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.
Natural Harmony
The Byrds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Happening so graciously
You can't hurry natural harmony
Feel so free, wider than me
Seems just like the day of birth
Our first awakening to this earth
Dancing through the streets side by side
Head thrown back, arms open wide
Going home, almost gone
Merging with a grain of sand
Try hard to catch us if you can
Dancing through the streets side by side
Head thrown back, arms open wide
The Byrds's song Natural Harmony from their album "Untitled" speaks to the natural connection between two people and the universe. The opening line "Falling free, me and you" suggests surrendering control and letting the universe guide their way. The lyrics "Happening so graciously, you can't hurry natural harmony" further emphasize the idea that their connection is organic and cannot be forced or rushed.
The second verse "Feel so free, wider than me, seems just like the day of birth, our first awakening to this earth" speaks to the idea that this natural harmony feels like a new beginning and a sense of rebirth. The feeling of being wider than oneself indicates a sense of expansion and interconnectedness with the world.
The bridge "Going home, almost gone, merging with a grain of sand, try hard to catch us if you can" speaks to the idea of unity with the natural world and a transcendence of the physical realm. The sand and the earth connect to the idea of oneness and the idea that their connection extends beyond the physical realm.
Overall, the song speaks to the idea of letting go and allowing oneself to become a part of something greater, a natural harmony that cannot be forced or controlled.
Line by Line Meaning
Falling free, me and you
We are freely falling together, without constraints or expectations.
Happening so graciously
Our journey towards natural harmony is occurring with effortless elegance.
You can't hurry natural harmony
True harmony is a natural process that cannot be forced or rushed.
Feel so free, wider than me
The freedom we experience is more profound than our individual selves.
Seems just like the day of birth
The experience of harmony is a rebirth, a new beginning.
Our first awakening to this earth
Harmony allows us to truly awaken to the beauty and wonder of the world around us.
Dancing through the streets side by side
In our harmony, we move joyfully together through life.
Head thrown back, arms open wide
Our physical expression reflects the openness and expansiveness of our hearts.
Going home, almost gone
In returning to a state of harmony, we feel a sense of coming home and leaving behind our past selves.
Merging with a grain of sand
Even the smallest parts of the world around us contribute to our sense of oneness and unity.
Try hard to catch us if you can
Our harmony is not something that can be grasped or possessed by others, it exists purely within us.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: CHRIS HILLMAN, CHRISTOPHER HILLMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@williamclark6233
Falling free
Me and you
Happening so graciously
Together in natural harmony
Feel so free
Quite happily
Seems just like the day of birth
Our first awakening to this earth
Dancing through the streets side by side
Head thrown back, arms open wide (open wide)
Going home
Almost gone
Merging with a grain of sand
Try hard to catch us if you can
Dancing through the streets side by side
Head thrown back, arms open wide (open wide)
@clarenzlarka
Magnificent song on a tremendous album. One of the best of the late 60s. Wish the Byrds had kept making music like that.
@PhukIT1865
you got that right!
@PhukIT1865
thankfully we have tons of music from them. I am happy for that
@rrrockfrog2702
Listen to the (humming) back vocals !!!!!!! WOW !!!! Always loved that kind of thing !!!! Everything about that song is PERFECT !!!! The melody, back vocals, moog synthesizer, effect on the voice, drumms, bass... The WHOLE atmosphère !!!!! Easily a TOP 10 Byrds song for me !!!!! And the way they connected that with "Draft morning" !!! Simply the 2 best songs from the album !!!!!
@williamclark6233
Falling free
Me and you
Happening so graciously
Together in natural harmony
Feel so free
Quite happily
Seems just like the day of birth
Our first awakening to this earth
Dancing through the streets side by side
Head thrown back, arms open wide (open wide)
Going home
Almost gone
Merging with a grain of sand
Try hard to catch us if you can
Dancing through the streets side by side
Head thrown back, arms open wide (open wide)
@RedGoldGreen-Dub
Magnificent song wow 🤩👌🏻❤️🔥
@YairKotzer
Wonderful playing by Chris
@PhukIT1865
best bassist ever IMHO
@jpinnacle
A high-water mark for sixties psych. These guys were a pretty talented bunch, eh?
@Muziekgenot
Think this is one of the most spacy songs ever, together with the next song. It should've taken much longer. In '68 I listened to it during my first acidtrip. The song seemed to stretch out endlessly. Between two notes there was an almost endless space in which all kinds of things happened, as if I were watching several films at the same time. And then the song went on and again there was that endlessly stretched time.
(Please pay attention to this. I am NOT recommending using drugs. As a matter of fact I had several bad trips, that was no fun at all. And after my fourth and last trip I had all kinds of after-effects for a long time).