I got to know
Can you tell me please, who won?
Say, can I have some of your purple berries?
Yes, I've been eating them for six or seven weeks now
Haven't got sick once
Probably keep us both alive
Wooden ships on the water, very free and easy
Easy, you know the way it's supposed to be
Silver people on the shoreline, let us be
Talkin' 'bout very free and easy
Horror grips us as we watch you die
All we can do is echo your anguished cries
Stare as all human feelings die
We are leaving, you don't need us
Go, take your sister then, by the hand
Lead her away from this foreign land
Far away, where we might laugh again
We are leaving, you don't need us
And it's a fair wind blowin' warm
Out of the south over my shoulder
I guess I'll set a course and go
Crosby & Nash's song, Wooden Ships, is a cryptic and ambiguous tale of escaping and leaving behind the devastation of warfare. The lyrics recount an apocalyptic future in which war has obliterated civilization. Against this backdrop, characters find commonality through simple acts, such as friendly smiles or sharing of food. The reference to purple berries is one of such kindness, and it is significant because it suggests a willingness to share resources in a time when survival is uncertain, and alliances are crucial. The lyrics also allude to the division between two sides in a conflict, but the desire for peace and understanding supersedes the desire to know who won.
The song's chorus, "Wooden Ships on the water, very free and easy, easy, you know the way it's supposed to be," alludes to being at peace and free, away from the violence and turmoil of a society in chaos. When the song takes a grim twist towards the end, and we witness people dying and their feelings vanishing, the ship becomes symbolic of hope, redemption, and escape. It's time to leave behind the destruction and heartbreak - to take the people closest to us, and set out towards a better future. And even though leaving is heartbreaking, there is hope in the warm, southerly wind that whispers of better things to come.
Line by Line Meaning
If you smile at me, I will understand
I can empathize with you and understand your intentions just from your nonverbal expressions
'Cause that is something
Everybody everywhere does in the same language
A smile is a universal gesture that is understood regardless of one's nationality, race, or background
I can see by your coat, my friend
You're from the other side
There's just one thing I got to know
Can you tell me please, who won?
I can tell by your attire that you're from the opposing side, and I'm curious as to which side won the recent conflict
Say, can I have some of your purple berries?
Yes, I've been eating them for six or seven weeks now
Haven't got sick once
Probably keep us both alive
May I share your food? I've been eating these berries for weeks, and they have yet to harm me. Perhaps they could prolong our lives if we share.
Wooden ships on the water, very free and easy
Easy, you know the way it's supposed to be
Silver people on the shoreline, let us be
Talkin' 'bout very free and easy
The sight of wooden ships gliding across the water is a symbol of freedom and ease. The silver people on the shore should let the sailors be who they are and live freely without encumbrances.
Horror grips us as we watch you die
All we can do is echo your anguished cries
Stare as all human feelings die
We are leaving, you don't need us
We're horrified as we watch you perish without being able to do anything but hear your agony. Witnessing the decay of human emotion fills us with dread, and we're departing since we're no longer of use.
Go, take your sister then, by the hand
Lead her away from this foreign land
Far away, where we might laugh again
We are leaving, you don't need us
Take your sister's hand and escort her away from this unfamiliar terrain. Let us go where we can relish laughter once more, and you don't require our assistance.
And it's a fair wind blowin' warm
Out of the south over my shoulder
I guess I'll set a course and go
A warm breeze is blowing from the south, and I can feel it on my back. I believe I'll establish a direction and embark on a voyage.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Paul Kantner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@normaeason8734
I am a 71 year old black woman and listening in 2022. You are so correct. Great music is timeless and knows no color.
@gustavopardiplaz4301
Love You 👍🇻🇪❤️❤️❤️
@captainjackson7523
I'm 71 year old black man and listening in 2022 and yes great from my days of growing up in Detroit 1969....
@Chris-vp1vs
Yep
@antonioantonio4195
Rock on Norma
@ellensugarmag3759
Absolutely ♥️
@robinperronjones5024
I’m so glad I lived through this era, these musicians with their innovative and imaginative songs are so far ahead of the rubbish they churn out now it’s sad how far we have not progressed. Long live this era.
@sonyawulff4602
RIP Dave Crosby..No adequate words to express my gratitude.
You made the world a better place.🙏🏼❤️
@an5925
Amen.
The world truly lost a bright light. Yep, he was outspoken, opinionated, gave zero f**ks, but damn I loved him. That impish smile was everything.
His songs & voice defined an entire generation.
Fly Free Songbird 💔
@childcarelounge4590
Sad, came here to listen to my favorite of theirs