Remembering David Crosby

David Crosby passed away in January of this year from COVID-19 and a long battle with several health issues. Over the last decade he commented ofen how fortunate he was to have lived into his seventh decade given his long history of abusive behavior. Today would have been his 82nd birthday. In a two part remembrance, first, is one of his earlier compositions about the sea and sailing. 

  

The Lee Shore

Wheel gull spin and glide

You've got no place to hide

It's 'cause you don't need one

All along the Lee Shore

Shells lie scattered in the sand

Winking up like shining eyes at me

From the sea

Here is one like sunrise

Older than you know

It's still lying there, where some careless wave

Forgot it long ago

When I awoke this morning

Dove beneath my floating home

Down below her graceful side in the turning tide

To watch the sea fish roam

And there I heard a story

From the sailors of the Sandra Marie

There's another island eight days' run away from here

And it's empty and free

From here to Venezuela

There's nothing more to see

Than a hundred thousand islands flung like jewels upon the sea

For you and me

Sunset smells of dinner

Women are calling at me to end my tales

But perhaps I'll see you the next quiet place

I furl my sails

And second, is last year's birthday post about him as a monumental figure in popular music history over the last 55 years:

The American singer, songwriter and musician, David Crosby, turns 81 years old today. He may be a social and political bad boy in the eyes of many but he remains an iconic figure in the performance and evolution of popular music beginning in the 1960s. His talents, notably his songwriting and beautiful high harmony, helped propel The Byrds, and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young to the top of the charts. Crosby is still on the circuit adding his signature sound --and rather strong it remains--after all these years. Furthermore he released his eighth studio album earlier this year. Considering the toll from years of unhealthy life choices both emotional and physical, we're fortunate to have him around for another generation of admirers. For me, Crosby ranks among the best of the singer songwriters.

Here is a sample of the poet's work performed in its golden age with Graham Nash,  Stephen Stills, and Neil Young:

Deja Vu

If I had ever been here before

I would probably know just what to do

Don't you?

If I had ever been here before

On another time around the wheel

I would probably know just how to deal

With all of you

And I feel like I've been here before

I feel like I've been here before

And you know it makes me wonder

What's going on under the ground

Do you know? Don't you wonder

What's going on down under you?

I rarely post links to long videos but here is an exception, a one hour interview with Crosby recorded in 2015 at the Aspen Institute. If you have an interest in pop music history this will be an hour well-spent with an amazingly talented and entertaining man who lived that history most of us can only talk about.

For even more music and storytelling featuring many contributions by Crosby, many of his bandmates, and other from the Laurel Canyon scene of the late 1960's watch Echo In the Canyon. It's a two-hour documentary produced in 2018 and available on Netflix.

Happy birthday, David! Sail on.






Sources

Photo:
miaminewtimes.com, photo by Django Crosby

Text:
musixmatch.com

miaminewtimes.com
wikipedia.com
davidcrosby.com