The Byrds - Wasn't Born To Follow (Audio)

[@ccryder6605]

Image of Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper instantly pops into my mind whenever I hear this song. RIP, guys. What a awesome time it was to be young and free in the 60s.

[@ccryder6605]

@Yogi Bear If only.....

[@david-n2t6u]

truly,.............within the law........my father taught us well..........

[@Bildgesmythe]

Damn, I'm 73 next month. This is still my favorite song!

[@catherinemarks9545]

That was a tripping song for me too.took a couple hits this one time everything went hazy and when it cleared I was dressed as an indian chief,wearing one of those long head dresses,paint on my face and wearing the same clothes as the indians wear with mogisons on my feet.running with a pair of long narrow snowshoes.felt like it went on for ever.lol.😅😅😅😅

[@Martin-rt1wv]

@@Bildgesmythe me too.

[@Stacie45]

The fact that this song is so good, and so short, makes it seem like one of those rare wonderful moments in life that is past before you know it.

[@johnmaer]

It is 2 minutes of sheer joy.....and consider this was the mid 1960's and they didn't even have the digital guitar effects pedals and signal distortion. The Byrds producer used the sound board and the faders, running the instrumental backwards and having it sound like an aural LSD trip, pure distortion, but magical in effect. We had electrostatic super sensitive stereo headphones back in late 60's and this one of those classic tunes we used to lull ourselves to sleep along with tracks like When the Levee Breaks, the Zep cover of the USA blues song.....that stereo of guitars, drum hits, moving from one ear to the other thru your head was an outstanding surrogate for LSD trips without the brain cell damage of the real thing......LOL. Anyone have a time machine?

[@jamesgatto8441]

The ultimate song for the free spirited.

[@deanmary1969]

Ultimate well put 72 movin slower but that Spirit of being one not to Follow is still deep through the decades Ive watched folks that was preachin this conform and now retired not needin confinement actin like they were always that Free Soul ! Never happened ! Gettin ol but refuse to grow up now quote Calvin Russell ol vet way down in TX JD PEACE !

[@corkeyguitarplayer1]

AMEN AMEN

[@kidkong637]

Easy Rider!

[@avengernemesis7990]

Oh yes...I agree... Free spirited..Australia

[@cstroud]

48 yrs of not following … all I can say is freedom ain’t so free 😂👏🏻👊🏻

[@vinzelrato]

This is more than a song, it is a true freedom anthem !

[@corkeyguitarplayer1]

AMEN

[@reneg.1620]

True!

[@televinv8062]

...and masterpiece. 👍🙏

[@kikeheebchinkjigaboo6631]

What freedom?? U pay for freedom

[@edwarddalton9710]

You nailed it, dude!

[@tradewins]

One of the high lights of my teenage life was an acid trip I took alone at home one Saturday night and when it was at its peak I listened to this album and also Laura Nyro's Eli and the 13th Confession. The music was a living presence in the room that pulsated with radiant spirit and energy. Those albums are imprinted on my being..something I'll always be grateful for.

[@river-jordan612]

My fave trippin' tune too!

[@AndyBigDaddyWilkinson]

Thank you ...Im the nut in the family who sings and is happy....who lives and breathes music..wHATS wrong with Andy ./??? But .you understand ...you are like me...I could never quite explain what happens to me or why I feel the way I do to someone who doesn't get.it ..Now i have the perfect answer....music is a living presence that has been forever imprinted on my soul./....Tradewins ...you brought happy tears to my soul today....peACE

[@bd7077]

This song is just beautiful on a trip.

[@miyukishijisha8540]

Yep, nothing quite like it, not these days though.

[@noonespecial4171]

@@AndyBigDaddyWilkinson bless your heart ♥

[@gurusoft1]

Most underrated album in the history of rock. Unleashed a torrent of new sounds!

[@williamdonnelly224]

Agree. An absolute masterpiece.

[@elizabethlinsay9193]

Agreed × 1,000%

[@robertmchugh4639]

Yes!

[@donaldloehr4300]

Not only this album, but the group as well.

[@karlkellar8614]

Not a weak song on the album.

[@WilliamElliott-xt1uw]

The Byrds music has stood up to the test of time. A great listen

[@halseytaylor9522]

Blending the 12 string and the pedal steel guitars with a near perfect vocal harmony makes this one of the most exceptional pieces of music artistry from a time filled with musical genius.

[@peternewman3487]

So true and well said.

[@dannystrat]

A perfect song. The timbre of the voices; the lyrics; the brevity of the performance. It has it's own niche.

