Favourite Lyrics

[Diana]

I came across this old song by Crosby, Stills & Nash after 911 and there were all those pop songs about supporting our troops. This song seemed to be in such juxtaposition to the (American) 911 patriotic fervor and hatred toward Muslims. This song was written about Viet Nam. I think the lyrics go to the heart of the idea that we are all one.




"Wooden Ships"

[Stills:] If you smile at me I will understand
'Cause that is something
Everybody everywhere does in the same language
[Crosby:] I can see by your coat, my friend you're from the other side
There's just one thing I got to know
Can you tell me please who won?
[Stills:] Say can I have some of your purple berries?
[Crosby:] Yes, I've been eating them
For six or seven weeks now haven't got sick once
[Stills:] Probably keep us both alive

Wooden ships on the water very free and easy
Easy, you know the way it's supposed to be
Silver people on the shoreline let us be
Talkin' 'bout very free and easy

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

Aaaah ...
Go take your sister then by the hand
Lead her away from this foreign land
Far away where we might laugh again
We are leaving, you don't need us

And it's a fair wind
Blowin' warm out of the south over my shoulder
Guess I'll set a course and go