Déjà Vu
Crosby Stills & Nash; Crosby Stills Nash & Young; Crosby & Nash; Crosby David (Voc. Gt)(1941-) Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I would probably know just what to do
Don't you?
If I had ever been here before on another time around the wheel
I would probably know just how to deal
With all of you
And I feel like I've been here before
And you know it does make me wonder
What's going on under the ground
Do you know?
Don't you wonder?
What's going on
Down under you
We have all been here before
We have all been here before
We have all been here before
We have all been here before
We have all been here before
We have all been here before
The lyrics of "Deja Vu" by Crosby, Stills & Nash talk about the sensation of feeling like you've been somewhere before and how that sensation can make you wonder what is happening underneath the surface. The lyrics speak of a cyclical nature of life, suggesting that we have all been here before and implying that we will all be here again. The words "if I had ever been here before on another time around the wheel, I would probably know just how to deal with all of you" indicate that life is not linear, but rather cyclical, and that we have lessons to learn each time we come around.
The repetition of "we have all been here before" creates a feeling of unity and connectedness, suggesting that we are not alone in our experiences. The lyrics also evoke a sense of mystery, asking the listener if they wonder what is happening beneath the surface, encouraging them to look deeper and question what is happening around them. The cyclical nature of life is further emphasized by the song's use of layered harmonies, creating a sense of circularity in the music.
Overall, the lyrics of "Deja Vu" offer a thought-provoking commentary on the cyclical nature of life and the interconnectedness of all things, urging the listener to look deeper and question what is happening beneath the surface.
Line by Line Meaning
If I had ever been here before
If I had experienced this situation before
I would probably know just what to do
I would be familiar with what action to take
Don't you?
Do you not think the same?
If I had ever been here before on another time around the wheel
If I had lived through this exact circumstance in a previous life
I would probably know just how to deal
I would have the knowledge of how to handle it
With all of you
With every person involved
And I feel like I've been here before
I have a sense of familiarity in this moment
And you know it does make me wonder
And it makes me curious
What's going on under the ground
What lies beneath the surface, hidden from view
Do you know?
Are you aware of this?
Don't you wonder?
Do you not question this as well?
What's going on
What is happening
Down under you
Below your feet
We have all been here before
Every one of us has experienced this
We have all been here before
We have all faced this same situation
We have all been here before
Each and every person has lived through this
We have all been here before
This is not a unique occurrence
We have all been here before
We have all come across this before
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CAITLIN CROSBY, JAY DYLAN NASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gelubatir9794
Personnel
David Crosby – vocals all tracks except "4+20"; rhythm guitar on "Almost Cut My Hair," "Woodstock," "Déjà Vu," and "Country Girl"
Stephen Stills – vocals all tracks except "Almost Cut My Hair"; guitars all tracks except "Our House"; bass on "Carry On," "Teach Your Children," and "Déjà Vu"; keyboards on "Déjà Vu" and "Everybody I Love You"; organ on "Carry On" and "Woodstock"; piano on "Helpless"; percussion on "Carry On"
Graham Nash – vocals all tracks except "Almost Cut My Hair" and "4+20"; piano on "Woodstock" and "Our House"; organ on "Almost Cut My Hair"; rhythm guitar on "Teach Your Children"; percussion on "Carry On" and "Country Girl"; tambourine on "Teach Your Children"
Neil Young – vocals on "Helpless" and "Country Girl"; guitars on "Almost Cut My Hair," "Helpless," "Woodstock," "Country Girl," and "Everybody I Love You"; keyboards, harmonica on "Country Girl"
Additional musicians
