Banned, initially, from broadcast due to perceived drug connotations. The lyrics describe a tour of England by The Byrds, and their observations from the back of their black limousine as the band travelled from town to town. 'Rain grey town..., known for its sound..' is London of the '60's.
The ambiguous title and the 'spaceyness' of the music tell another story.
Influences drawn from Ravi Shankar. Also from John Coltrane's "India", which inspired the intro. These are somewhat smothered in the original. The repeated jazz phrasing is very clear here, recorded in 1971 by Leo Kottke.
I love the country underlay, quite hypnotic.
Eight miles high
And when you touch down
You'll find that it's
Stranger than known
You'll find that it's
Stranger than known
Signs in the street
That say where you're goin'
Are somewhere
Just being their own
That say where you're goin'
Are somewhere
Just being their own
Nowhere is
There warmth to be found
Among those afraid
Of losing their ground
There warmth to be found
Among those afraid
Of losing their ground
Rain gray town
Known for its sound
In places
Small faces unbound
Known for its sound
In places
Small faces unbound
Round the squares
Huddled in storms
Some laughing
Some just shapeless forms
Huddled in storms
Some laughing
Some just shapeless forms
Sidewalk scenes
And black limousines
Some living
Some standing alone
Written by David Crosby, Gene Clark, Jim Mcguinn And black limousines
Some living
Some standing alone
