Helpless
Stills & Nash Crosby Lyrics
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Dream comfort memory to spare
And in my mind I still need a place to go
All my changes were there
Blue, blue windows behind the stars
Yellow moon on the rise
Big birds flying across the sky
Leave us
Helpless, helpless, helpless, helpless
Babe, can you hear me now?
The chains are locked and tied across the door
Baby, sing with me somehow
Blue, blue windows behind the stars
Yellow moon on the rise
Big birds flying across the sky
Throwing shadows on our eyes
Leave us
Helpless, helpless, helpless, helpless
"Helpless" is a poignant song by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young about the feeling of being lost and needing a place to belong. The lyrics describe a small town in North Ontario that holds memories of comfort and dreams, which the singer still needs to revisit. The phrase "All my changes were there" implies that this town was significant in shaping the singer's life and identity. The imagery of "blue, blue windows behind the stars" and "yellow moon on the rise" conjures up a sense of beauty and wonder, while the "big birds flying across the sky" and "throwing shadows on our eyes" give a feeling of awe and insignificance in the face of nature's power.
The chorus of "helpless, helpless, helpless" repeats throughout the song, representing the singer's feelings of being trapped and unable to break free. The line "the chains are locked and tied across the door" paints a vivid picture of the confinement and restriction he feels. Yet, the singer reaches out to a loved one for comfort and support, asking "babe, can you hear me now?" and urging them to "sing with me somehow". This expression of vulnerability and need for connection is a common theme in many Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young songs, and adds a relatable quality to their music.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a town in North Ontario
There's a small town in Northern Ontario that has value to the singer
Dream comfort memory to spare
The town provides a source of solace and memories for the singer
And in my mind I still need a place to go
The singer still longs for a place that he associates with comfort
All my changes were there
The singer underwent significant life changes while living in that town
Blue, blue windows behind the stars
A poetic description of the sky
Yellow moon on the rise
The moon is currently rising and is a bright yellow color
Big birds flying across the sky
There are large birds flying in the sky
Throwing shadows on our eyes
The birds' shadows are noticeable against the bright moon and stars
Leave us
Unsure what this line is referring to, it may be interpreted differently by the listener
Helpless, helpless, helpless, helpless
The repetition of this word emphasizes the singer's feeling of being powerless
Babe, can you hear me now?
The singer is seeking emotional support from a loved one
The chains are locked and tied across the door
The singer feels trapped and unable to leave a situation
Baby, sing with me somehow
The singer is asking the other person to join him in feeling helpless but to find comfort in sharing the experience
Lyrics © Broken Arrow Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Neil Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind