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The Byrds — Wasn't Born To Follow
Album: The Notorius Byrd Brothers
Avg rating:
7.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1639









Released: 1968
Length: 2:02
Plays (last 30 days): 1
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Oh I'd rather go and journey
Where the diamond crescent's glowing
And run across the valley
Beneath the sacred mountain
And wander through the forest
Where the trees have leaves of prisms
And break the light in colors
That no-one knows the names of

And when it's time I'll go and wait
Beside a legendary fountain
Till I see your form reflected
In its clear and jeweled waters
And if you think I'm ready
You may lead me to the chasm
Where the rivers of our vision
Flow into one another

I will watch her dive beneath
The white cascading waters
She may beg she may plead
She may argue with her logic
And then mention all the things I'll lose
That really have no value
In the end she will surely know
I wasn't born to follow
Comments (178)add comment
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Now on Netflix; no more excuses!



;-)))
Posted 10 months ago by Jomme    [ Reply ]
Posted 1 year ago by igotitmade2k    [ Reply ]
 Finnbayer wrote:

Yup!  My best friend and I were 14 when we saw Easy
Rider.  As  we're leaving the theater, he says "I'm gonna grow my hair".   We were really lucky to come of age in those heady times.


My Dad took me to see this at age 6. The ending left me stunned. It immediately became clear "which side" I would be on
Posted 1 year ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Now on Netflix; no more excuses!





I watched it when about 16 (2007) and had to become a rider.
Thinking about it every time riding through a chilly forest in the summer heat.
Posted 1 year ago by webmaster2    [ Reply ]
 agd3 wrote:

My favorite scene from Easy Rider!



before they "blew it"
Posted 2 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
For some reason I was thinking this was from the "Into The Wild" soundtrack, but turns out that, yes, it was "Easy Rider".
 
The themes of those two movies aren't quite the same but the spirit is similar.
Posted 2 years ago by timmus    [ Reply ]
GREAT!! ICONIC!!
Posted 2 years ago by eileenomurphy    [ Reply ]
The Byrds follow the Pixies. Because of course, Rp.
Posted 3 years ago by MassivRuss    [ Reply ]
 folkes.tom wrote:
David Crosby was rejected as Monkey. I guess he did not have the chops!!!

Actually it was Stephen Stills.
Oh, and it's Monkees.
Posted 3 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
 scrubbrush wrote:

Never realized how much these guys sounded like the Monkeys.



David Crosby was rejected as Monkey. I guess he did not have the chops!!!
Posted 3 years ago by folkes.tom    [ Reply ]
Psych ee delic. 
Posted 3 years ago by Stefen    [ Reply ]
 scrubbrush wrote:
Never realized how much these guys sounded like the Monkees.
 

Was it the chicken, or the egg?
Posted 3 years ago by MilesW    [ Reply ]
The solo break is freaky, in the best sense.
Posted 3 years ago by douglas_linton    [ Reply ]
One of the finest songs ever written and performed. Which goes especially for the lyrics.
Posted 4 years ago by Bleyfusz    [ Reply ]
 scrubbrush wrote:
Never realized how much these guys sounded like the Monkees.
 
Well, given that Wikipedia tells me the Byrds formed in 1964 and the Monkees in 1966, you might have this backwards.
Posted 4 years ago by jukes1    [ Reply ]
 Finnbayer wrote:

Yup!  My best friend and I were 14 when we saw Easy
Rider.  As  we're leaving the theater, he says "I'm gonna grow my hair".   We were really lucky to come of age in those heady times.
 
For some odd reason my dad and the next door neighbor took me (16) to see Easy Rider when it came out.

It was very quiet on the ride home.
Posted 4 years ago by stevesaw    [ Reply ]
Another example of some fun stuff created when producers, engineers, and artists discovered Flanging!
Posted 4 years ago by easmann    [ Reply ]
 hayduke2 wrote:

this dweeb thanks you joelbb   : )            hmmmm, where's liddle roach ...
 
Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King!!


