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.
Immigration Man
David Crosby Lyrics
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Shining and feeling clean
Could it be a sin?
I got stopped by the immigration man
He says he doesn't know if he can.
Let me in,
Let me in, immigration man,
I can stay another day
Let me in, immigration man
I won't toe your line today
I can't see it anyway. Hey hey
There he was with his immigration face
Giving me a paper chase
But the son was coming
Cause all at once he looked into my space
And stamped a number over my face
And it sent me running
Won't you let me in, immigration man
Can I cross the line and pray
I can stay another day
Won't you let me in, immigration man
I won't toe your line today
I can't see it anyway.
Here I am with my immigration form
It's big enough to keep me warm
When a cold wind's coming
So go where you will
As long as you think you can
You'd better watch out, watch out for the man
Anywhere you're going.
Come on and let me in, immigration man,
Can I cross the line and pray
Take your fingers from the tray.
Let me in, irritation man,
I won't toe your line today
I can't see it anyway.
David Crosby's song "Immigration Man" tells the story of a man trying to cross the US border, who is stopped and questioned by an immigration officer. The singer is frustrated by the bureaucratic process of crossing the border, and he pleads with the officer to let him in. He feels helpless, as he has no control over what happens next. However, in the end, the officer lets him through, and he is able to cross the border.
The song speaks to the larger issue of immigration, touching on the difficulties that people face when trying to cross borders legally. The song was written during a time of great political upheaval, as the US government was grappling with issues of race and civil rights. In this context, the song can also be seen as a commentary on the way government policies can impact the lives of ordinary people.
Overall, "Immigration Man" is a poignant commentary on the experience of immigrants and the difficulties they face when trying to cross borders. The song embodies a deep understanding of the issues and speaks to the heart of the matter with great sensitivity and insight.
Line by Line Meaning
There I was at the immigration scene
I found myself at a border control checkpoint
Shining and feeling clean
I was confident and felt like I had nothing to hide
Could it be a sin?
Is there something wrong with me wanting to cross this border?
I got stopped by the immigration man
An officer of the border patrol detained me
He says he doesn't know if he can.
The officer is uncertain if he should allow me entry or not
Let me in,
I plead to be allowed across the border
Let me in, immigration man,
I am addressing the immigration officer who is denying me entry
Can I cross the line and pray
May I be permitted to enter and hope for a chance to stay
I can stay another day
I would like to spend more time in this country
I won't toe your line today
I won't conform to your expectations and restrictions
I can't see it anyway. Hey hey
I don't understand the rules, laws, or policies that are being enforced
There he was with his immigration face
The officer had an official and intimidating demeanor
Giving me a paper chase
The officer was giving me an interrogation in which I had to provide identity or legal paperwork
But the son was coming
The sunrise was approaching, meaning a new day and another opportunity to be let in
Cause all at once he looked into my space
Suddenly, the officer was able to see my internal emotional state
And stamped a number over my face
The officer marked me with a unique identification number
And it sent me running
This experience caused me to rush towards the exit to leave this checkpoint
Won't you let me in, immigration man
I repeat my request to be granted access across the border
Here I am with my immigration form
I completed the necessary paperwork required to cross the border
It's big enough to keep me warm
The paperwork is voluminous, but it will keep me occupied as I wait in the cold
When a cold wind's coming
The elements outside are uncomfortable
So go where you will
Go wherever you want
As long as you think you can
As long as you believe you have the ability to go there
You'd better watch out, watch out for the man
Be aware of any authority figures who might impede your progress
Anywhere you're going.
This advice applies wherever you are traveling to
Come on and let me in, immigration man,
I'm making another plea to be granted entry
Take your fingers from the tray.
The officer's hands are on the documents I provided, and I implore him to remove them
Let me in, irritation man,
I mockingly address the officer as someone who is causing me frustration
I won't toe your line today
I will not follow your established rules today
I can't see it anyway.
I don't understand or agree with how you are conducting this procedure
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GRAHAM NASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind