Southern Cross

Crosby, Stills & Nash

About Southern Cross

"Southern Cross" is a song written by Stephen Stills, Rick Curtis, and Michael Curtis and performed by the rock band Crosby, Stills & Nash. It was featured on the band's Daylight Again album and was released as a single in September 1982. Stephen Stills sings lead vocals throughout, with Graham Nash joining the second verse. Because David Crosby did not reunite with Stills and Nash until the album was well underway, his vocals are not featured on the album version of the song, although he did appear in the video and subsequently sang the song with the group in live performances. The single was a success on the charts, reaching #18 on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks in late November and early December 1982. 


Year:
1982
4:41
225 
#1

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Got out of town on a boat goin' to Southern Islands
Sailing a reach before a followin' sea
She was makin' for the trades on the outside
And the downhill run to Papeete

Off the wind on this heading lie the Marquesas
We got eighty feet of the waterline nicely making way
In a noisy bar in Avalon I tried to call you
But on a midnight watch I realized why twice you ran away

Think about
Think about how many times I have fallen
Spirits are using me, larger voices callin'
What Heaven brought you and me cannot be forgotten

Around the world (I have been around the world)
Lookin' (lookin' for that woman girl)
Who knows she knows (who knows love can endure)
And you know it will

When you see the Southern Cross for the first time
You understand now why you came this way
'Cause the truth you might be runnin' from is so small
But it's as big as the promise, the promise of a comin' day

So I'm sailing for tomorrow my dreams are a-dyin'
And my love is an anchor tied to you (tied with a silver chain)
I have my ship and all her flags are a-flyin'
She is all that I have left and music is her name

Think about
Think about how many times I have fallen
Spirits are using me, larger voices callin'
What Heaven brought you and me cannot be forgotten

I have been around the world (I have been around the world)
Lookin' (lookin' for that woman girl)
(Who knows love can endure)
And you know it will
And you know it will

So we cheated and we lied and we tested
And we never failed to fail it was the easiest thing to do
You will survive being bested
Somebody fine will come along make me forget about loving you
And the southern cross

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Crosby, Stills & Nash

Crosby, Stills & Nash (CSN) was a folk rock supergroup made up of American singer-songwriters David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and English singer-songwriter Graham Nash. When joined by Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young as a fourth member, they were called Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (CSNY). They are noted for their intricate vocal harmonies and lasting influence on American music and culture, as well as their political activism and often tumultuous interpersonal relationships. CSN formed in 1968 shortly after Crosby, Stills and Nash performed together informally in July of that year, discovering they harmonized well. Crosby had been asked to leave the Byrds in late 1967, Stills' band Buffalo Springfield had broken up in early 1968, and Nash left his band t… more »

5 fans

Written by: Stephen Stills, Richard Curtis, Michael Curtis

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, MUSIC SALES CORPORATION

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Band Information
Crosby, Stills & Nash (CSN) was a supergroup made up of American singer-songwriters David Crosby and Stephen Stills, and English singer-songwriter Graham Nash. They were known for their intricate vocal harmonies, often tumultuous interpersonal relationships, and political activism.
Song Origin
"Southern Cross" is a song from their album "Daylight Again" which was released in 1982.
Popular Culture
The song became quite popular and reached No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in late 1982.
Song Inspiration
The song is about a man who sails the world following a failed love affair. In reality, the song was inspired by Stephen Stills' own experience of sailing to the South Pacific after a divorce.
Song Meaning
The Southern Cross is a constellation that is most visible in the Southern Hemisphere, and the song is about using that constellation for navigation.
Collaboration
The album, including the song "Southern Cross," features a variety of guest artists, and also sees the return of former CSN&Y member Neil Young who contributes lead guitar and backing vocals on a couple of tracks.
Songwriting
The song was authored by Stephen Stills with help from Rick Curtis and Michael Curtis.
Reinterpretation
While the song was not originally written by CSN, they are noted for reinterpreting the song with a renewed depth and harmony that the original lacked.
Notability
"Southern Cross" is one of the band's most successful songs and is usually highlighted as a favorite by fans.
Live Performances
Despite the band's sporadic existence due to solo careers, they have consistently performed "Southern Cross" in their live shows.
Music Video
The music video for "Southern Cross" features Stephen Stills sailing a large boat, reflecting the song's theme of sailing the Pacific.
Song Symbolism
The song is well-regarded for its application of the Southern Cross star as a symbol of hope and guidance.

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    Southern Cross

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1982

    Billboard #18


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