Posted 4 years ago by avikatz    [ Reply ]
 thewiseking wrote:
The ultimate hippy recruitment anthem. A Gerry Goffin stroke of genius. Best bit of music in the film, methinks.
 
Yup!  My best friend and I were 14 when we saw Easy
Rider.  As  we're leaving the theater, he says "I'm gonna grow my hair".   We were really lucky to come of age in those heady times.
Posted 4 years ago by Finnbayer    [ Reply ]
Ah the lazy hazy crazy days of Easy Rider.
Posted 4 years ago by chinaski    [ Reply ]
The byrds are just boring IMHO
Posted 4 years ago by jp33442    [ Reply ]
Great lyrics, great sound, and that new stereo sound.
Posted 4 years ago by Rockintom    [ Reply ]
 TheElephant wrote:
In the Wikipedia section, why does it list Roger McGuinn as Jim McGuinn but links to Roger McGuinn?
 
The band (The Byrds) underwent multiple lineup changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn (known as Jim McGuinn until mid-1967) remaining the sole consistent member.

And I'll go +2, 7 to 9, not sure why I was so low on this one before....fixed now and happy about that...Long Live RP and making your own path!!
Posted 5 years ago by lizardking    [ Reply ]
In the Wikipedia section, why does it list Roger McGuinn as Jim McGuinn but links to Roger McGuinn?
Posted 5 years ago by TheElephant    [ Reply ]
Yeah, this song was the 60's. Until everyone turned mean-addicts. The (NOLA?) whores in Easy Rider, with their fishnet stockings, were quite fashion-forward though. 
Posted 5 years ago by Grayson    [ Reply ]
Always love this one Beautiful lyrics Beautiful music Thanks
Posted 5 years ago by stephen.king12101    [ Reply ]
Love the random psychedelic 'wibbly-wobbly' bit in the middle  
Posted 5 years ago by adib    [ Reply ]
A favorite of mine from high school days - nice to hear it again.
Posted 5 years ago by nagsheadlocal    [ Reply ]
 scrubbrush wrote:
Never realized how much these guys sounded like the Monkees.
 

Wellll...sometimes. 
Posted 6 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
Oh a solid 10. Just much too short, I always want more...
Posted 6 years ago by oddbod    [ Reply ]
Reminds me of the AMS tape phaser simulator used by ELO.
Posted 6 years ago by eveliko    [ Reply ]
FREE BYRD

{#Crown} 
Posted 6 years ago by sfyi2001    [ Reply ]
 joelbb wrote:
A genuinely beautiful song and the true motto of "Easy Rider" (as well as the very best people in my g-generation).  The extraordinary Gene Clark wrote it, along with "Feel a Whole Lot Better" and "Eight Miles High".  The hippest guy around, Dennis Hopper, knew exactly how good Clark was and used this cut and a couple of original cuts by him in the movie.  Never a big commercial success himself, Clark partnered with Doug Dillard after leaving the Byrds.  Dillard & Clark were seminal in cementing folk rock as an American genre with worldwide popularity.  Tom Petty, R.E.M. and, yes, The Shins owe the Byrds in general and Gene Clark in particular a great deal.  Dis not that which you don't know, Dweebs.

 
this dweeb thanks you joelbb   : )            hmmmm, where's liddle roach ...
Posted 6 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
 coloradojohn wrote:
I love how this strikes and reverberates all the chords of the heady flux from the World I Was In As A Kid... I love how it has flashes of Dylan (cool, clever, poetic lyrics), The Animals (Sky Pilot-type atmosphere in there), and while this didn't have Neil Young, for me, it's impossible to hear that flourish at the end without thinking of him. I also love how Tom Petty did a lot to keep The Byrds' sound alive!

 
Wow! Until now I hadn't connected Tom Petty with the Byrds. But, you're right! Thanks for the enlightenment. {#Idea}
Posted 6 years ago by NickDanger    [ Reply ]
I love how this strikes and reverberates all the chords of the heady flux from the World I Was In As A Kid... I love how it has flashes of Dylan (cool, clever, poetic lyrics), The Animals (Sky Pilot-type atmosphere in there), and while this didn't have Neil Young, for me, it's impossible to hear that flourish at the end without thinking of him. I also love how Tom Petty did a lot to keep The Byrds' sound alive!
Posted 6 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
                         
Posted 7 years ago by sfyi2001    [ Reply ]
 treatment_bound wrote:
Love that album cover...did they replace David Crosby with a horse?
 
They should have.  
Posted 7 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
 Stephenater wrote:
This reminds me, I need to watch Easy Rider with my 18 year old son.  
Can't believe I haven't fulfilled this parental duty yet!
 
Now on Netflix; no more excuses!


Posted 7 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
{#Devil_pimp} ZESTY!
Posted 7 years ago by primm    [ Reply ]
This reminds me, I need to watch Easy Rider with my 18 year old son.  

Can't believe I haven't fulfilled this parental duty yet!
Posted 7 years ago by Stephenater    [ Reply ]
Wow... had to stop and turn this up.

I'm rating it a 9, so I'll be able to bump it to a 10 next time I hear it.

One of my favourite Byrds tunes.  I still have the vinyl.

Graham
Somewhere in Kuwait. 
Posted 7 years ago by grahamdillabough    [ Reply ]
Still gives me goosebumps after all these years.
Posted 7 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
 agd3 wrote:
My favorite scene from Easy Rider!

 
mine too°!
Posted 8 years ago by zunismyst    [ Reply ]
My favorite scene from Easy Rider!
Posted 8 years ago by agd3    [ Reply ]
lovely!
Posted 8 years ago by DocStrangelove    [ Reply ]

{#Rolleyes}

 scrubbrush wrote:

Never realized how much these guys sounded like the Monkees.

 


Posted 8 years ago by countyman    [ Reply ]
Never realized how much these guys sounded like the Monkees.
Posted 8 years ago by scrubbrush    [ Reply ]
 zepher wrote:
Is that freedom rock man?



Turn it up.

 
{#Cowboy} love me some hippie chicks
Posted 8 years ago by wrangler    [ Reply ]
{#Cowboy}{#Cowboy}{#Cowboy}{#Cowboy}{#Cowboy}{#Cowboy}{#Cowboy}{#Cowboy}{#Cowboy}{#Cowboy}{#Cowboy}{#Cowboy}{#Cowboy}{#Cowboy}{#Cowboy}{#Cowboy}{#Cowboy}{#Cowboy}{#Cowboy}{#Cowboy}{#Cowboy}{#Cowboy}{#Cowboy}{#Cowboy}{#Cowboy}{#Cowboy}{#Cowboy}{#Cowboy}
Posted 8 years ago by wrangler    [ Reply ]
{#Good-vibes}
Posted 8 years ago by adib    [ Reply ]
{#Cowboy}  {#Motor}
Posted 8 years ago by mgkiwi    [ Reply ]
 {#Hearteyes}

zepher wrote:
Is that freedom rock man?



Turn it up.

 

Posted 9 years ago by mortrates    [ Reply ]
flanger baby, flanger.   not phaser.   8
Posted 9 years ago by stunix    [ Reply ]
Love that album cover...did they replace David Crosby with a horse?
Posted 9 years ago by treatment_bound    [ Reply ]
Why was this song so damn short? It's like negative ions at the waterfall. Need all you can soak in. 
Posted 9 years ago by Grayson    [ Reply ]
wayhey, im back on my cruzer next to Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper, I dont think they had met Jack at this point of the film.       A cracking album but Chestnut mare is the bestest track from it.
Posted 9 years ago by stunix    [ Reply ]
The ultimate hippy recruitment anthem. A Gerry Goffin stroke of genius. Best bit of music in the film, methinks.
Posted 9 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
 WonderLizard wrote:

Isn't this a Goffin/King song?

