By early 1968, Buffalo Springfield had also disintegrated over personal issues, and after aiding in putting together the band’s final album, Stephen Stills found himself unemployed by the summer. He and Crosby began meeting informally and jamming, the results of one encounter in Florida on Crosby’s schooner being the song “Wooden Ships,” composed in collaboration with another guest, Paul Kantner.[2]
Graham Nash had been introduced to Crosby when the Byrds had toured the UK in 1966, and when the Hollies ventured to California in 1968, Nash resumed his acquaintance with Crosby.[3] At a party in July 1968 at Cass Elliot's house, Nash asked Stills and Crosby to repeat their performance of a new song by Stills, “You Don't Have To Cry,” with Nash improvising a second harmony part.[4] The vocals gelled, and the three realized that they had a unique vocal chemistry.
Lay Me Down
Crosby Stills & Nash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And some of them were still
Sometimes it's hard to catch the wind
And bend it to your will
Even though it's hard to know
Just how the story ends
The road is long and it takes its time
Lay me down in the river
And wash this place away
Break me down like sand from a stone
Maybe I'll be whole again one day
Lay me down, lay me down
Maybe I'll be whole again
Lay me down, lay me down
Maybe I'll be whole again
Somewhere between Heaven and Hell
A soul knows where it's been
I want to feel my spirit lifted up
And catch my breath again
Lay me down in the river
And wash this place away
Break me down like sand from a stone
Maybe I'll be whole again one day
Lay me down, lay me down
Maybe I'll be whole again
Lay me down, lay me down
Maybe I'll be whole again
Lay me down, lay me down
Maybe I'll be whole again one day
The lyrics of Crosby Stills & Nash's song "Lay Me Down" represent feelings of hopelessness and a sense of being lost. The imagery of the windmills conveys the idea that even though there are things in life that may seem still and stagnant, it can still be challenging to get a grasp and control over them. The opening line creates a scene of a long and arduous journey through the windmills, portraying the difficulty of navigating through life's obstacles. The lyrics go on to talk about how it's hard to know how the story will end and that the journey is long and tiring.
The chorus, "Lay me down in the river and wash this place away, break me down like sand from a stone, maybe I'll be whole again one day", represents the desire to start anew and escape the struggles of life. The phrase "lay me down" refers to letting go of control, surrendering oneself to the natural flow of life, and allowing oneself to be cleansed or rejuvenated. The metaphor of being broken down like sand from a stone refers to the process of being rebuilt or "made whole again" after being broken or lost.
The bridge, "Somewhere between Heaven and Hell, a soul knows where it's been, I want to feel my spirit lifted up, and catch my breath again", represents the longing for personal understanding and enlightenment. The lyrics convey the idea of wanting to catch a breath, to feel the air entering one's lungs clearly once again, and the possibility of regeneration.
Line by Line Meaning
Driving out through the windmills
Heading out through the countryside, passing by windmills
And some of them were still
Some windmills were not moving at all
Sometimes it's hard to catch the wind
Sometimes it's difficult to capture or control the natural forces around us
And bend it to your will
And use it to achieve what you want
Even though it's hard to know
Even though it's difficult to predict
Just how the story ends
What will be the outcome of our lives
The road is long and it takes its time
Life is a long journey, it unfolds gradually
On that you can depend
That is something that you can always count on
Lay me down in the river
Put me in the water, let it cleanse me
And wash this place away
And remove all the negativity from this place
Break me down like sand from a stone
Crush me to the point where I no longer feel any burdens
Maybe I'll be whole again one day
Perhaps one day, I will be complete once more
Somewhere between Heaven and Hell
Somewhere between good and bad
A soul knows where it's been
Our soul is aware of our life's journey
I want to feel my spirit lifted up
I want to feel my soul refreshed and energized
And catch my breath again
And regain my inner peace
Maybe I'll be whole again one day
Perhaps, one day, all the pain and suffering will be gone
Lay me down, lay me down
Put me down gently
Maybe I'll be whole again
Perhaps one day, I will be complete again
Lay me down, lay me down
Put me down gently
Maybe I'll be whole again
Perhaps one day, I will be complete again
Lay me down, lay me down
Put me down gently
Maybe I'll be whole again one day
Perhaps one day, all the pain and suffering will be gone
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, O/B/O CAPASSO
Written by: James Raymond
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sentimentaljourneyproductions
Driving out through the windmills
And some of them were still
Sometimes it's hard to catch the wind
And bend it to your will
Even though it's hard to know
Just how the story ends
The road is long and it takes its time
On that you can depend
Lay me down in the river
And wash this place away
Break me down like sand from a stone
Maybe I'll be whole again one day
Lay me down, lay me down
Maybe I'll be whole again
Lay me down, lay me down
Maybe I'll be whole again
Somewhere between Heaven and Hell
A soul knows where it's been
I want to feel my spirit lifted up
And catch my breath again
Lay me down in the river
And wash this place away
Break me down like sand from a stone
Maybe I'll be whole again one day
Lay me down, lay me down
Maybe I'll be whole again
Lay me down, lay me down
Maybe I'll be whole again
Lay me down, lay me down
Maybe I'll be whole again one day
@pimpompoom93726
David Crosby passed away today at 81 years old. I'm listening to this in his honor. RIP David.
@manuelsaturnino9300
Thanks só much, David CROSBY...RIP
@thestrengthwithin4249
A true legend 🙌
@samael9676
:( R.I.P. David
@themadnessofcrum6971
When I said goodbye to my beloved dog, I went home and put this song on, Croz singing beautifully in my ears, and what just happened to me 10 minutes before, was unfolding in my ears, with Croz just being that old friend you needed to get you through, he still does. I was lucky to see them both on this tour in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, they played this song, and the tears flowed down my face, there he was, Croz, singing this song that reminded me of my beautiful soul, thanks Croz, you changed lives, you helped lives, you saved lives through your music, I'll love you forever for that....god speed Croz.
@uzpuz
loosing a pet is devastating . i lost a a staffie lab he was my best friend
@user-wj8vr3gl8x
I'm sorry about your dog stay strong God will handle things
@nancymarafioti5856
Can we go back for a while ,to when we heard CSN&Y for the first time? Can we every regain that unity?
Today, Crosby died. 1/19/23
I'm inhaling every ounce of his music, his life's work.
Godspeed, David. & Thank you.
@LizbethPlenty
Amen Nancy. Somehow we can, peace
@laura.sefchik
🕊RIP David Van Cortlandt Crosby (August 14, 1941 ♡January 18, 2023)