Folk-rock legends Crosby, Stills & Nash defined the sound of the late 1960s and early 1970s. This supergroup provided the soundtrack to a generation, weaving intricate harmonies with powerful messages of change and introspection. Their music captured the spirit of an era marked by both idealism and social upheaval.
Crosby, Stills & Nash emerged as a pioneering supergroup, bringing together David Crosby from The Byrds, Stephen Stills of Buffalo Springfield, and Graham Nash from The Hollies. The later, yet significant, addition of Neil Young further solidified their impact, even as his involvement remained fluid. Their collective discography, even when simply CSN, remains a cornerstone of the era.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young in 1970. (Photo by Tom Copi/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images). Picture: Getty
Bridging the optimistic close of the 60s and the more cynical 70s, their music resonated deeply and influenced countless artists. Seamlessly blending rock, folk, and country influences, they became central figures of the counterculture, alongside contemporaries like Joni Mitchell in Laurel Canyon.
Each member of Crosby, Stills & Nash has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, both as part of the group and for their contributions to their previous bands, underscoring their enduring legacy. While the passing of David Crosby in 2023 makes a reunion impossible, their music continues to inspire and captivate.
Here, we delve into their impressive catalog to rank fifteen of the greatest Crosby, Stills & Nash songs, celebrating the tracks that have stood the test of time.
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Wooden Ships
David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash singing 'Wooden Ships' in harmony, a powerful anti-war anthem.David Crosby, known for his strong opinions, considered his ability to collaborate as a key strength. ‘Wooden Ships,’ from their debut album Crosby, Stills & Nash, exemplifies this. This apocalyptic yet harmonious anti-war anthem envisions a small group of survivors escaping societal collapse by sea to build a new world. Sharing vocals with Stephen Stills, Crosby delivers one of his most creatively collaborative performances, set against a backdrop of dystopian themes prevalent during the Cold War era.
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Southern Cross
By the 1980s, the counterculture movement had faded, but Crosby, Stills & Nash remained creatively vibrant. ‘Southern Cross,’ released in 1982 on the album Daylight Again, showcases Stephen Stills drawing inspiration from the Southern Cross constellation and crediting The Curtis Brothers as co-writers. Stills described this soft rock hit as a song about “using the power of the universe to heal your wounds” in the aftermath of a painful divorce.
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Just A Song Before I Go
Graham Nash singing 'Just a Song Before I Go' at a piano, a spontaneous hit born from a friendly bet.Graham Nash’s ‘Just A Song Before I Go,’ a pop-infused track perfect for AM radio, originated from an impromptu challenge. As Crosby recounted, Nash, at his home in Hawaii before a tour, was challenged by his driver to write a song in fifteen minutes before heading to the airport. Accepting the bet, Nash created this enduring hit. The lead single from their 1977 reunion album, CSN, ‘Just A Song Before I Go’ is one of the few Crosby, Stills & Nash songs to reach the US Top Ten charts.
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Turn Your Back On Love
Crosby, Stills & Nash performing 'Turn Your Back on Love', highlighting their signature harmonies with a contemporary 80s sound.Five years separated Daylight Again (1982) from Crosby, Stills & Nash’s previous album, a period of significant global change. ‘Turn Your Back On Love,’ the opening track of Daylight Again, demonstrated their ability to evolve. The song features their classic harmonies with a more modern, polished production. Despite David Crosby’s reduced involvement in the album due to personal struggles, ‘Turn Your Back On Love’ affirmed the group’s enduring musical synergy.
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Teach Your Children
Crosby, Stills & Nash performing 'Teach Your Children' at Live Aid, a song promoting peace and intergenerational understanding.‘Teach Your Children’ might seem like a simple call for peace and love, advocating respect across generations. However, it is deeply rooted in Graham Nash’s complex relationship with his father, who faced imprisonment during Nash’s childhood in Salford, Manchester. Nash explained in 1991 that ‘Teach Your Children’ aimed to be “so personal that every single person on the planet can relate to it.” Its powerful resonance was evident when audiences sang it back to them during their Live Aid performance.
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Helpless
Neil Young performing 'Helpless' on guitar, a reflective song of childhood memories and simpler times.Featured on the 1970 album Déjà Vu, the first Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young album, ‘Helpless’ has a distinct Neil Young signature, which is why it remains a staple in his solo performances. The song evokes nostalgic images of Young’s youth and adolescence in Omemee, Ontario, a peaceful contrast to personal hardships like polio and his parents’ divorce. Omemee, which Young described as “a nice little town. Sleepy little place… Life was real basic and simple,” provided the inspiration for the song’s wistful and reflective lyrics, characteristic of Young’s songwriting.
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Long Time Gone
David Crosby singing 'Long Time Gone', a passionate response to political disillusionment and the loss of hope.While Crosby, Stills & Nash often conveyed optimism, their music also confronted the era’s violence and disillusionment. ‘Long Time Gone,’ a country-rock infused track, is a prime example. David Crosby wrote it “the night Bobby Kennedy was killed,” reacting to another blow to the hopeful political landscape of the time. Crosby expressed his disillusionment with mainstream politics and his belief in Bobby Kennedy as a genuine agent for positive change, making the assassination a catalyst for this powerful song.