 
Yes, it is.
Posted 10 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Very, very nice!
Posted 10 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
 zepher wrote:
Is that freedom rock man?



Turn it up.

 
That's just beauty. There is no beauty like feminine beauty.
Posted 10 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
Is that freedom rock man?



Turn it up.
Posted 11 years ago by zepher    [ Reply ]
Good album... Nice mellow music as the folk and rock worlds split into their own orbits...

Sad that some failed to appreciate both sides and sounds or artists who chose one over another.



 
Posted 11 years ago by AndyJ    [ Reply ]
An American supergroup. Of course, made their name with a lot of Dylan covers, but they had some great songs of their own and a unique sound. '60s and '70s sounds wouldn't have been as good without them. 
 
Posted 11 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
 joelbb wrote:
A genuinely beautiful song and the true motto of "Easy Rider" (as well as the very best people in my g-generation).  The extraordinary Gene Clark wrote it, along with "Feel a Whole Lot Better" and "Eight Miles High".  The hippest guy around, Dennis Hopper, knew exactly how good Clark was and used this cut and a couple of original cuts by him in the movie.  Never a big commercial success himself, Clark partnered with Doug Dillard after leaving the Byrds.  Dillard & Clark were seminal in cementing folk rock as an American genre with worldwide popularity.  Tom Petty, R.E.M. and, yes, The Shins owe the Byrds in general and Gene Clark in particular a great deal.  Dis not that which you don't know, Dweebs.
 
Isn't this a Goffin/King song?
Posted 11 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
 myersei wrote:
just watched easy rider for the first time in about 15 years last night.  cool.  rip DH.
 
The last time I saw it, Easy Rider seemed like a disjointed mess. I thought that it was great when it came out however. 
Posted 11 years ago by capandjudy    [ Reply ]
I love this song! Is that Garcia on the pedal steel? 10 in so many ways.
Posted 11 years ago by d-don    [ Reply ]
 joelbb wrote:
A genuinely beautiful song and the true motto of "Easy Rider" (as well as the very best people in my g-generation).  The extraordinary Gene Clark wrote it, along with "Feel a Whole Lot Better" and "Eight Miles High".  The hippest guy around, Dennis Hopper, knew exactly how good Clark was and used this cut and a couple of original cuts by him in the movie.  Never a big commercial success himself, Clark partnered with Doug Dillard after leaving the Byrds.  Dillard & Clark were seminal in cementing folk rock as an American genre with worldwide popularity.  Tom Petty, R.E.M. and, yes, The Shins owe the Byrds in general and Gene Clark in particular a great deal.  Dis not that which you don't know, Dweebs.
 
What he said. Yeah.    {#Guitarist}
Posted 11 years ago by DD gypsyman    [ Reply ]
A genuinely beautiful song and the true motto of "Easy Rider" (as well as the very best people in my g-generation).  The extraordinary Gene Clark wrote it, along with "Feel a Whole Lot Better" and "Eight Miles High".  The hippest guy around, Dennis Hopper, knew exactly how good Clark was and used this cut and a couple of original cuts by him in the movie.  Never a big commercial success himself, Clark partnered with Doug Dillard after leaving the Byrds.  Dillard & Clark were seminal in cementing folk rock as an American genre with worldwide popularity.  Tom Petty, R.E.M. and, yes, The Shins owe the Byrds in general and Gene Clark in particular a great deal.  Dis not that which you don't know, Dweebs.
Posted 12 years ago by joelbb    [ Reply ]
"Oh, I got a helmet!"
Posted 12 years ago by skyguy    [ Reply ]
 MinMan wrote:
That's possible given that The Shins benefit from knowledge of the music produced in the intervening 40 years. Still, they're groundbreaking in their own way.
 