Greg Reeves – bass on "Almost Cut My Hair," "Helpless," "Woodstock," "Our House," "Country Girl," and "Everybody I Love You"
Dallas Taylor – drums all tracks except "Teach Your Children" and "4+20"; tambourine on "Teach Your Children"
Jerry Garcia – pedal steel guitar on "Teach Your Children"
John Sebastian – harmonica on "Déjà Vu"
@gelubatir9794
Personnel
David Crosby – vocals all tracks except "4+20"; rhythm guitar on "Almost Cut My Hair," "Woodstock," "Déjà Vu," and "Country Girl"
Stephen Stills – vocals all tracks except "Almost Cut My Hair"; guitars all tracks except "Our House"; bass on "Carry On," "Teach Your Children," and "Déjà Vu"; keyboards on "Déjà Vu" and "Everybody I Love You"; organ on "Carry On" and "Woodstock"; piano on "Helpless"; percussion on "Carry On"
Graham Nash – vocals all tracks except "Almost Cut My Hair" and "4+20"; piano on "Woodstock" and "Our House"; organ on "Almost Cut My Hair"; rhythm guitar on "Teach Your Children"; percussion on "Carry On" and "Country Girl"; tambourine on "Teach Your Children"
Neil Young – vocals on "Helpless" and "Country Girl"; guitars on "Almost Cut My Hair," "Helpless," "Woodstock," "Country Girl," and "Everybody I Love You"; keyboards, harmonica on "Country Girl"
Additional musicians
Greg Reeves – bass on "Almost Cut My Hair," "Helpless," "Woodstock," "Our House," "Country Girl," and "Everybody I Love You"
Dallas Taylor – drums all tracks except "Teach Your Children" and "4+20"; tambourine on "Teach Your Children"
Jerry Garcia – pedal steel guitar on "Teach Your Children"
John Sebastian – harmonica on "Déjà Vu"
@gelubatir9794
Personnel
David Crosby – vocals all tracks except "4+20"; rhythm guitar on "Almost Cut My Hair," "Woodstock," "Déjà Vu," and "Country Girl"
Stephen Stills – vocals all tracks except "Almost Cut My Hair"; guitars all tracks except "Our House"; bass on "Carry On," "Teach Your Children," and "Déjà Vu"; keyboards on "Déjà Vu" and "Everybody I Love You"; organ on "Carry On" and "Woodstock"; piano on "Helpless"; percussion on "Carry On"
Graham Nash – vocals all tracks except "Almost Cut My Hair" and "4+20"; piano on "Woodstock" and "Our House"; organ on "Almost Cut My Hair"; rhythm guitar on "Teach Your Children"; percussion on "Carry On" and "Country Girl"; tambourine on "Teach Your Children"
Neil Young – vocals on "Helpless" and "Country Girl"; guitars on "Almost Cut My Hair," "Helpless," "Woodstock," "Country Girl," and "Everybody I Love You"; keyboards, harmonica on "Country Girl"
Additional musicians
Greg Reeves – bass on "Almost Cut My Hair," "Helpless," "Woodstock," "Our House," "Country Girl," and "Everybody I Love You"
Dallas Taylor – drums all tracks except "Teach Your Children" and "4+20"; tambourine on "Teach Your Children"
Jerry Garcia – pedal steel guitar on "Teach Your Children"
John Sebastian – harmonica on "Déjà Vu"
@pocusfocus
I'm 71 and this isn't a Hippie masterpiece...It is a masterpiece for the ages for all.
@mr2000dukr
Amen fellow 71 y.o. when i listen to this i dont feel old. i miss the 70's.🌞
@hrhrae1959
@Honest Mark good morning! So far so good out in Vegas. Hope you are having a good one too. 😊
@Ileah
As we used to say, keep your sh-shirt on, brother. I can think of lots of worse things than to be or to have been a hippie. As a human and a music lover you should know without a slightly older female having to tell you that music connects directly to the soul, whatever you prefer to call it or even yourself, for loving to listen to it.
@AnotherDamnFandomShow
Im 37 and when I was a kid, I found this tape in my mom's house. I WORE IT OUT. Literally destroyed the cassette from listening so much.
@dr.aniasara7038
I'm 73, and this is still my favorite band next to the Beatles. Ageless.
@jackspry9736
RIP David Crosby (August 14, 1941 – January 18, 2023), aged 81
You will always be remembered as a legend.
@fatboy3076
loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
@jayfredrickson8632
The man is gone 😔 but the music lives on 🎵🎶
@francineroot-adler7205
Have been listening to his/their music all day! In the day, it changed my life. I hear this music and I am right there again! Thanks David for all the gifts you left us!