[@pbrucpaul]

Very pleasant. The Byrds were very talented with transcending Folk with Psycheadelia in the 60's. That 'pulse' is what made them popular in the 60's. The L.A scene as well as the San Francisco scene really established more than a musical movement, but more of that consciousness that was growing back then. They were more than just that spaced out appearance that I remember on the "Ed Sullivan show (Good God like Ed was "Tuned in" ) ! I still dig it!

[@karlkellar8614]

I agree completely. The imagery is outstanding (crystal colors no one knows the name of, legendary fountain). In a weird way it reminds me of a Jack Vance story, The Galactic Prime. Incidentally, it was written by Goffin and King, who also contributed Going Back to this album, another of my all-time favorites.

[@randomstardust1365]

Rest well David Crosby, & thanks for all the great music.

[@waltertaylor5395]

I am 69 now and still have trouble following. Do not have any trouble enjoying great music like this. Thank you for putting up so o can add it to my workout playlist.

[@kennyh5083]

Epic! Was perfect for the Easy Rider Movie!

[@karlkellar8614]

I've loved this song ever since the first time I heard it, when it first came out.

[@simonkeel3030]

I love this song because it is talking about disconnecting from society and wandering nature in a psychedelic haze.

[@jaxes88]

R.I.P Peter Fonda! I was thinking of you and this song today as I was riding through the desert.

[@meowmeow-cr5sn]

Those damn hillbillies shot him 😔

[@ExplorerDS6789]

He and Dennis Hopper are cruising down the highway to Heaven.

[@fredrickhawthorne5418]

Goes from folk/country ish rock to pure psychedelic and back

[@dustinlang5135]

It's like it's combining the best genres in one song!

[@abelsietecuatro9249]

sounds like American-Indian song.

[@randallhultz]

53years later I still love psychedelic rock 58 years old I love psychedelic rock and heavy metal couldn't ask for better music

[@kontorvers]

The most important song in my life ! (No not the best but the most value one)

[@billhannis6095]

"she may beg, she may plead, she may argue with her logic . . ." god damn I love this song; there's just something about it . . .

[@joefront1969]

oThe only problem with this song is that it is too short.

[@kiwancurley304]

A free spirit is never born to follow.

[@johnfabozzi3636]

You said it perfectly know other words needed can express that

[@johnfabozzi3636]

You said it perfectly no other words are needed to express that

[@rustymerle]

RIP Captain America...Great influence for a 14 yo kid in 1969 to go your own way in life.

[@stephenhanson4513]

one of the great songs ever

[@MINIAWARFR]

+stephen hanson (“quadrunner”) still is :))

[@vincentfuhrer1182]

This was when rock & roll was great!!

[@terrykrauth830]

ROCK N ROLL IS STILL GREAT. BEST MUSIC EVER.............. .

[@BenDover-lm1kq]

This is like country music on acid.

[@bobalbin3659]

It still is. Check out My Morning Jacket.

[@fargeeks]

@@bobalbin3659 weird ass band name The first time i heard of them was then they were on tv and showing this song called highly suspicious

[@mixail201211]

@@BenDover-lm1kq that's what rock n roll essentially is - country on coke and acid mixed with blues scale

[@MichaelSmith-jw8qw]

great guitar work and harmonies here--used in the film Easy Rider--fantastic piece of music

[@rodneybaker2643]

Aah,,😊I’m 72 I’ve loved Byrds since 16 -mr Tambourine man/times they are a changing!,,, (indeed😂) but this song is just so special and beautiful! Captures everything that was so special about the Byrds and the times-and just maybe the purest Byrds album !

[@anthonyflynn9953]

In one word? Terrific! The whole album.

[@Anonymous12465]

Psychedelic, maaaaannn

[@elizabethlinsay9193]

As psychedelic as it comes!

[@juicerversion1236]

noah ? is that you??

[@devster52]

Awesome arrangement that worked perfectly in Easy Rider. A Gerry Goffin & Carole King song.

[@alanFconrad]

this song is another gem by Carole King

[@fanviewijsselmeer]

Goffin wrote the lyrics and King provided the music

[@HeronPoint2021]

@@fanviewijsselmeer Goffin?? do you really mean "Geffen"??!

[@alanFconrad]

he's right,,,,its Carole's then husband Gerry Goffin@@HeronPoint2021

[@networkcobbler]

@@HeronPoint2021 Nope, it was Gerry Goffin, her husband and lyricist.

[@harrynelsonjr3921]

A great Byrd song that should have gotten more airtime RIP Pete .

[@davidmurray2539]

The Byrds had a loyal following of millions. Notorious Byrd Bros was the first high profile offering of technology's major role in creating great rock music that was to come some ten years on. Just ask members of all those late 70's, 80's bands out of Great Britain, from Joy Division through The Cure and Depeche Mode. NBB inspired and provided the blueprint for many of the sounds which emerged from that musically rich era.

