Dark Star
Crosby Stills & Nash (live) Lyrics
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Seem a little shopworn
I'm sure you've heard it all before.
I wonder what's the right form
Love songs written for you,
It's been going down for years
But to sing what's in my heart
Seems more honest than the tears.
I am curious, don't want to hurry us.
I'm intrigued with us.
Ain't this song a bust.
I don't care, dark star.
I met you several years ago,
The times they were so strange,
But I had a feeling.
You looked into my eyes just once,
An instant flashing by that we were stealing.
Another time you felt so bad,
And I wasn't any help at all as I recall.
We didn't quite know what to do
So we left the wanting be
Still there for me and you.
Dark star, I see you in the morning,
Dark star, a' sleeping next to me.
Dark star, let the memory of the evening
Be the first thing that you think of
When you open up your smile and see me, dark star.
It's easy to be with you
Even with the storms that rage
Beneath your search for peace.
We must make some time together
Take the kids and find a world
That's ours to keep.
Now you've got me dreaming girl.
It's been so long that I thought that I'd forgotten how.
My heart is once again my soul.
We touched, we did, you know we did,
No more teasing now.
Dark star, I see you in the morning,
Dark star, a' sleeping next to me.
Dark star, let the memory of the evening
Be the first thing that you think of
When you open up your smile and see me, dark star.
The lyrics of Crosby Stills & Nash (live)'s song Dark Star employ a poetic language to describe the heartbreak, loss, and hope that comes with a long-term relationship. David Crosby, the singer of the song, asks for forgiveness for his "shopworn" fantasies - the cliched love songs he's been writing for years, and gets confessional with his lyrics. "Love songs written for you, it's been going down for years / But to sing what's in my heart seems more honest than the tears" - Crosby is saying that he's been writing love songs for this person for years, but it's only now that he's singing about what's truly in his heart.
The song talks about the complexities of a relationship, how even when times were strange, they had a feeling for each other. They had a fleeting moment, but still stayed together, leaving the "wanting be still there for me and you." Crosby seems to be confessing his love for this person, telling her that he's intrigued with them and curious about what the future holds. The chorus, which repeats three times throughout the song, extols the beauty of this person that Crosby is singing to, inverting an astronomical concept of the star to personify the love he's been harboring.
Line by Line Meaning
Forgive me if my fantasies might
Apologizing for the clichéd nature of his dreams
Seem a little shopworn
Saying his ideas are unoriginal and overused
I'm sure you've heard it all before.
Acknowledging that the listener may be familiar with these ideas
I wonder what's the right form
Contemplating the best way to express his emotions
Love songs written for you,
Referring to past instances of dedicating music to the listener
It's been going down for years
Implying that this is a long-standing tradition
But to sing what's in my heart
Choosing to be sincere over repeating established patterns
Seems more honest than the tears.
Preferring upfront expression rather than crying in silence
I am curious, don't want to hurry us.
Expressing a desire for exploration without rushing anything
I'm intrigued with us.
Fascinated by the dynamics of their relationship
Ain't this song a bust.
Self-doubting if this song is any good
I don't care, dark star.
Choosing to remain indifferent towards criticism, possibly referring to a significant other
I met you several years ago,
Recalling past experiences with the listener
The times they were so strange,
Remarking on the peculiarity of that era
But I had a feeling.
Acknowledging intuition about their relationship
You looked into my eyes just once,
Remembering the moment she made eye contact
An instant flashing by that we were stealing.
Savoring that memory as something treasured and hidden away
Another time you felt so bad,
Recalling a situation where the listener experienced emotional pain
And I wasn't any help at all as I recall.
Admitting inability to assist them during that moment
We didn't quite know what to do
Feeling unsure how to handle the situation
So we left the wanting be
Choosing to let the need for comfort remain unfulfilled
Still there for me and you.
Acknowledging that need remains present in their relationship
Dark star, I see you in the morning,
Addressing the listener directly
Dark star, a' sleeping next to me.
Emphasizing familiarity and intimacy
Dark star, let the memory of the evening
Seeking to keep a specific occasion in their thoughts
Be the first thing that you think of
Hoping that it will remain prominent in their mind
When you open up your smile and see me, dark star.
Inviting the listener to look back on that memory with fondness
It's easy to be with you
Complimenting the listener's company
Even with the storms that rage
Describing difficulties that have been overcome in their relationship
Beneath your search for peace.
Suggesting that the listener is seeking inner harmony
We must make some time together
Highlighting the importance of shared time
Take the kids and find a world
Planning outings with children
That's ours to keep.
Desiring to establish and maintain a special world that they share
Now you've got me dreaming girl.
Declaring that the listener has ignited aspirations
It's been so long that I thought that I'd forgotten how.
Remarking on a long absence from such daydreaming
My heart is once again my soul.
Reconnecting with his emotions and passions
We touched, we did, you know we did,
Recalling moments of intimacy with the listener
No more teasing now.
Hinting that their relationship has ascended to a deeper level of affection
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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