Southern Cross

I heard this song on and off for many years. I actually had no clue who the band was. Just that this song was so moving. I thought it was a Christian song because of the words "Southern Cross" and heaven. It's certainly a heavenly song.

October 31,1982 at a Halloween Party just outside of Chicago I met Michael and it was love at first site. The first time he kissed me that night was to Southern Cross and from that moment on it has been our song. It has been 29 years since then and even though miles and long distance separate us now we still keep in touch by phone everyday. He lives in Wisconsin and I live in Louisiana. We are still each others best friend and Southern Cross brings back wonderful memories we made. Its a beautiful song with true meaning and will always be our song. Its hard being apart and so far away and when I hear this song it makes me feel 16 and in love with him all over again. We never fell out of love with each other. and he is still my soul-mate as I am his. This is one song that will never get old nor will I tire of hearing it over and over again in my car.

"Bested" as I always understood, is "one up on you".

I, imho, understand this song to represent a love without the true meaning of a couples love they share. Perhaps a love or bonding they would like to share but neither are commited to.

In the song he admits his love for her "is tied with a silver chain", proclaiming his feeling.

As far as the "women/girl" mention ... try singing it without using the word "girl". I think he is asking for the girl to be more mature and ask her to be so. Endure has a closer rhyme to girl, imho.

A few nautical reminders here: 1. If you left NSW or anywhere in Australia, the Southern Cross would always be visible. You wouldn't first come upon it after a few weeks of sailing. 2. To be on a beam reach at the start, you have to be sailing through the northerlies. The southerlies flow in the opposite direction. 3. A "following sea" would indicate the vessel is on a quarter reach, meaning that the vessel would have to be sailing southwest through the westbound trade winds. 4. A Boat drawing 80 feet of waterline is only 40 feet long. Not the most seaworthy vessel I'd want to navigate the open Pacific, and I've done it. Nice song, even though David Crosby still turns my stomach.

My vote for a "noisy bar in Avalon" is Luau Larry's in Avalon CA, as some have mentioned. Check out Frommers for reference. I believe the downhill run was from Long Beach or Southern CA on the Tahiti Run.

Grinch, Ann Arbor, MI, take your own advice and look up "coconut milk run"

I always thought it was Papeete Bay. but it isn't. Papeete is pronounced as 4 sylables, Pa-pa-AY-tay. You can check it out on Dictionary.com.

The line "You will survive being bested" .. is the author's inner voice telling him he's going to be OK after being bested (or dumped) by his chick. Which goes together with the next line "someone fine will come along and make me forget about loving you"

This song makes me feel profound emotions.

I believe this song represents his love for the 'goddess' (woman/child, "and music is her name" = the planet venus: a feminine planet ruling love and beauty and harmony (music). Isis is stationed as the protector of the South over the sons of Horus (horoscope), and the idea is that the love of the goddess is forever, she will surely pass the test and he shall be reunited with her eventually, more than likely when the "cross", N/S/E/W moves to a new position (precession of the equinoxes). This is a beautiful song and an enduring message.

I certainly don't agree with some of the "interpretations" in the comments, but to each his own...except for you boneheads from that think the song has ANYTHING to do with LA. Jeez, that is some first class weed you've got!!! Avalon DOES NOT refer to Catalina Island, anymore than it does the legendary city in England!!! The song is about a boat trip in Oceana, and so it is either Avalon, Victoria, or Avalon, NSW, both in Australia. Given the geography of Tahiti (Papeete) and the Marquesas I would opt for that in NSW, but perhaps somebody from Oz can provide some input on that. Some of you folks seriously need to use your brain before your post...IMHO.

this is one of those tracks that you either get or dont, you interpret it in your own mind, to me it seems like Judy Collins said nay too many times he gave up and sailed off to get over it,discovered himself and got perspective, it happens, I know, and the southern cross? Magnificent on an autumn night in New Zealand or Gold Coast summer nights in Brisbane Australia, I know I lived them and this is one of the 100 I have to listen to before you die. only 99 to go...

All the different interpretations are valid. That's what makes it a work of art.

This is one of my favorite songs to hear come alive in the mall loudspeakers. It brings on memories of my childhood listening to my family "the Curtis Brothers" perform it in my living room. The virgin form may be available someday. We are striving to collect and protect Rick and Mike's music. Many stories have yet to be told, But its very refreshing to see that my family hasn't been forgotten. on "you Tube" you can see this song performed live to a huge packed stadium and they give the Curtis Brothers a shout out. Please go to www.jennifercurtis.net and support Ricks daughter. also www.myspace.com/savetheship and check out his youngest daughters musical efforts. God bless. soulseer117@gmail.com

excellent vocals,

Iam new to this fact site, so many options, wow,I was there really there the first time anyone heard 7 league boots, Rick down on one knee w/ guitar 10am , Mike not up! I just wrote this and want to know what you think? He often made me the lucky listener for new things, He had faith in me as a song writer so I am indebted to him a great deal. Rick just kept writing and was ever so humble about his abilities, almost 50 years have gone by since we met, and alls I can say is there is more of his music out there!!! The original lyrics manifest the vision, Steve took this beautiful vision and gave it to the universe,thanks to Steve and his acknowledgment of Ricks work. Rick Curtis has written some really beautiful songs please listen!! "As I walk down the rippling road , made by the wind thru the fences" Butch,C.B. Or.

