The Byrds was an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 19… Read Full Bio ↴The Byrds was an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. They are considered one of the most important and influential bands of the 1960s.

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.

I Come and Stand at Every Door
The Byrds Lyrics

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I come and stand at every door
But no one hears my silent prayer
I knock and yet remain unseen
For I am dead, for I am dead

I'm only seven although I died
In Hiroshima long ago
I'm seven now as I was then

When children die they do not grow

My hair was scorched by a swirling flame
My eyes grew dim, my eyes grew blind
Death came and turned my bones to dust
And that was scattered by the wind

I need no fruit, I need no rice
I need no sweets nor even bread
I ask for nothing for myself
For I am dead, for I am dead

All that I ask is that for peace
You fight today, you fight today

So that the children of this world
May live and grow and laugh and play

Overall Meaning

The Byrds’s song I Come and Stand at Every Door is a poignant and heartbreaking commentary on the devastating effects of nuclear war, and features lyrics written by Turkish poet Nâzım Hikmet. The song is sung from the perspective of a seven-year-old girl who died in the bombing of Hiroshima during World War II. The girl's spirit wanders the earth, knocking on doors and silently praying for peace. The song’s title is a reference to a Turkish folk song of the same name, and the original poem by Hikmet that inspired the lyrics was titled “Kız Çocuğu” (“The Little Girl”).

The opening lines of the song convey a sense of desperation and helplessness, as the girl’s spirit wanders from door to door, hoping to be heard but always remaining unseen. The repetition of the phrase “for I am dead” underscores the finality of the girl’s fate and the sense of loss that permeates the song. The second verse vividly describes the physical toll that the nuclear blast took on the girl’s body, with her hair scorched and her eyes blinded. The final verse is a plea for peace, asking listeners to fight for a world where children can grow up and enjoy a normal childhood, free from the threat of war.

The significance of I Come and Stand at Every Door has only grown over time, as nuclear tensions continue to simmer around the world. The song is a haunting reminder of the human toll of war, and the importance of working towards a future where peace is possible.

Line by Line Meaning

I come and stand at every door
I, a deceased child from Hiroshima, stand outside every door hoping for someone to listen to my silent prayer.

But no one hears my silent prayer
Despite my presence at every door, no one hears me asking for peace.

I knock and yet remain unseen
Even though I knock on doors, I remain invisible to the living.

For I am dead, for I am dead
I am a ghost, a product of death, thus I remain unseen and unheard.

I'm only seven although I died
Although I passed away as a child, I remain a child in both physical and emotional stature.

In Hiroshima long ago
My death took place during the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima.

I'm seven now as I was then
Even in death, I have not grown or changed.

When children die they do not grow
Children who pass away, like myself, never mature or develop further.

My hair was scorched by a swirling flame
The atomic blast burned and destroyed my hair and body.

My eyes grew dim, my eyes grew blind
The bright light of the atomic bomb left me blind.

Death came and turned my bones to dust
Eventually, my bones turned into dust upon my passing.

And that was scattered by the wind
The wind spread my ashes throughout the city.

I need no fruit, I need no rice
As a spirit, I have no need for sustenance or physical goods.

I need no sweets nor even bread
I do not require anything to live.

I ask for nothing for myself
My requests are not personal, but rather for the greater good.

For I am dead, for I am dead
Once again, I am a spirit with no tangible existence.

All that I ask is that for peace
My only desire is for peace throughout the world.

You fight today, you fight today
It is imperative that you fight for peace, now and in the future.

So that the children of this world
The younger generation of humanity, such as myself before my untimely death.

May live and grow and laugh and play
Shall be able to lead full lives, to grow up, and enjoy their childhoods.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: JAMES H. WATERS, NAZIM HIKMET

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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