The title track, the album's first single, was an elegy for Neil Young's 1948 Buick Roadmaster hearse, his first car. The album stemmed from a desire by both Young and Stills to pick up where they left off with their Buffalo Springfield-era guitar explorations. CSNY cohorts David Crosby and Graham Nash got wind of the project, and "Long May You Run" briefly became a CSNY album. But before long, Young and Stills decided to wipe Crosby and Nash's vocal harmonies from the album tracks in their absence (ironically, Crosby and Nash were busy putting finishing touches on their own duet record.) Crosby and Nash were livid when they found out, and it would be eight years before the quartet even considered working together again (Crosby, Stills and Nash would regroup in 1977 for an album and tour.)
Black Coral
The Stills-Young Band Lyrics
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I mean way down under the ocean
Just inside Odin's reach
Better beware of this potion
And remember you don't belong
It always seemed so unfair
The fishes around will always remind you
You've only so much air
When you get a little deeper
If you slow down you might keep her
The sea, unforgiving and she's hard
But she'll make love to you
Show you glimpses of the stars
At about two hundred feet
You realize the peril
But seductive is the deep
That shark over there holds no terror
For a while you really belong
The ocean will always share
You become one like friends and lovers
But remember, take care
She'll try to keep you there
The deeper you go
'Cause of the pressure of the air
The nitrogen comes and goes, gets you high
It's an alien atmosphere
They call it rapture of the deep, be you not afraid
You're too far down by now to be scared
Two hundred eighty-seven feet
I saw Jesus and it made sense that He was there
So belong but don't be long
There's plenty of ocean to share
Please take heed, there's mouths to feed
The ocean, she'll provide
Don't take more than you need
'Cause heaven just might be the sea
The Stills-Young Band’s “Black Coral” is a song that describes the experience of diving deep into the ocean. It presents the ocean as a seductive and beautiful but also unforgiving and dangerous place. The lyrics suggest that diving deep into the ocean can be both rewarding and terrifying at the same time, and that it requires care, attention, and respect for the environment.
The song starts by asking the listener if they have ever been “down deep” in the ocean, and then goes on to describe the experience of being “way down under the ocean” and just inside “Odin’s reach”. The ocean is portrayed as an almost mythical and magical place, but also one that is full of danger and potential harm. The lyric “better beware of this potion” suggests that diving into the ocean can be like taking a dangerous drug, with unpredictable and potentially deadly consequences.
As the song progresses, it explores the idea of how divers can become one with the ocean and its creatures, but also how they must remember that they are strangers in this underwater environment. The lyric “you don’t belong” suggests that humans were not meant to live or thrive in the ocean, and that we must be careful not to disturb or destroy the delicate ecosystem that exists there.
Overall, “Black Coral” is a song about the wonder and beauty of the ocean, but also about the importance of being cautious and respectful of this natural wonder. It is a reminder that we are not invincible, even when we are immersed in something as awe-inspiring as the ocean.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you ever been down deep?
Have you ever been underwater, far below the surface?
I mean way down under the ocean
I mean very far underwater.
Just inside Odin's reach
Close enough to be considered within the reach of a powerful being like Odin.
Better beware of this potion
Be careful of the effects of being so far below the surface.
And remember you don't belong
Keep in mind that humans are not naturally adapted to living underwater.
It always seemed so unfair
It can be frustrating to be limited by the need for air when underwater.
The fishes around will always remind you
The marine life surrounding you will constantly remind you of your outsider status.
Got to go slow, take it easy down there
To stay safe, you must proceed carefully and calmly at such depths.
You've only so much air
Your supply of air is limited, so you must conserve it.
When you get a little deeper
As you descend further underwater.
If you slow down you might keep her
If you move slowly enough, you may be able to maintain a connection with the deep sea.
The sea, unforgiving and she's hard
The ocean is harsh and has little mercy for those who don't respect it.
But she'll make love to you
Despite the danger, there is beauty and wonder to be found in the depths.
Show you glimpses of the stars
Reveal small fragments of the magic and mystery of the universe.
At about two hundred feet
Once you reach a depth of around 200 feet.
You realize the peril
You become aware of the danger involved in diving so deeply.
But seductive is the deep
Despite the risks, the deep sea is alluring and hard to resist.
That shark over there holds no terror
You become accustomed to the creatures and predators of the deep ocean and fear them less.
For a while you really belong
You feel at home in the underwater world for a time.
The ocean will always share
The sea is vast and can be shared by all who respect it.
You become one like friends and lovers
You feel a connection with the ocean that is intimate and profound.
But remember, take care
Always be cautious and respectful of the ocean, even when you feel comfortable.
She'll try to keep you there
It can be hard to leave the peaceful and beautiful depths of the sea.
The deeper you go
The further you descend below the surface of the water.
'Cause of the pressure of the air
Because of the change in pressure, caused by being deep underwater.
The nitrogen comes and goes, gets you high
The varying levels of nitrogen in your body can have an intoxicating effect.
It's an alien atmosphere
The environment underwater is vastly different from the world above the surface.
They call it rapture of the deep, be you not afraid
Divers sometimes refer to the intense sense of awe and wonder at great depths as the 'rapture of the deep.'
You're too far down by now to be scared
Once you're deep below the surface, it's too late to turn back and fear won't help you.
Two hundred eighty-seven feet
The specific depth at which the singer had a profound experience.
I saw Jesus and it made sense that He was there
The singer had a spiritual experience at this depth, and it aligned with their religious beliefs.
So belong but don't be long
Enjoy the underwater world, but don't stay too long and risk harm.
There's plenty of ocean to share
The sea is vast and can be enjoyed by many.
Please take heed, there's mouths to feed
Remember that the ocean is home to many creatures who rely on it for survival.
The ocean, she'll provide
The sea is a bountiful source of life and resources.
Don't take more than you need
Be responsible and don't exploit or damage the ocean's resources unnecessarily.
'Cause heaven just might be the sea
The beauty and wonder of the ocean can be seen as a spiritual or transcendent experience.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Stephen A Stills
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind