The "classic" lineup of Jefferson Airplane, from October 1966 to February 1970, was Marty Balin (vocals), Paul Kantner (guitar, vocals), Grace Slick (vocals), Jorma Kaukonen (lead guitar, vocals), Jack Casady (bass), and Spencer Dryden (drums). Marty Balin left the band in 1971. After 1972, Jefferson Airplane effectively split into two groups. Kaukonen and Casady moved on full time to their own band, Hot Tuna. Slick, Kantner, and the remaining members of Jefferson Airplane recruited new members and regrouped as Jefferson Starship in 1974, with Marty Balin eventually joining them. Jefferson Airplane was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and was presented with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.
Spencer Dryden died on January 11, 2005.
Both Signe Anderson and Paul Kantner died on January 28, 2016.
Marty Balin died on September 27, 2018
Panda
Jefferson Airplane Lyrics
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Now his land is taken by man, he's got nowhere left to go
When he used to roam through all of China's mountains
It was his home, the only place he knows
He was born on the mountain's Eastern side
Where the sun brings the morning to the sky
In the snow the human hunters hide
[Chorus:]
Oh Panda Bear, my gentle friend
I don't want to say goodbye
Oh Panda Bear, when will the killing end?
When will we see the light?
He can feel the night, the last sunset is in his eyes
They will carry him away, take his beauty for their prize
Ah, but hunger would have come when the bamboo forest died
Oh Panda Bear, you can't seem to win
No matter how hard you try
Oh Panda Bear, my gentle friend
I don't want to say goodbye
Now his body lies on the mountain's Western side
He was sold to a man whose money has no pride
Shining fur traded for gold, but the price is too high
His kind is almost gone, he wants to survive
He was born on the mountain's Eastern side
Where the sun brings the morning to the sky
If we will try to share that morning light
We will find that we all have the right to life
[Chorus}
Panda
in Jefferson Airplane's song is a strong message about the destruction that man has caused to the natural habitat of the panda bear. The lyrics speak about how the bamboo forest was the home of the panda bear, but now that man has taken over their land, they have nowhere left to go. It talks about how the panda's plight is a sad one and how they have struggled to survive as their habitat has been destroyed. Through the song, the writer wants to convey that the killing of these gentle creatures needs to stop, and there needs to be a change in how we treat our environment.
The lyrics also talk about the painful life of the panda bear. They are hunted, and when they die, their shiny fur is traded for money. The words "Now his body lies on the mountain's Western side, He was sold to a man whose money has no pride, Shining fur traded for gold, but the price is too high" gives us an insight into how the greed of man has endangered this beautiful species. The intention of the song is to raise awareness of the plight of the panda bear and to urge people to stop hunting these creatures and start preserving the natural habitats of all creatures.
Line by Line Meaning
He lives all alone, but the bamboo forest knows him
The panda bear is a solitary being, but the forest is his home and the land he inhabits.
Now his land is taken by man, he's got nowhere left to go
Human encroachment on the bamboo forest has destroyed the panda bear's home.
When he used to roam through all of China's mountains
The panda bear used to inhabit a diverse range of habitats, but now he is confined to a shrinking section of forest.
It was his home, the only place he knows
The bamboo forest is the only place the panda bear has ever known and calls home.
He was born on the mountain's Eastern side
The panda bear was born in the mountains of China.
Where the sun brings the morning to the sky
The Eastern side of the mountain range sees the sun first, signifying the start of the day.
In the snow the human hunters hide
Human hunters in the area blend in with the snow to avoid detection.
A shot is heard but no one hears him cry
The hunter's gun goes off, but the panda bear's cries go unheard because he is all alone in the forest.
Oh Panda Bear, my gentle friend
The singer of the song is a friend and champion of the panda bear.
I don't want to say goodbye
The singer of the song doesn't want to lose the panda bear.
When will the killing end?
The singer of the song is questioning when the killing and destruction of the panda bear's habitat will stop.
When will we see the light?
The singer hopes that one day humanity will see the light and understand the importance of protecting the panda bear.
He can feel the night, the last sunset is in his eyes
As the panda bear is taken away from his home, he experiences his last sunset in his beloved forest.
They will carry him away, take his beauty for their prize
Poachers and hunters target the panda bear for their prized fur.
Ah, but hunger would have come when the bamboo forest died
Even if the panda bear weren't hunted, they would be threatened by hunger since the destruction of their bamboo forest would leave them with no food source.
Oh Panda Bear, you can't seem to win, no matter how hard you try
The panda bear is helpless in the face of human encroachment and hunting. They cannot win no matter how hard they try to survive.
Now his body lies on the mountain's Western side
The panda bear's body lies on the Western side of his mountain home.
He was sold to a man whose money has no pride
The panda bear was sold by a poacher to someone with no conscience or sense of morality.
Shining fur traded for gold, but the price is too high
The panda bear's fur is traded for money, but the price is too high since it leads to the destruction of his species.
His kind is almost gone, he wants to survive
The panda bear population is dwindling, and they are fighting for their survival.
If we will try to share that morning light
If humans make an effort to coexist with the panda bear, they would all benefit.
We will find that we all have the right to life
Humans and animals both have a right to existence and a life free from harm.
Oh Panda Bear, my gentle friend
The singer of the song reiterates his friendship with the panda bear.
I don't want to say goodbye
The singer doesn't want to say goodbye to the panda bear, who he has grown to love over the course of the song.
When will the killing end?
The killing and destruction of the panda bear's habitat must end for everyone's sake.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GRACE SLICK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind