Name That Crosby, Stills, Nash (and Young) Tune Quiz

Answer: Wooden Ships

This song was accredited to David Crosby and Stephen Stills on the original 1969 album release. Later, when the album was re-released, Paul Kantner from Jefferson Airplane was also credited as having contributed to the lyrics.

The verse is:

"Horror grips us as we watch you die,
All we can do is echo your anguished cries.
Stare as all human feelings die.
We are leaving, you don't need us."

Answer: Woodstock

This song was written by Joni Mitchell based on what she had heard from Graham Nash about the Woodstock Music Festival. It eventually appeard on several of her albums.

The lines that follow those in the song include the chorus.

"And maybe it's the time of year, yes, and maybe it's the time of man.
And I don't know who I am but life is for learning.
We are stardust, we are golden, we are billion year old carbon,
and we got to get ourselves back to the garden."

Answer: Almost Cut My Hair

Although it's not as well known as some of his songs, the first few lines of this David Crosby work have been called a hippie anthem:

"Almost cut my hair, happened just the other day.
It was gettin' kinda long, I coulda said it was in my way.
But I didn't and I wonder why, I feel like letting my freak flag fly,
Yes, I feel like I owe it to someone."

Answer: Long Time Gone

Another David Crosby composition that mentions hair cutting...

"Speak out, you got to speak out against the madness.
You got to speak your mind if you dare.
But don't, no don't, no, try to get yourself elected.
If you do you had better cut your hair."

Answer: Teach Your Children

This one is written by Graham Nash and included Jerry Garcia on pedal steel guitar in the original 1970 recording. Those of you who are fans of the Amerian TV show "The Office" may recall Michael and Dwight singing these lines as part of Take Your Child to Work Day.

"You who are on the road must have a code that you can live by.
And so become yourself because the past is just a good bye.
Teach your children well, their father's hell did slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams, the one they picks, the one you'll know by."

Answer: Suite: Judy Blue Eyes

This suite with four sections was written by Stephen Stills about is then-girlfriend, folksinger Judy Collins.

"It's getting to the point where I am no fun anymore. I am sorry.
Sometimes it hurts so badly I must cry out loud, 'I am lonely.'
I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are, you make it hard."

Answer: Helpless

This Neil Young work was originally recorded by his own band, Crazy Horse.

"Blue, blue windows behind the stars.
Yellow moon on the rise.
Big birds flying across the sky,
Throwing shadows on our eyes.
Leave us helpless, helpless, helpless."

Answer: Our House

Another song written during Graham Nash's relationship with Joni Mitchell, "Our House" was originally recorded in 1970.

"Our house is a very, very, very fine house
With two cats in the yard.
Life used to be so hard.
Now everything is easy
'Cause of you"

Answer: Marrakesh Express

This Graham Nash song was recorded in 1969 about travelling to this Morrocan city.

"I've been saving all my money just to take you there.
I smell the garden in your hair.
Take the train from Casablanca going south,
blowing smoke rings from the corners of my m m m m mouth.
Colored cottons hang in the air,
charming cobras in the square.
Striped djellebas we can wear at home. "

Answer: False

The songs are on two albums 1969's "Crosby, Stills & Nash" ('Suite: Judy Blue Eyes', 'Wooden Ships', 'Marrakesh Express', 'Long Time Gone') and 1970's "Deja Vu" ('Teach Your Children', 'Woodstock', 'Our House', 'Helpless', 'Almost Cut My Hair'). Four Way Street (1971) is a live double album that contains most, but not all of these songs.