Lay Me Down
Crosby Nash Lyrics


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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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song "Lay Me Down" by Crosby Nash touch upon the themes of resilience, hope, and surrender. The first stanza sets the scene of a journey through windmills, symbolizing the ups and downs of life. The lines "Sometimes it's hard to catch the wind, And bend it to your will" suggest that even when we try our best, we may not always be able to control the circumstances of life. However, the following lines "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" emphasize that despite the uncertainty, the journey of life will continue, and there is hope that things will get better.


In the chorus, the singer asks to be laid down in the river, which can be interpreted as an act of surrender to a higher power or a letting go of the past. The lines "Break me down like sand from a stone, Maybe I'll be whole again one day" suggest a desire to be relieved of the burden of pain and hurt, and a hope for a brighter future. The phrase "Maybe I'll be whole again" is particularly poignant as it acknowledges that the singer may not feel complete at the moment but is still holding on to the possibility of healing.


The second stanza touches upon the idea of spirituality and the longing to be uplifted. The lines "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" indicate a search for meaning and a desire for a spiritual awakening. The song's emotional intensity builds up with the repetition of the chorus, suggesting that the act of surrender and hope for healing is an ongoing process.


Overall, "Lay Me Down" is a moving tribute to the human spirit's resilience and the healing power of surrender and hope.


Line by Line Meaning

Driving out through the windmills
We're on a journey, driving past windmills.


And some of them were still
Some of the windmills were not spinning.


Sometimes it's hard to catch the wind
It's difficult to control or manipulate things that are unpredictable or intangible, like the wind.


And bend it to your will
To exert your influence and power over the uncertain or uncontrollable.


Even though it's hard to know
It's difficult to predict the future.


Just how the story ends
We don't know what will happen in the end.


The road is long and it takes its time
The journey we're on is lengthy and slow-moving.


On that you can depend
That much is certain and reliable.


Lay me down in the river
Put me in the flowing water.


And wash this place away
Cleanse the area of whatever negativity is present.


Break me down like sand from a stone
Chip away my tough exterior and barriers, revealing my inner self.


Maybe I'll be whole again one day
Perhaps I will be complete or at peace in the future.


Somewhere between Heaven and Hell
At a point where the good and the bad intersect.


A soul knows where it's been
Our inner selves understand our past experiences and journeys.


I want to feel my spirit lifted up
I desire to be emotionally uplifted and free from burdens.


And catch my breath again
To recover and regain strength.


Maybe I'll be whole again
Perhaps I will attain a state of completeness or peace.


Maybe I'll be whole again one day
Perhaps there is hope that I will eventually heal and be at peace.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES RAYMOND

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Maria Diaz

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



All comments from YouTube:

MJ Ma

Incredible. This song got me through a tough time today. Thank you for this gift, Crosby and Nash!

Maria Diaz

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

Benoit Vanhees

Thank you kindly for the lyrics of this wonderful ballad !

flannederella

How can even one person "dislike" this song? It is one of the most beautiful pop/rock/whatever songs you´ll ever hear.

Arnie

This song has an almost ethereal sound, so beautiful. It soothes the soul completely.

Sean Ware

This song punched me in my ❤️. Thanks Mom and Dad for sharing the great music of your era with us. I love it!

matthew smith

Song hits my soul. So beautiful. So peaceful.

Nancy Scott

Thank you for posting this most beautiful song. I listened to it in constant repeat when my mom passed suddenly in 2020 it helped me through a really difficult time. Now I listen to it purely because of its beauty. 🙏😊

Patti M

Yes, as so many of their songs do and have for so long. Their singing is like honey. Love them!

Raymond Macon

The kind of sweet mellow combination of lyrics, melody and harmony that massages my soul.

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