Logan, I believe the Port of Avalon is located on the Catalina, California, Channel Islands. Not Panama.

RE: "There is a vocal mistake in the line "But it's as big as the promise, the promise of a coming day." One of the vocalists says "coming" on the first "promise." (thanks, Dave - Leesburg, VA)"

I'm straining to hear that error (at ~2:11 in my version of the track). It sort of sounds like Stills pronouncing "prOmise" like "prUmise." Did CS&N themselves mention it as a gaffe? It's subtle enough that they must have left it in, figuring few would notice.

Hello from the third world...
It seems that the "boat" is Music itself, in which someone sails the seas of life. Holly and Joe got the spirit... that's what music is for. :)
By the way, the Crux also figures in Brazil's flag.
All the best...

Stills recorded this song for a solo album in 1979. His label at the time (Columbia) didn't release the album. It was rerecorded for Daylight Again. The 1979 solo version of Southern Cross is included on the album "Songs of Stephen Stills". It sounds more alot like Manassas.

This song gives me, Joe Bratcher, the hunger. The void in me spreads out and the salty spray gushes in and makes me a sailing singularity, eager for kinship on the quantum level, i.e. with Holly who is but thoroughly impressed with my expert interpretation of this song, which everyone should read. Do not delete me again moderator. This comment is germaine and deserves to stay. :)

Joe in Sarasota...are you single...and straight? my heart absolutely aches when I hear this song and you just, so elequently, expressed why. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!

I love the comments, esp Heather's in LA. I always sing that part too. I dont think there's any hidden meanings. Like Steven Stills said, he's singing about the sailing trip he took to get over his divorce. There's some sadness and regret behind his lyrics, but, ultimately, CSN's great singing and Stills' lyrics turn it into a song of hope. I love it.

David Crosby did not write this song. I don't know about the Curtis references here but Stephen Stills is responsible for the CSN song.

Also, none of them own a boat called Southern Cross. David Crosby did have a large sailboat named Mayan. In fact, it is currently for sale (July 2009) for $1M.

ok, It's about a boat trip Stills took once..no hidden meanings..he plugged in some lyrics that fit the rhythm, rhyme and harmony he and the Curtis brothers were looking for. Nothing more than a fabric of some reality and some likely drug induced thoughts to sell a song..nothing more.
Although it does stir some emotion about sailling the South Pacific, and it also has a few references to to actual places and names, remember,..."it's just some words to a f--king song"..to quote Stills own words to some guy in a bar who posted this account on another forum. AS a song writer myself and intrumentalist , I see hyper-analyzation of song meanings all the time.
It's a sad commentary on todays music, but many songs are written with lyrics that are important more because they ryhme, and less beacause they fit the meaning of what a writer/singer would try to pass on to listeners. Take for instance, when I was a young man we spent hours sitting around, drinking ans smoking..try to figure out the meaning of Procul Harem's "Whiter Shade of Pale".
Still havent got the answer to that one because there is no meaning. A bunch of guys sat around drinking and smoking and whatever, and came up with some words that ryhmed to a melody that was sing-able. Nothing more...MMMMMMM?...and the ceiling flew away.....go figure!

I really don't think the song is about the stars. It really sounds to me more like its about the ships "The Southern Cross". At the time the song was written "The Southern Cross" was racing for the Americas cup based in Los Angeles where the song was written (and likely popular in the local papers and media at the time).

To Robert in Chicago and Meg in Virginia: Please ge in touch with us! I am Jennifer Curtis' foster sister (Rick's daughter, Mike's neice) and we'd love to hear from you.
Please email us at goddessdirect@roadrunner.com and visit www.JenniferCurtis.net

I wish I knew Robert in Chicago. I once had a tape with 7 League Boots on it and I think it got stolen. I knew the Curtis family a LONG time ago. Richard died about ten years ago. You know they wrote Blue Letter that Fleetwood Mac recorded? And sister Patty Schauer wrote Don't Mess With a Woman that Helen Reddy recorded? Ah, the good old days...

I always looked at it this way: the singer has had two great and equal loves in his life, the woman and the sea. He ultimately had to choose between them, and his choice was to sail on. Though the sea is a beautiful, captivating mistress it can never truly return the love to him like that woman/girl did. Wonderful song, fantastic group, and thank you all for pondering and loving it as much as this mountain gal always has.

Ok, this is totally different than what everybody's written about this song, but I believe it was inspired by David Crosby's life. First off, it came out not too long after his autobiography detailing his struggles with crack cocaine. He had a boat named Music, which is the only thing he never sold for crack. He mentions in the book that it helped keep him together to dream of getting straight someday and be able to sail far enough to see the Southern Cross one more time. He had a girlfriend that stuck with him during the dark years and it sounds like he is singing to her. There are many other parts of the song that seem to match Crosby's life. I know Crosby didn't write the song, but his story was well-known by the time this song came out. Crosby's book was titled Long Time Gone. (I am still amazed that Crosby is still alive after reading this book.)