Cars today are so much better than the ones produced 40 years ago.
(Except they almost all look like jelly beans.) {#Mrgreen}
Posted 12 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
... my drivers license, my first harley and this album all in one summer. Couldn't beat the summer of '68. The memories...
Posted 12 years ago by drivingunit103    [ Reply ]
western union..da da da da
Posted 13 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
gooooooooooooooooose bumps{#Sunny}

Posted 13 years ago by kestrel    [ Reply ]
O Wow!  {#Jump}
Posted 13 years ago by spindrift    [ Reply ]
nothing captures that moment better than this
Posted 13 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
The actual album this was from was Notorious Byrd Brothers.  Good album and I always liked this song.
Posted 13 years ago by bachbeet    [ Reply ]
 Gryn wrote:
Nice move from the Shins to The Byrds. Though, I still think the Shins are far better.

  {#Clap} 


Posted 13 years ago by cohifi    [ Reply ]
NOTORIOUS!
Posted 13 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
Crystal clear beauty. This song sparkles through the decades.

Posted 13 years ago by Bleyfusz    [ Reply ]
just watched easy rider for the first time in about 15 years last night.  cool.  rip DH.
Posted 14 years ago by myersei    [ Reply ]
Rest in Peace Dennis Hopper — the eternal easy rider!!!!!!!!
Posted 14 years ago by Randomax    [ Reply ]
My favorite Byrds album. And so apt with the death of Dennis Hopper this week. Nice tribute, if that was the intention.
Posted 14 years ago by Pharlap    [ Reply ]
RIP Dennis Hopper
Posted 14 years ago by casey1024    [ Reply ]
FANTASTIC!
Posted 14 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
me likey—-great movie, of  course, but I have the Byrds boxed set cuz i like em that much.
Posted 14 years ago by Giselle62    [ Reply ]
aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Posted 14 years ago by kestrel    [ Reply ]
ahhhhhh.
Posted 14 years ago by colt4x5    [ Reply ]
...sweet morning music...
Posted 15 years ago by kurtster    [ Reply ]
Our rivers of vision flowed into one another just fine, but on the umpteenth train ride to a different college girlfriend, realized i wasn't born to follow. Then thought about buying an easy rider bike, but a Chicago bus ran me over...ahhh, Clarence W., love ya
Posted 15 years ago by mcYammer    [ Reply ]
Such classic Byrds, even outside of Easy Rider!
Posted 15 years ago by Tana    [ Reply ]
makes me wanna go swimming, maybe in a quarry!
Posted 15 years ago by LongGoneDaddy    [ Reply ]
I always liked Carole King's version better.
Posted 15 years ago by Marley    [ Reply ]
 lwilkinson wrote:
Easy Rider ........... this and a few other songs mark the movie, the time in history and for those of us who were in high school getting to hold our best-girl's hand while Jack Nickelson got his head beat in by a bunch of red necks was priceless.
 

Had very much the same experience !!!
Posted 15 years ago by kurtster    [ Reply ]
BWAH HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
good one.

 Gryn wrote:
Nice move from the Shins to The Byrds. Though, I still think the Shins are far better.
 


Posted 15 years ago by wrangler    [ Reply ]
 gutboy wrote:
Is it just me, or has everybody missed the fact this song is about a sexual encounter
 
You know, probably 3/4 of pop music is about a sexual encounter....wanting one, having one or wishing you hadn't...in one way or another...

Posted 15 years ago by RadioDoc    [ Reply ]
 kaybee wrote:

I think a lot of the music of the 60's wasn't so much pretentious as it was self-indulgent and maybe even naive.  But that's ok!  The 60's were a great influence on rock music.  And you can definitely hear, not the Byrds, but the Beatles influence on the Shins' music.

 
Not so much pretentious or self-indulgent as it was experimental. And that's always something to encourage.

The little sonic touches may sound silly today, but to a high school kid in the late 60s they were an indication that things were happening beyond his/her horizon.

Posted 15 years ago by nagsheadlocal    [ Reply ]
"Another Pleasant Valley Sunday..."
Posted 15 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
I miss Clarence White

Posted 15 years ago by oldman    [ Reply ]
 BasmntMadman wrote:
Lordy...all those colors no one knows the name of...reminds me of Buzz the bush pilot in The Red Green Show. Wasn't Born to Follow may be pretentious, but the Byrds get away with it, and it's a wonderful song.
 
