Their music bridged the gaps between the socially and spiritually conscious folk music of Bob Dylan, the studio trickery of The Beach Boys, and the sardonic rock of The Beatles. Some of their trademark songs include pop versions of Bob Dylan's Mr. Tambourine Man and Pete Seeger’s Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season), and the originals I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better, and Eight Miles High. Throughout their career they helped forge such subgenres as folk rock, raga rock, psychedelic rock, jangle pop, and – on their 1968 classic Sweetheart of the Rodeo – country rock inviting Gram Parsons on rhythm guitar.
The original and most successful lineup consisted of Chris Hillman, David Crosby, Michael Clarke, Roger McGuinn and Gene Clark. After several line-up changes (with lead singer/guitarist McGuinn as the only consistent member), they broke up in 1973.
In 1991 they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and several band members launched successful solo careers after leaving the group. The most successful was David Crosby who was inducted again for his work with Crosby, Stills & Nash. Other than The Beatles, the only artist with all members inducted twice are, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
5D
The Byrds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And be still floatin'
And never hit bottom and keep falling through
Just relaxed and paying attention?
All my two-dimensional boundaries were gone
I had lost to them badly
I saw that world crumble and thought I was dead
And as I continued to drop through the hole
I found all surrounding
To show me that joy innocently is
Just be quiet and feel it around you
And I opened my heart to the whole universe
And I found it was loving
And I saw the great blunder my teachers had made
Scientific delirium madness
Oh, I will keep falling as long as I live
Ah, without ending
And I will remember the place that is now
That has ended before the beginning
Oh, how is it that I could come out to you
And be still floatin'
And never hit bottom and keep falling through
Just relaxed and paying attention?
In The Byrds' song "5D," the lyrics explore the concept of enlightenment and breaking free from the limitations of the physical world. The song starts with the singer expressing wonder at how they are still "floatin'" and never hitting bottom despite falling through a seemingly never-ending hole. They attribute this to their ability to relax and pay attention, allowing them to transcend the two-dimensional boundaries that had previously confined them.
As the singer descends further, they have a revelatory experience, realizing that joy can be found in the innocence of simply feeling and being present in the surrounding world. They open their heart to the universe and find that it is loving, a stark contrast to the "scientific delirium madness" that their teachers had immersed them in.
Despite their newfound enlightenment, the singer acknowledges that they will continue to fall as long as they live, but they will remember the place that they are currently in that has ended before it even began. The song ends with a repetition of the opening lines, emphasizing the cyclical nature of the singer's journey towards enlightenment.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, how is it that I could come out to you
How can I be so vulnerable and open with you?
And be still floatin'
Without fear or worry, I feel stable and calm.
And never hit bottom and keep falling through
I am in a state of constant change and growth, but I never feel stuck or lost.
Just relaxed and paying attention?
I am at ease and mindful, taking in everything around me with curiosity and openness.
All my two-dimensional boundaries were gone
My limited beliefs and perspectives no longer define me or hold me back.
I had lost to them badly
I suffered greatly under my old way of thinking.
I saw that world crumble and thought I was dead
As my old beliefs fell apart, I felt like a part of me was dying.
But I found my senses still working
Despite the loss I experienced, I discovered an inner strength and resilience.
And as I continued to drop through the hole
As I kept growing and changing.
I found all surrounding
Everything around me was filled with new possibilities and insights.
To show me that joy innocently is
I realized that happiness and contentment can be found in simple, everyday moments.
Just be quiet and feel it around you
I learned to be still and present, fully immersing myself in the present moment.
And I opened my heart to the whole universe
I became more compassionate and empathetic toward all living beings.
And I found it was loving
I discovered that the world is filled with kindness and connection.
And I saw the great blunder my teachers had made
I realized that the beliefs and teachings I had previously relied on were misguided or incomplete.
Scientific delirium madness
The chaos and complexity of the universe cannot be fully explained or contained by science.
Oh, I will keep falling as long as I live
I will continue to evolve and grow throughout my life.
Ah, without ending
This journey of self-discovery and transformation will never truly conclude.
And I will remember the place that is now
I will cherish the present moment and everything that has brought me here.
That has ended before the beginning
I acknowledge that everything I have experienced has led up to this moment, but it is also just the beginning of a new journey.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: ROGER MCGUINN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@williamtippins3651
To a kid growing up in small town Alabama , this kind of album was a portal to another kind of World .....
@plrndl
I was probably in the UK version of that, and YES, it was life changing.
@littlecrow6484
OMG What a song !The combination of the 12 string and the organ make it sound to me like bagpipes . Love it
@kirkdavis7360
57 yrs ago still listening in 2023
@liamwhite3362
god i love the tone of Hillman's bass here. So warm and all encompassing, really brings the song together
@jasonbarbush4991
i open my heart to the whole universe and find it is loving.
@preacher_says
❤️
@juliereminiec4937
I found it was loving
@johnshuster9475
Yes, if we could hold our hearts open to appreciate a loving Universe, our entire worlds would be transformed. This is occurring Now, one by one, million by million. Welcome to y/our kNew World/s!
@JukkaTeras
Absolutely one of the best Byrds-song.