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.
Life In Prison
The Byrds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They swore I planned her death to be
I prayed they'd sentence me to die
But they wanted me to live and I know why
So I'd do life in prison for the wrongs I've done
And I pray every night for death to come
My life will be a burden every dayIf I could die, my pain might go away
With trembling hands I killed my darling wife
Because I loved her more than life
My love for her will last a long, long time
But I'd rather die than live to lose my mind
And I'll do life in prison for the wrongs I've done
And pray every night for death to come
My life will be a burden every day
If I could die, my pain might go away
If I could die, my pain might go away
The song "Life in Prison" by The Byrds is a heart-wrenching ballad about a man who has been found guilty of murdering his wife and sentenced to life imprisonment. The lyrics convey the agony, regret, and desperation of the singer as he contemplates his fate. The opening lines, "The jury found the verdict first degree, they swore I planned her death to be," highlights the sense of hopelessness that surrounds the singer. He had no chance of winning the case, and the verdict is a death sentence in itself.
The singer's desire for death is evident throughout the song, with the repetition of the line, "And I pray every night for death to come." The reference to religion in the song, "I prayed they'd sentence me to die," highlights the extent of the singer's anguish, and the fact that he sees death as his only release from the pain. The final lines of the song, "If I could die, my pain might go away," are poignant and powerful. The singer has to live with the guilt of his actions and the burden of his sentence, and death seems like the only possible escape.
Interestingly, "Life in Prison" was not a original composition by The Byrds. It was written by the legendary country musician Merle Haggard, who was serving a prison sentence for burglary when he wrote the song. The lyrics are based on Haggard's own experiences and reflect his own sense of disillusionment and regret. The Byrds recorded the song as part of their album "Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde" in 1969, and it went on to become one of their most popular and critically acclaimed tracks.
Line by Line Meaning
The jury found the verdict first degree
The legal authorities ruled that I killed my wife with premeditation.
They swore I planned her death to be
They believed that I had intended to end her life.
I prayed they'd sentence me to die
I wished for the court to impose the death penalty on me.
But they wanted me to live and I know why
My captors thought that confinement for life would be a harsher punishment.
So I'd do life in prison for the wrongs I've done
I would spend the remainder of my existence incarcerated due to my wrongdoing.
And I pray every night for death to come
Every day, I plead that an escape from my torment becomes possible.
My life will be a burden every day
Each waking moment for me will be a hardship.
If I could die, my pain might go away
The dissolution of my own life might offer relief from the constant agony.
With trembling hands I killed my darling wife
I took the life of my beloved partner through my trembling's action.
Because I loved her more than life
I felt a love for her that exceeded my own life.
My love for her will last a long, long time
The affection I have for her is eternal and far-reaching.
But I'd rather die than live to lose my mind
I would prefer to perish than suffer from a mental breakdown.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, OWEN PUBLICATIONS
Written by: JELLY SANDERS, MERLE HAGGARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Noel Salisbury, from England
on John Riley
I always have my eyes brimming with tears , listening to this masterpiece. Thankyou DC & RMg & I hope you two make music together again- "Everybody knows Music is Love" ay, David