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.
Spanish Harlem Incident
The Byrds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cannot hold you to it's heat
Your temperature's too hot for taming
Your flaming feet are burning up the street
I am homeless come and take me
Into the reach of your rattling drums
I gotta know babe all about my fortune
Gypsy gal, you've got me swallowed
I have fallen far beneath
Your pearly eyes so fast and slashing
And your flashing diamond teeth
The night is pitch black, come and make my
Pale face fit in the place, ah please
I gotta know babe, I'm nearly drowning
If it's you, my lifelines trace
I've been wonderin' all about me
Ever since I seen you there
On the cliffs of your wildcat charms I'm riding
I know I'm 'round you but I don't know where
You have slayed me, you have made me
I got to laugh half ways off my heels
I got to know babe, will you surround me?
So I can know if I'm really real
The opening line in The Byrds’s “Spanish Harlem Incident” paints a vivid picture of a “gypsy gal” wandering the streets of Harlem with the “hands of Harlem” unable to contain her “flaming feet”. The lyrics suggest that this girl is untamable, wild, and free-spirited. Like many of Bob Dylan’s songs, there is an element of mystery and intrigue throughout the lyrics that leaves the listener with numerous interpretations. It seems that this narrator is taken by this girl, as he pleads with her to “come and take me” and “surround me” while he explores his own destiny through her presence.
Throughout the rest of the song, Dylan (who wrote the song) weaves a poetic web of metaphors and romantic imagery that follows this narrator’s obsession with the gypsy girl. The lyrics describe her “fast and slashing” eyes and “flashing diamond teeth,” which adds to the mystical and alluring image of the girl. The singer is also struggling with his own identity throughout the song. He mentions feeling “homeless” and needing to know his fortune and destiny, which shows his longing for a sense of purpose and direction in life.
Overall, The Byrds’s “Spanish Harlem Incident” captures the romantic and mysterious nature of Bob Dylan’s songwriting. The song leaves the listener with a sense of longing and uncertainty, as the singer is never quite sure where he stands with the gypsy girl or what his own fate will be. It’s a beautifully written song with a timeless quality that speaks to the human desire for connection and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
Gypsy gal, the hands of Harlem
Addressing a girl from the Harlem neighborhood, who is believed to be of Gypsy origin.
Cannot hold you to its heat
Unable to be restrained or held back by the constraints of society.
Your temperature's too hot for taming
Her passion and energy are untamable by those around her.
Your flaming feet are burning up the street
Her unpredictable nature and fierce spirit are causing chaos in the streets.
I am homeless come and take me
He feels lost and alone, and seeks comfort and guidance from her.
Into the reach of your rattling drums
He wants to be drawn into her world and be a part of her passion and energy.
I gotta know babe all about my fortune
He seeks answers about his future, and believes she may hold the key.
Down along my restless palms
His hands are restless, and he hopes to find peace and direction with her help.
Gypsy gal, you've got me swallowed
He feels completely captivated and consumed by her.
I have fallen far beneath
He is deeply enamored and feels inferior to her power and charm.
Your pearly eyes so fast and slashing
Her gaze is intense and piercing, leaving a lasting impression on him.
And your flashing diamond teeth
Her smile is dazzling and alluring, adding to her mystique.
The night is pitch black, come and make my
He feels lost and wishes to be guided by her in the darkness.
Pale face fit in the place, ah please
He feels out of place and wants to belong by her side.
I gotta know babe, I'm nearly drowning
He feels overwhelmed and seeks her help to stay afloat.
If it's you, my lifelines trace
He believes she is his lifeline and hopes to follow her lead.
I've been wonderin' all about me
He is introspective and ponders his identity and purpose.
Ever since I seen you there
Her presence has sparked a new level of self-awareness in him.
On the cliffs of your wildcat charms I'm riding
He is under the spell of her untamed spirit, and is willing to take risks for her.
I know I'm 'round you but I don't know where
He is physically close to her, but still feels lost in his emotions.
You have slayed me, you have made me
She has deeply impacted him and transformed his life.
I got to laugh half ways off my heels
His joy and exhilaration are so great that he can't contain himself.
I got to know babe, will you surround me?
He seeks her protection and wishes to be enveloped by her passion and energy.
So I can know if I'm really real
He desires to be validated by her and her untamed spirit, to confirm his own sense of self.
Lyrics © BOB DYLAN MUSIC CO
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jerdrick8621
Gypsy gal, the hands of Harlem
Cannot hold you to it's heat
Your temperature's too hot for taming
Your flaming feet are burning up the street
I am homeless come and take me
Into the reach of your rattling drums
I gotta know babe all about my fortune
Down along my restless palms
Gypsy gal, you've got me swallowed
I have fallen far beneath Your pearly eyes so fast and slashing
And your flashing diamond teeth
The night is pitch black, come and make my
Pale face fit in the place, ah please
I gotta know babe, I'm nearly drowning
If it's you, my lifelines trace
I've been wonderin' all about me
Ever since I seen you there
On the cliffs of your wildcat charms I'm riding
I know I'm 'round you but I don't know where
You have slayed me, you have made me
I got to laugh half ways off my heels
I got to know babe, will you surround me?
So I can know if I'm really real
@walburgavondrachenberg2496
the byrds are giants - I will love them forever !
@mikeduman358
One of the most underrated rock groups ever love it
@trollcat_2245
And The Leaves, There Dog Night and Badfinger
@janepiepes2243
Listen to Dylan''s original version. He wrote it.
@mikeduman358
@@janepiepes2243 Jane I know I am a big Dylan fan also Me and my band mates used to cover Dylan but i grew up on Beatles and Byrds , just believed Roger and the others never got a fair shake.
@jerdrick8621
Not only one of the most underrated bands ever. Also one of the most forgotten. The importance of this band is so huge because their sound defined lot of bands of the next decades.
@andrewjwheelerjr275
god I love this gem it,s so beeeeeeeeauuuuuuuutiful too me it makes me cry because of the Harmony and warmth it delivers such a great powerful punch in the mist of my favorite tune by these beautiful sounding brothers of the decade so wonderful to hear this lovely and timeless classic rock and roll over and over and over again peace everybody.
@miyukishijisha8540
Gotta love Roger's vocals.
@sigridbrandom3135
✌️✌️✌️this in ✝️🙏☝️
@sylvainpaquette644
Ten thousand times better than Out Of Our Heads