I think a lot of the music of the 60's wasn't so much pretentious as it was self-indulgent and maybe even naive.  But that's ok!  The 60's were a great influence on rock music.  And you can definitely hear, not the Byrds, but the Beatles influence on the Shins' music.

Posted 16 years ago by kaybee    [ Reply ]
Gryn wrote:
Nice move from the Shins to The Byrds. Though, I still think the Shins are far better.
That's possible given that The Shins benefit from knowledge of the music produced in the intervening 40 years. Still, they're groundbreaking in their own way.
Posted 16 years ago by MinMan    [ Reply ]
Always reminds me of Jack in "Easyrider." when I first watched it on the big screen. He made the movie!
Posted 16 years ago by msvogel2    [ Reply ]
a_genuine_find wrote:
nice segue!
Hey, This is a good movie suggestion for the evening...yeah!
Posted 16 years ago by aragon    [ Reply ]
Is it just me, or has everybody missed the fact this song is about a sexual encounter "And if you think I'm ready You may lead me to the chasm where the rivers of our vision Flow into one another". as beautiful and pure as life itself should be , even if it was a one night stand. I know I'm a pig, but come on, it's obvious.
Posted 16 years ago by gutboy    [ Reply ]
Nice move from the Shins to The Byrds. Though, I still think the Shins are far better.
Posted 16 years ago by Gryn    [ Reply ]
Excellent timing. I was just listening to this soundtrack, Notorious Byrd Brothers and Sweethearts of the Rodeo last night.
Posted 16 years ago by mrcookieface    [ Reply ]
nice segue!
Posted 16 years ago by a_genuine_find    [ Reply ]
jjafri wrote:
No Actually this followed "PLeasant Valley Sunday" at least the NBB album and this single did. Everybody knows who the horse on the cover represented. Yes, someone prone to "Mind Gardens: type pretentiousness.
I think Crosby said once that every bit of music he wrote and/or played was under the influence of marijuana. I think that was before he started freebasing, though!
Posted 16 years ago by RedGuitar    [ Reply ]
Easy Rider ........... this and a few other songs mark the movie, the time in history and for those of us who were in high school getting to hold our best-girl's hand while Jack Nickelson got his head beat in by a bunch of red necks was priceless.
Posted 16 years ago by lwilkinson    [ Reply ]
algrif wrote:
Anybody else think that this might have been some sort of influence on the Dead's music?
yeah, due to Owsley!(click here)
Posted 16 years ago by LongGoneDaddy    [ Reply ]
dcdog wrote:
more Byrds!
Yes! Yes!
Posted 16 years ago by dixiedeb    [ Reply ]
more Byrds!
Posted 16 years ago by dcdog    [ Reply ]
Muy Muy Muy Agradable
Posted 16 years ago by Otomi    [ Reply ]
Lordy...all those colors no one knows the name of...reminds me of Buzz the bush pilot in The Red Green Show. Wasn't Born to Follow may be pretentious, but the Byrds get away with it, and it's a wonderful song.
Posted 17 years ago by BasmntMadman    [ Reply ]
Haven't heard that one in ages. Tune
Posted 17 years ago by fidget    [ Reply ]
Always Always Always great to hear some Byrds!
Posted 17 years ago by sharkartist    [ Reply ]
Posted 17 years ago by CCinSB    [ Reply ]
lawman wrote:
6 for the song, +4 for the nostalgia, -2 for the faded dreams, c.40 years later. :-P
AMEN!!
Posted 17 years ago by Ubaldo    [ Reply ]
Don't bogart that joint my friend.........sorry wrong song same movie.
Posted 17 years ago by cutterjudd    [ Reply ]
ahhhh, such a fantastic song.
Posted 17 years ago by lilmisskaleena    [ Reply ]
I enjoyed that!
Posted 17 years ago by ScottishWillie    [ Reply ]