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Marrakesh Express
Graham Nash performing 'Marrakesh Express', a song about travel and personal discovery that led to significant life changes.‘Marrakesh Express’ played a pivotal role in Graham Nash’s departure from The Hollies and his move to Laurel Canyon. This autobiographical song, detailing Nash’s journey to Morocco, was initially rejected by his bandmates for lacking commercial appeal. Feeling creatively stifled, Nash found support for his songwriting with Stephen Stills and David Crosby, who embraced ‘Marrakesh Express’ and made it Crosby, Stills & Nash’s debut single. This decision marked a turning point in Nash’s career and the formation of the iconic supergroup.
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Almost Cut My Hair
David Crosby performing 'Almost Cut My Hair' live, a counterculture anthem about nonconformity and personal expression.‘Almost Cut My Hair’ became David Crosby’s signature song and an anthem for the counterculture movement. It resonated with those who defied societal norms, even amidst personal struggles. Tragically, Crosby’s girlfriend, Christine Hilton, died in a car accident just before he recorded the vocals. His raw grief infused the performance with an uncharacteristic intensity, transforming his usual smooth vocals into a more emotionally charged delivery. Despite its somber origins, ‘Almost Cut My Hair’ has inspired listeners for over fifty years to embrace individuality and “let their freak flag fly.”
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Carry On
Crosby, Stills & Nash performing 'Carry On', a dynamic song that marked Neil Young's introduction to the group.‘Carry On’ not only opens Déjà Vu but also served as Neil Young’s powerful introduction to Crosby, Stills & Nash. Composed of two distinct musical segments that blend seamlessly, the song is unified by the hopeful declaration, “Carry on, love is coming, love is coming to us all.” This line acts as both a generational message of hope and a personal rallying cry for the band members, who were navigating their own internal tensions. ‘Carry On’ was created late in the Déjà Vu album process, acting as the final piece that unified the entire project. Stephen Stills described how he presented the song to Graham Nash, leading to its enthusiastic reception and immediate recording.
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Helplessly Hoping
Stephen Stills singing 'Helplessly Hoping' with intricate harmonies, a song inspired by a high school English teacher.Stephen Stills credited his 10th-grade English teacher in Tampa, Florida, as the inspiration for ‘Helplessly Hoping.’ He recalled her captivating presence and teaching style, which motivated even the football players to engage with poetry to impress her. This influence is evident in Stills’s use of alliteration throughout the song, starting with the opening line: “Helplessly hoping / Her harlequin hovers nearby.” Appearing on their 1969 debut album, ‘Helplessly Hoping’ hinted at the quartet they would soon become, with Neil Young adding guitar tracks in the studio.
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Ohio
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young performing 'Ohio' in concert, a powerful protest anthem against the Kent State shootings.‘Ohio’ stands as one of the most potent protest songs ever written and, according to Neil Young, his most significant contribution to Crosby, Stills & Nash. Written for Déjà Vu in 1970, Young penned the lyrics in response to the Kent State shootings, where unarmed students protesting the Vietnam War were killed by the National Guard. Inspired by a Life magazine article on the tragedy, Young quickly composed ‘Ohio’. The song became a defining anti-war anthem, capturing the widespread outrage and disillusionment with the Vietnam War among young people and liberals. David Crosby remembered Young’s immediate and profound reaction, resulting in a song that resonated deeply with a generation.
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Woodstock
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young performing 'Woodstock' at a festival, a song that became synonymous with the counterculture movement.‘Woodstock’ is arguably the song most associated with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, symbolizing their role in the counterculture movement, despite them actually performing at the festival itself as separate entities before CSNY. Ironically, the song was not originally theirs; it was written by Joni Mitchell, Graham Nash’s partner at the time. Mitchell, unable to attend Woodstock, wrote the song from an outsider’s perspective, idealizing the festival’s significance for a generation seeking hope and change. Mitchell later reflected that her outsider status allowed her to capture the idealistic essence of Woodstock without being caught up in the backstage chaos.
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Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
Crosby, Stills & Nash performing 'Suite: Judy Blue Eyes', a multi-part song showcasing their vocal and musical complexity.‘Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,’ written by Stephen Stills about his then-girlfriend Judy Collins, quickly became one of Crosby, Stills & Nash’s signature songs. Stills described it as evolving from “a long narrative poem about my relationship with Judy Collins,” documenting the tumultuous phases of their romance. Judy Collins recounted that hearing Stills play ‘Suite: Judy Blue Eyes’ influenced her decision to reconcile with him, acknowledging the song’s emotional depth and the personal challenges they both faced. The song’s structure, reminiscent of a classical suite with its distinct movements, highlighted the trio’s intricate harmonies and established their musical trademark. ‘Suite: Judy Blue Eyes’ remains a beloved fan favorite.
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Our House
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – Our House (Official Video)Despite their image as counterculture icons advocating for societal change, ‘Our House’ revealed Crosby, Stills & Nash’s appreciation for simple domestic comforts. Written by Graham Nash, this sentimental folk-rock ballad from Déjà Vu portrays his idyllic home life with Joni Mitchell in Laurel Canyon. It contrasts sharply with the stereotypical “rock star lifestyle,” celebrating everyday moments of domestic bliss. Nash described it as a “portrait of our life together” inspired by a peaceful afternoon spent with Mitchell. Featuring their characteristic harmonies and a “la la” vocal section instead of a guitar solo, ‘Our House’ reached number thirty in the US charts in 1970. Over time, ‘Our House’ has become an enduring symbol of the Laurel Canyon era and a soundtrack for countless happy homes, becoming their most-streamed song.
