July 2, 2020 “Helplessly Hoping” Crosby, Stills & Nash

This could sum up our current corona circumstances ‘helplessly hoping’ it will all end.

 An impromptu meeting at Joni Mitchell’s Laurel Canyon home in the summer of 1968 found Steven Stills, David Crosby and Graham Nash singing together for the first time and that haphazard meeting would lead to CSN, CSN&Y and extensive solo careers for each of the members.  

 The band members came from The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and The Hollies repectively and were the first of many ‘supergroups’ that would be comprised of musicians with successful careers prior to their new venture. Probably lots of lawyers involved in sorting all that out.

 Graham Nash wrote “Helplessly Hoping” and he once described it as nothing more than an exercise in alliteration which CSN had a penchant for.  Think “lacy, lilting ladies losing love lamenting…”. 

The group included “Helplessly Hoping” in their historic Woodstock performance, the first one, which had them appearing on stage at three AM.  At this concert CSN met with their friend and fellow musician John Sebastian and offered him a spot in the group moving forward which he declined...Crosby, Stills, Nash & Sebastian?

 Stay safe and well...and do some alliterating today.

Helplessly hoping her harlequin hovers nearby

Awaiting a word

Gasping at glimpses of gentle true spirit he runs

Wishing he could fly

Only to trip at the sound of goodbye

 Wordlessly watching he waits by the window and wonders

At the empty place inside

Heartlessly helping himself to her bad dreams he worries

Did he hear a good-bye?

Or even hello?

 They are one person

They are two alone

They are three together

They are for each other

 Stand by the stairway you'll see something certain to tell you

Confusion has its cost

Love isn't lying it's loose in a lady who lingers

Saying she is lost

And choking on hello

 They are one person

They are two alone

They are three together

They are for each other