Déjà Vu
Crosby Stills and Nash Lyrics
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Hey, 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
Feel like I've been here before
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
The lyrics to Crosby Stills and Nash's song Deja Vu express a feeling of familiarity and a sense of having been in the same situation or place before. The singer wonders what is happening beneath the surface, both literally and metaphorically. The repetition of the phrase "we have all been here before" suggests that this is not an individual experience, but a universal one.
The lyrics suggest a cyclical nature of life, where we repeat the same patterns and experiences over and over again. The use of the phrase "time around the wheel" reinforces this idea, as it implies an ongoing cycle. The singer seems to be aware of this repetition, but unsure of how to deal with it. The repeated question "don't you wonder?" indicates that the singer is not alone in this feeling, and invites the listener to contemplate their own experiences.
The reference to what is going on "under the ground" could refer to the unseen forces that shape our lives, or to a more literal interpretation of what is happening beneath the surface of the earth. This ambiguity leaves room for interpretation, and underscores the mysterious nature of the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
If I had ever been here before I would pro'bly know just what to do
Hey, don't you?
If I had experienced this situation before, I would know what actions to take. Do you understand?
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
If I had lived through this cycle of events before, I would know how to handle everyone involved.
And I feel like I've been here before
Feel like I've been here before
And you know it does make me wonder
What's going on under the ground
I have a sense of déjà vu, like I've experienced this exact same situation before. It makes me curious about what is happening beneath the surface.
Do you know?
Don't you wonder?
What's going on
Down under you
Do you have any knowledge or curiosity about what is happening beneath the surface?
We have all been here before
We have all been here before
We have all been here before
We have all been here before
Each and every one of us has experienced this situation before.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
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!