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.
Samurai
David Crosby Lyrics
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Spirit son of a samurai, tilting at windmills
A misfit in this century
He was looking for a living to be proud of
He was driven before a dozen winds at once
Like a salmon jumping upstream
Not to wonder, wonder, wonder
Well he was carrying his baggage
Chained to his feet, his weapon held across his eyes
He was looking for the light
He was looking for the light
Well he was the only one i met
On the road last night
The song "Samurai" by David Crosby tells the story of a man who feels like a "misfit" in modern society, as if he were a spirit from a different era. He is described as a "son of a samurai," suggesting that he comes from a culture that values honor, discipline, and bravery. Like Don Quixote, he is "tilting at windmills," pursuing an ideal that seems foolish or outdated to others. Despite this, he is determined to find a "living to be proud of" and is willing to face numerous challenges to achieve his goals.
The imagery of the salmon "jumping upstream" is used as a metaphor for the samurai's struggle against the current of society. The samurai is described as carrying his "baggage," or his past, and is weighed down by it. His "weapon held across his eyes" could refer to his own limited perspective, as he is so focused on his goal that he cannot see the world around him clearly. Despite these obstacles, the samurai is searching for the "light," or the truth and meaning that will guide him on his journey.
One interesting interpretation of this song is that it could be seen as a reflection on Crosby's own struggles with addiction and personal demons. Crosby has spoken openly about his struggles with drugs and alcohol, and the lyrics seem to suggest a person who is searching for a sense of purpose and direction in life. Crosby's own journey to sobriety could be seen as a quest for the "light" that the samurai is searching for.
Line by Line Meaning
Spirit son of a samurai, tilting at windmills
He saw himself as a warrior spirit, as powerful as a samurai, but was fighting battles that didn't truly exist.
A misfit in this century
He felt out of place in contemporary society.
He was looking for a living to be proud of
He was searching for meaning and purpose in his life.
He was driven before a dozen winds at once
He was being pulled in many different directions at once, without a clear sense of what he wanted.
Like a salmon jumping upstream
He was fighting an uphill battle, trying to swim against the tide of society's expectations and pressures.
Without the fishes sense
He didn't have the natural instincts to navigate these challenges without help and guidance.
Not to wonder, wonder, wonder
He was consumed by doubt and uncertainty, unable to let go of his persistent questions and doubts.
Well he was carrying his baggage
He was weighed down by his own past experiences and traumas.
Chained to his feet, his weapon held across his eyes
His own personal pain was preventing him from seeing the world clearly, and he couldn't move freely.
He was looking for the light
He was seeking clarity or understanding, looking for the way forward.
He was the only one i met
On the road last night
He was isolated and alone, without the support or understanding of anyone else.
Contributed by Julian J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.