[@Hopeless_and_Forlorn]

October, 1972, I was riding through New Mexico on a motorcycle trip when I saw my shadow thrown by a setting sun onto the desert beside the road. In the racket of the wind inside my helmet I could hear this song playing as clearly as when I first heard it in the best motorcycling movie of all time. Did Carole King even ride? How in the world did she write the perfect biker song?

[@pbrucpaul]

A really good combination of Folk, country, and Psychadelic Rock. Steady Bass and a Rhythm for a Polka or Texas 2- step. The Harmony is Legend with this group.

[@pbrucpaul]

At 1:04 it sounds like they dipped this nuimber in 'Acid'.

[@elizabethlinsay9193]

One if the best albums of all time!

[@415JayTee]

Absolute classic. Timeless.

[@pickles25]

Oh I'd rather go and journey where the diamond crest is flowing and Run across the valley beneath the sacred mountain and Wander through the forest Where the 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 it's clear and jewelled 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 want to die beneath the white cascading waters She may beg, she may plead, she may argue with her logic And then she'll know the things I learned That really have no value in the end she will surely know I wasn't born to follow

[@sportsmediaamerica]

Thank you, Carole King & Gerry Goffin--and the Byrds for this definitive version.

[@samuelbutterworth]

Dive beneath, not die beneath 🤪

[@tom.hoffmann6585]

Yes

[@steviesugano6355]

....Thanks for posting the lyrics. A Classic Beauty. :+)

[@maureendevries1904]

Kudos to Carole King

[@Sandbagger300]

I wish that riff was at Least 1 Minute longer!

[@clarenzlarka]

Such a trippy contrast to move smoothly from a folky country tune to a psychedelic bridge. McGuinn was such a genius as an arranger.

[@johndoudna7055]

Country acid rock!!!

[@swittle]

Much more than simply part of a soundtrack of days long passed and sorely missed.

[@JammyGit]

Beautiful song that touches my soul ✌️

[@jimharris2897]

'67 was a truly transitional year. Summer of love and anti-war riots. Not to mention short board surfing revolutions and Owsley getting put out of business. But "The Canyon was rockin' and tasting country flavors. Peace, love, and aloha y'all.

[@waltertaylor5395]

Remember this from the Easy Rider soundtrack 8 track tape in an old Chevy panel truck with a couple of dirt bikes in the back. Cant believed I lived long enough to make these ancient memories. Tune still makes me feel good all these years later. Thanks for putting it out there!

[@dalegriffin6768]

This is such great song,im your for this,i grew up in the 80's, but i honestly believe that the 60's had the greatest music.The bands were just more talented

[@thewordofgord]

A short work of pure genius. From the album that was Roger McGuinns Sgt. Pepper.

[@georgefelton2975]

I've read that McGuinn and Hillman pretty much finished the album by themselves.

[@garyonderisin8338]

one of the best rock albums ever. this song has meant so much to me ever since it first heard, what a genius song. what a genius band.

[@larryprimeau5885]

a great song a work of art

[@wolfspear04]

Blows the original out of the water.

[@Jkered215]

My dad who was born in 1960 grew up on this music and introduced it to me at an early age when he brought home the movie easy rider. One of my favorite movies ever and one of the best soundtracks ever. I’m now 22 and still love jamming to these groovy tunes maaaannn

[@shahrukhalimirza4470]

One of the greatest albums of all time 😍

[@prollyhighrightnow]

It’s impossible to listen to this and not feel happy! 😀

[@lefkytheshin]

What a beautiful song. Long may you roam.

[@keithburgess9822]

Really captures the essence of Easy Rider doesn't it? Lyrical poetic sweetly melodic wasnt born to follow

[@karlamckinney8947]

If this isn't the late 60's early 70's I don't know what is.

[@krumple8560]

A classic by any measure.

[@Zopf-international]

One of the greatest early treasures in my life was hearing Draft Morning heading into Wasn't Born to Follow. Oh boy!

[@thundergod1298]

Loved this from the first time I heard it on Easy Rider. Didn't know it was written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin....

[@robertpattison7988]

Thundergod129 all so initially recorded by the Monkees, just the musical parts though.

[@simontaylor2319]

Short, but one their best

[@alexandrag4179]

Reminds me of a very special someone, when we were listening to this song in his car while kissing, windows rolled down with the summer night air all around us. Thank you for the great memories, The Byrds.

[@golden.lights.twinkle2329]

You just can't separate this song from the movie once you have seen the movie.

[@manjacovus5342]

Yes, you can 😊

[@kaede7876]

1:25 is so good, that effect on the guitar.... kinda warped sounding

[@SkycladWanderer]

Rest is peace buddy, thank you for all the great art.

