Crosby joined the Byrds in 1964. They had their first number-one hit in April 1965 with a cover of "Mr. Tambourine Man" by Bob Dylan. Crosby appeared on the Byrds' first five albums and produced the original lineup's 1973 reunion album. He subsequently formed Crosby, Stills & Nash in 1968 with Stephen Stills and Graham Nash.
After the release of their debut album, CSN won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist of 1969. Neil Young joined the group for live appearances, their second concert being Woodstock, before recording their second album Déjà Vu. Meant to be a group that could collaborate freely, Crosby and Nash recorded three gold albums in the 1970s, while the core trio of CSN remained active from 1976 until 2016. CSNY reunions took place in each decade from the 1970s through the 2000s.
Songs Crosby wrote or co-wrote include "Lady Friend", "Everybody's Been Burned", "Why", and "Eight Miles High" with the Byrds and "Guinnevere", "Wooden Ships", "Shadow Captain", and "In My Dreams" with Crosby, Stills & Nash. He wrote "Almost Cut My Hair" and the title track "Déjà Vu" for Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's 1970 album of the same name. He is known for having employed alternative guitar tunings and jazz influences. He released six solo albums, five of which charted. Additionally, he formed a jazz-influenced trio with his son James Raymond and guitarist Jeff Pevar in CPR. Crosby's work with the Byrds and CSNY has sold over 35 million albums.
Crosby was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice: once for his work in the Byrds and again for his work with CSN. Five albums to which he contributed are included in Rolling Stone's The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, three with the Byrds and two with CSN(Y). He was outspoken politically and was sometimes depicted as emblematic of the counterculture of the 1960s.
Foolish Man
David Crosby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feel as if I might have grown up wild
And I feel like a fool
Feel as if I didn't do well at school
And I keep expecting things that don't happen
Should but they don't
Could but they won't
And I don't see
Just don't understand
I must be such a foolish man
And I would laugh. If I could laugh
But it's so damn close to the bone
Would make you feel alone
And time just flies
Yes it does
Seems like fortunes moment
Passes
Blind to delight
And free from the weight of masses
But I keep expecting, things that don't happen
Should but they don't
Could but they won't
And I don't see
No I don't see
I just don't understand
I must be such a Foolish Man
The lyrics of "Foolish Man" by David Crosby and Graham Nash speak to feelings of inadequacy and confusion. The singer feels like a child despite possibly having grown up wild. He feels like a fool and didn't do well at school. He keeps expecting things to happen, but they don't, and he can't seem to understand why. He wishes he could laugh, but the situation is too close to the bone and makes him feel alone. Time passes quickly and fortunes come and go. The singer feels blind to delight and weighed down by the masses. Throughout it all, he keeps expecting things to happen, but they don't, and he can't seem to understand why.
The song seems to highlight the feeling of being lost or stuck, unsure of one's place in the world. The singer shows a sense of defeat and disenchantment as the world continues moving on, leaving him behind. The lyrics convey a sense of turmoil and confusion, which may be relatable to many who feel lost in their own lives. The song's somber tone and the use of acoustic guitar and harmonies add to the melancholic feel of the track.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel like a child
I feel young and inexperienced
Feel as if I might have grown up wild
I feel like I didn't have proper guidance and have acted recklessly
And I feel like a fool
I feel embarrassed by my actions or lack of achievements
Feel as if I didn't do well at school
I feel like I didn't learn enough or perform well in my education
And I keep expecting things that don't happen
I have unrealistic expectations that aren't met
Should but they don't
I believe things should happen a certain way, but they don't
Could but they won't
I believe things are possible, but they just don't happen
And I don't see
I don't understand what's going on
No I don't see
I am blind to what's happening around me
Just don't understand
I can't comprehend what's happening or why
I must be such a foolish man
I feel like my lack of understanding and unrealistic expectations make me foolish
And I would laugh. If I could laugh
I would find humor in my situation if I had the ability to experience joy
But it's so damn close to the bone
It hits me hard emotionally
Would make you feel alone
It's a lonely feeling
And time just flies
Time goes by quickly
Yes it does
It really does
Seems like fortunes moment
It seems like a moment of good luck or success
Passes
But it disappears quickly
Blind to delight
I am unaware of the good things happening around me
And free from the weight of masses
I am not affected by the opinions or actions of others
But I keep expecting, things that don't happen
I continue to have unrealistic expectations
Should but they don't
I still believe things should happen a certain way, but they don't
Could but they won't
I still believe things are possible, but they just don't happen
And I don't see
I am still blind to what's happening around me
No I don't see
I still don't understand what's going on
I just don't understand
I still can't comprehend what's happening or why
I must be such a Foolish Man
I continue to feel like my lack of understanding and unrealistic expectations make me foolish
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CROSBY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Guillermo Montagne
Temazo. Éste album lo tuve en vinilo. Pero después desapareció del mercado por mucho tiempo por problemas legales con los editores. En cd solo se conseguía japonés... Ahora parece que el problema se solucionó y se vuelve a conseguir. Excelente álbum.
CJ Guitarist
This song is how I feel sometimes. Good songs are always relatable.
Michael Lyzenga
should but they don't, could but they won't... Great album.
kees hommes
Nice album
GIOVANNI FEDERICO
and free from the weight of masses
Antonio Dias
Not as good as "Wind on the water" but still a nice soft-rock album
BuonoB
thanks David