Helpless
Crosby Stills Nash; Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dream comfort memory to spare
And in my mind I still need a place to go
All my changes were there
Blue, blue windows behind the stars
Yellow moon on the rise
Big birds flying across the sky
Leave us
Helpless, helpless, helpless, helpless
Babe, can you hear me now?
The chains are locked and tied across the door
Baby, sing with me somehow
Blue, blue windows behind the stars
Yellow moon on the rise
Big birds flying across the sky
Throwing shadows on our eyes
Leave us
Helpless, helpless, helpless, helpless
"Helpless" is a song by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young that is largely thought to be Neil Young's reflection on his home country, Canada. The lyrics speak of a town in North Ontario that served as a source of comfort and memories for the singer, and one that he still yearns to visit. The reference to "all my changes were there" suggests that the town played a crucial role in his formative years.
The song is filled with vivid imagery that captures the beauty of nature, from "blue, blue windows behind the stars" to "big birds flying across the sky throwing shadows on our eyes". These images reflect the singer's sense of awe at the world around him, even as he feels overwhelmed and "helpless" in the face of his own emotions.
Despite the melancholy tone of the song, there is a sense of hopefulness in the chorus, as the singer asks his lover to join him in song and "help" ease his emotional pain. The final repetition of "helpless" suggests that the singer may never fully be free of his emotional struggles, but that he has found some comfort in the beauty of the world around him and in the presence of those he loves.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a town in North Ontario
Talking about a specific town in North Ontario.
Dream comfort memory to spare
Memories bring comfort and solace.
And in my mind I still need a place to go
Still searching for a place to satisfy one's mind.
All my changes were there
All important life changes happened in that town.
Blue, blue windows behind the stars
Mentioning the universe and the way it looks from the town.
Yellow moon on the rise
Describing the scenic beauty of the moonrise.
Big birds flying across the sky
Birds flying in the town's sky.
Throwing shadows on our eyes
Sunlight casting shadows on people's eyes.
Leave us
Showing a sense of being alone and left behind.
Helpless, helpless, helpless, helpless
Emphasizing a feeling of being powerless.
Babe, can you hear me now?
Asking for emotional support from a loved one.
The chains are locked and tied across the door
Possibility of being trapped in a situation with no way out.
Baby, sing with me somehow
Asking the loved one to sing together for emotional release.
Leave us
Feeling of being isolated and forgotten.
Helpless, helpless, helpless, helpless
Reiterating the feeling of being helpless.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID TAYLOR, ROB DOWNES, ALEX MUNGO, JASPER JOHN NIELSON STAINTHORPE, STEPHEN WREN, MARK ROBERT TIPLADY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind