Games
David Crosby Graham Nash Lyrics

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Born in the sunshine
Dyin' in the rain
Raised on laughter
Lost in a game
Love you
Love you

The game was bein' better

Wiser than you
Half and inch taller
A deeper shade of blue
Or thinkin' that I loved you
More than you loved me
Failing to lay it on the line
All the time

The game of gettin' money
The game of gettin' more
The ego game of power
The ugly game of war
Kills love
Don't you know that?

Born in the sunshine
Dyin' in bad air
Started out honest
Wound up down there

Love you
Love you.

Overall Meaning

The song "Games" by David Crosby and Graham Nash is a poignant commentary on the destructive nature of power, ego, and competition in relationships and the wider world. The lyrics convey a sense of loss and despair at the state of things, with the singer describing being "born in the sunshine" but ultimately "dyin' in the rain." This imagery serves as a metaphor for the way that life can start out bright and full of hope, but ultimately become dark and oppressive due to the negative influences of others.

The central theme of the song is the idea of playing games, both in love and in life. The singer talks about how he was raised on laughter and love, but ultimately became lost in a game of trying to be better, wiser, or more powerful than others. This game leads to a sense of isolation and disconnection, with the singer feeling as though he failed to lay his feelings on the line and connect with others in a meaningful way.

Throughout the song, there is a sense of urgency and desperation, as the singer implores the listener to see the destructive effects of playing these games. The ego game of power, the game of getting money or more, and the ugly game of war are all shown to kill love and distance people from one another. Ultimately, the singer seems to cling to the idea of love as a way to transcend these games and find meaning in a confusing and troubled world.

Line by Line Meaning

Born in the sunshine
Being born into a happy and bright world

Dyin' in the rain
Dying in a dark and gloomy world

Raised on laughter
Growing up with an enjoyable and happy environment

Lost in a game
Confused and stuck in a competition or a struggle

Love you
Expressing affection towards someone

The game was bein' better
Trying to outdo or be superior to someone

Wiser than you
Thinking that one is more intelligent or knowledgeable than someone else

Half an inch taller
Believing that being slightly taller than someone else gives an advantage

A deeper shade of blue
Thinking that one's life is worse than someone else's

Or thinkin' that I loved you
Believing that one loves someone else more than they feel loved

More than you loved me
Feeling unbalanced and having unequal love for each other