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.
Draft Morning
The Byrds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down below movin' slow
And it's morning
Take my time this morning, no hurry
To learn to kill and take the will
From unknown faces
Leave my bed to kill instead
Why should it happen?
The Byrds’ Draft Morning is a powerful anti-war song that uses beautiful yet eerie imagery to express the sentiments of a young man who is about to be drafted into the army. The opening line “Sun warm on my face, I hear you” paints a peaceful and serene picture but it is quickly contrasted by the lyrics “Down below movin’ slow and it’s morning”. This line refers to the army draft process where young men were collected in the early hours of the morning, taken to a military site and processed before they are sent off to fight.
The lyrics “Take my time this morning, no hurry to learn to kill and take the will from unknown faces” reveals the character's reluctance to be a part of the war effort, highlighting the fact that he and other young men were being forced to take up arms, to kill and maim others. The chorus “Today was the day for action, leave my bed to kill instead, why should it happen?” depicts a sense of confusion and hopelessness as the singer questions the noble cause of war and why they should be made to kill innocent people.
Line by Line Meaning
Sun warm on my face, I hear you
As the sun warms my face, I realize your presence and feel grateful for it
Down below movin' slow
I observe the slow movement of people down below
And it's morning
This takes place in the morning
Take my time this morning, no hurry
I don't want to rush this morning and prefer to take my time
To learn to kill and take the will
I am being trained to become a ruthless killer and take control over others
From unknown faces
I am asked to kill people I don't even know
Today was the day for action
Today was the day when I had to take action and carry out the plan
Leave my bed to kill instead
I had to leave my bed and start killing people instead
Why should it happen?
I question the necessity and reason behind all this violence and killing
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: DP, CHRIS HILLMAN, DAVID VAN CORTLANDT CROSBY, ROGER MCGUINN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@richalderson6069
This is a chilling, compelling track, no wonder The Byrds were so important.
@TheRabbit1951
This song was what I played at 5 AM on the day I had to go to my Draft Physical and was I in Fear. I love the Byrds and this particular song exactly brings back my feelings and thoughts on that morning.
@elizabethlinsay9193
Glad you made it back!
@josephguerra703
Thank you....well said...God bless Americans
@bsm6776
Did you end up drafted?
@samsmith4216
God bless your service
@sarahtonin4649
David Crosby wrote it, but they recorded it after they fired him, and apparently didn't remember all of his original lyrics, so added some of their own.
I was drafted in 1971 upon graduating high school. (Yeah, I'm old, shut up.) I avoided Vietnam by successfully re-registering as a Conscientious Objector. (Yeah, I used to be a guy, shut up.) My favorite anti-draft song was "Draft Resister" by Steppenwolf, from their great album, Monster.
@samanthabolden6908
What a great psychedelic sound!
@thomaspick4123
I think this is a Crosby composition. One of his finest. Very touching, I lived through that Vietnam era. What a horrible nightmare it was!
@robertmccutcheon4672
It was an uncompleted song by Crosby. He was fired from the Byrds and then McGuinn and Hillman polished it up a bit, added some new words and claimed co-authorship.