Crosby Stills Nash & Young: Southern Cross Meaning

Song Released: 1982

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Southern Cross Lyrics

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...

1. 1TOP RATED

   #1 top rated interpretation:
   astorian

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   Oct 25th 2012 report

   First, the title: the Southern Cross, or Crux, is a large constellation visible in the night sky in the Southern hemisphere.
   
   Stephen Stills wrote this song while taking a long boat ride in the South Pacific, in the aftermath of his divorce from French singer/songwriter Veronique Sanson. The marriage had been a very difficult one, and the divorce was no easier, as both parties fought in court for custody of their son.
   
   During the long boat trip, Stills started to calm down and sort out his feelings. Seeing the stars at night from a boat in the middle of the ocean, he got a sense of how small and petty his own problems were, and how unimportant his quarrels with Sanson had been.
   
   And he begins to realize that, before long, both he and Sanson will be all right, they'll both find happiness wiht new partners, that Stills will always draw his greatst strength and inspiration from music, and that eventually, he'll be able to look back and appreciate the GOOD things that came of his marriage.
2. anonymous

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   Feb 9th report

   For me, Understanding the depth of meaning is easy, painful and obvious. Absolutely crafted lyrics with beautiful voices and melodies.
   Now I want to know what noisy bar in Avalon. Which Avalon and why’d you not expect to fail when we treat relationships selfishly. Taken for granted. Larger voices calling. Only In the stillness (no pun) of our best efforts of meditation will be heard. Will they be forgotten?
   The universe is within us of us and all encompassing around all. We are One. Individually seeking, the One.
   ~TJP
3. anonymous

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   Jul 21st 2020 report

   David Crosby’s ass being “ repeatedly busted for drugs,” and usually in South America or the Bahamas.
   In the last verse of the song, the words
   “ you will survive being busted “ we’re about Dave’s, repeated drug busts.
   Wow... I wonder, was Steven Stills trying to lift the spirits of his close friend by writing those words? (NOT!)
   Throwing a dig at his close friend and during a recording session is more likely. In fact; I’m quite sure that being in a studio at the time, (is) the only thing that kept, Steven Stills from being “ sucker punched in the fucking head,” by David.
   No wonder Dave went through three livers.
   He went from being an outsider with
   Buffalo Springfield, to Steven Stills very own, red-headed step child!
   Furthermore, leave Neil Young out of the equation, because he was nowhere around when -Southern Cross - was written or recorded.
   
   

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
4. anonymous

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   Mar 24th 2020 report

   Sometimes a broken heart and a lost love that you can never get back seems more expansive than the breadth of the heavens reaching up to the Southern Cross. She's still out there but might as well be the distant stars. Acceptance dulls the pain.
5. anonymous

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   Mar 9th 2020 report

   I believe the Southern Cross is an ode to the almighty vagina. Of course there are beautiful words to honor it.
6. anonymous

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   Sep 29th 2019 report

   Everything has to die sooner or later. Be responsible for your own actions. You can only control your thoughts nobody else’s
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. SnakeSpirit

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   Jan 24th 2019 report

   This is a love song that I also lived.
   
   I was forced to leave a relationship I cherished due to my infidelity.
   
   "So we cheated and we lied
   And we tested
   And we never failed to fail
   It was the easiest thing to do."
   
   Yeah. I messed up. I blew it. I had a lot to learn, again, again, and again.
   
   "Think about how many times
   I have fallen"
   
   But I have learned there are no mistakes in the Universe.
   
   "Spirits are using me
   larger voices callin'."
   
   But true love doesn't stop just because of mistakes made.
   
   "What heaven brought you and me
   Cannot be forgotten."
   
   "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 left Connecticut and ended up in Hawai`i.
   
   "Got out of town on a boat
   Goin' to Southern islands."
   
   - end -
8. anonymous

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   Nov 18th 2017 report

   Not to ever lose sight of beauty or music.
9. anonymous

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   Jun 22nd 2015 report

   Since had boat boat named Mayan I'd say he was familiar with history , as well as ancient civilizations. The Mayan and the Egyptian,etc. were very advanced astronomers . They all worshipped personified constellations and told allagorical stories about them . The sun/son goes to die on the southern cross to die 1st day of summer and winter solstices( Easter and Christmas ) . On the third it rises or resurrects to highest point . But the truth you could be running could be so small, but is as big as the promise , the promise of a coming day (return ) .. Spirits are using me , higher voices calling ....