[@farhanarshad3678]

Its a beautiful song with such soothing music thought provoking lyrics.

[@MSYNGWIE12]

Dear Melanie- just yesterday morning I was listening, admiring your wardrobe! And of course all the wondrous music you gave to a couple of lost generations and I had no idea you had died- So now I pay my respects to your family and wherever your gentle soul is, may you have found whatever you desired...Love another hippie chick who found comfort thru many a dark day in your music.

[@ronaldalanperry4875]

Why must this absolutely delicious song be so damned short!

[@Texeq]

The best Byrds album

[@WeirdenGilling]

Can't separate this from Easy Rider. One of the best song/scene fits in movie history

[@carrollhughes2354]

I'm blessed to have been born in the best generation! LIBERATING!!

[@roccodimiccio5199]

And it’s overrrrr. Nothing lasts

[@SuperBuzzy57]

From my days. What an impression music like this had on me. The open road meant that a breakdown left you miles from anything. But people back then weren't afraid to help.

[@Fordworldrallyfan]

Just LOVE Clarence's twangcaster picking on that 'outro' (and through the WHOLE GREAT song for that matter)!! :)

[@robertclifford2470]

Lots of people saying they live in the wrong generation, but the way I see it(I'm 17) our generation gets to appreciate this music so much more because we know how bad it can be.

[@Heretic_Hero]

Plus we can listen to this whenever we want

[@tom.hoffmann6585]

The Byrds have always been super great 😀

[@martinbench3657]

Maybe , just maybe their best album

[@ChrisDutch]

As good as any 2:05 ever recorded. R.I.P. Gerry Goffin.

[@Bildgesmythe]

Best song ever!

[@plrndl]

This recording should have an award for "Best Use of Phasing in a Musical Performance" (EVER)! I wasn't born to follow, but I make an exception for the Byrds.

[@mrsoikawa]

Beautiful lyrics

[@Bildgesmythe]

My favorite song

[@joelgalvan8358]

Draft morning was a very underrated song. Lyric, to learn to kill and take the will from, unknown faces.

[@peternewman3487]

Beautiful music.

[@wmStubblefield]

Never gets old.

[@blackholeentry3489]

I play it at least once a week.

[@kirkdavis7360]

What a time to be free

[@briancorriveau5134]

"The Notorious Byrd Brothers" is a fantastic LP, beginning to end.

[@williamwalker2461]

LOve the Byrds!

[@raymondkb2nzo788]

Great song

[@bgebbq314]

I love this incredibly beautiful song.

[@reneg.1620]

Me too.

[@robertmncnaughto623]

rip mate thanks for the music gbnf

[@JeffCorey-nh8on]

Gene Clark wrote this song and sang lead. He left the Band because the others were jealous of the song royalties he received for the first Two Byrd Albums. Crosby was a backup singer very important to the sound.

[@nateswanke3368]

love this song just wish it were looonger

[@billfussman8859]

Always good to take a trip by yourself, cleanse your mind, speak with your spirit guide. You'll never hear unless you really listen........

[@davidbeckman7925]

Carole King brought me here. She brings me everywhere.

[@cliffcrabtree4359]

1:02,the flanger section... Amazing on headphones !!!,😎

[@wsemmons2001]

🎧🔊🔊🔊

[@finderskeepers5343]

Just about the greatest song ever!

[@odedfried-gaon2880]

gotta love that flanger!

[@Jake-jd1zg]

NEED A LONGER VERSION!

[@robinmatyjasek7390]

At first I couldn't believe that this was written by Carole King... but then I realised that it couldn't have been written by any other...

[@nataliacarolina97]

Oh I'd rather go and journey where the diamond crest is flowing 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 want to dive beneath the white cascading waters She may beg, she may plead, she may argue with her logic And 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.

[@alicefly3198]

Thanks for posting lyrics! For the last 46 years I thought he was saying "castle" instead of "chasm" lol

[@petersack5074]

Wish that THE ASSOCIATION, group and some of this type of bands, woulda gotten together back then ; coulda been a heck of a show. Add Fifth Dimension into it, too. Group 'em all together on one stage.....

[@miyukishijisha8540]

Great Mc Guinn vocals as always

[@johnuowitt5441]

One of my favourite '60 albums

[@gliextra6097]

A BIG man flying to join the other BIGs who are slowly leaving, leaving us with the feeling of being all more or less "orphans", but luckily for us we are the HEIRS of their music which will continue as always to accompany our days forever...!!! R.I.P. DAVID ❤ P.S. DENNIS HOPPER for the look of his character in the film EASY RIDER was openly inspired by DAVID CROSBY ☮

[@waltmills9342]

great tune

[@kijekuyo9494]

"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 "You may lead me to the chasm where the rivers of our visions flow into one another."