Awesome song! Makes me want to take up sailing. Great insight Logan, gives the song so much more meaning.

"I've been searching for that woman, girl, who knows love can endure" He is not searching for a woman and a girl. He simply addresses the woman as girl, like "hey, girl". He has been vainly searching for someone like her who also believes in a lasting love, which obviously she doesn't because she ran away from him and his lifestyle. Detailed sailing terminology is used to establish his experience and credibility of being out on the water a lot, alluding to his solo wanderlust, of course incompatible with a stable relationship. He is older now and the dream of having her or finding someone like her is dying. The love they shared is the pinnacle for him. Regarding "I have my ship and all her flags are a flyin'. She is all that I have left and music is her name ..." There is no boat named music. This very song is now the ship carrying on his love for her. It's all he has left. "You will survive being bested" means he is claiming the majority of the responsibility for their demise. He was best at causing the problems, though she is not without fault. Finding someone who will make him forget about loving her "IN the southern cross" is impossible and he knows it. It is a lonely statement that her love has guided him (like the southern cross) but that love itself is unreachable. Its purpose is to teach. The song consistently conveys a tone that he does accept his condition, that is without her love, but only because their relationship and its troubles have taught him dire yet essentially spiritual things about himself. Ultimately, the song uses its considerable power and weight to remind those in love to nurture it because once it is lost or damaged beyond repair, there may be grave and permanent heartache. Bon voyage, lonely vagabonds.

In response to Paul's comment. I was under the impression that the last verse was cynical. "We cheated, and we lied, and we tested, and we never failed to fail..." etc. I always thought that he meant that he bested her at being a bad person, and that she would survive that. Also that when he says "somebody fine will come along..." etc. that he was openly lying to himself, knowing it wouldn't happen, but saying it anyway, because he knows he screwed up. Either way--it's a powerful song for the fact that either of us could be right! Thanks for the comments. They made me ponder it again!

crosby stills and nash were actually all atheist

To Robert from Chicago:

Please steer me to Michael and the "virgin idea".
I want to hear & "7 League Boots".

The first verse is:

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 Bay

Their destination is Fiji (the Southern Islands; they will first make landfall in Tahiti at Papeete. Sailing on a reach means the wind is coming from abeam, straight from the side, the best point of sail. Before a following sea is just what it sounds like.
Also, Still apparently never owned a boat names Music or Southern Cross or anything else. Crosby had one named Mayan.

In response to Garth's comment: Saying "and the Southern Cross" would indeed create the meaning you suggest, but that is exactly the OPPOSITE of what the song clearly says. "You will survive being bested/Somebody fine will come long, make me forget about loving you..." It isn't saying that it's unlikely, it's saying it WILL happen: "hey, babe, someday someone will make me forget you." Thus, the "you will survive being bested" line.

Posted 2/11/2008. "Southern Cross" was one of my favorite songs back in 1982. Living in Florida my Dad got me & my brother scuba diving lessons during the summer of 1982. Aside from just being a good song I remember this song would evoke memories of my times out on the ocean that summer going out on boat trips for various dives near the Keys, etc. This song fit just right for that imagery. I got the album "Daylight Again" back then and I must say that I thought that this was a pretty decent album. C, S & N (& Y) were really big when they first started out back around 1969-1970, but aside from their 1977 hit "Just A Song Before I Go", I hadn't heard much from them until this 1982 comeback album of sorts. They've always been a classic with their beautiful harmonies & late 1960's counter-culture vibe, so it was nice to see them come back with this refreshingly good album. "Southern Cross" was my favorite off of it, and also featured the hit "Wasted On The Way", and there's this incredibly beautiful mellow David Crosby song on there called "Delta". Love that one. Aside from being a good LP though it didn't hurt that "Daylight Again" had this really great album cover! It's a painting by Gilbert Williams called "Celestial Visitation" of these 3 blue-glowing U.F.O.s in the mountains. Really cool-looking! One of my all-time favorite album covers for sure. So between the music & the cover art "Daylight Again" was a pretty good all-around package in my opinion. Way to go, guys. Thanks for that one.

Stephen Stills was in love w/Judy Collins...twice she ran away...also the inspiration for Suite Judy Blue Eyes

Various lyrics sites list the last line as being "At the Southern Cross" or "In the Southern Cross", and neither makes as much sense to me as "AND the Southern Cross" (the 'and' sung as 'n'), as if to say "I'm as likely to forget about loving you as I am to forget seeing the Southern Cross."

The lyric, "and my love is an anchor to you, tied with a silver chain" is wonderful. I always sing this part.

I must say that this is one of the remarkable performances that has it all. I was lucky enough to stumble on a great painting titled "Thermoplae and Cutty Sark". This is of the race between two clippers. Underneath on the website were the words and recording of Southern Cross. I have been on the clipper "Cutty Sark" preserved at Greenwich, London, England. One can close one's eyes and dream a little, hard though the reality of sail was- and is.
Well, it is hard to put it into words, but the absolute pleasure when I hear it. I accept the whole great sound and will never tire of it.

One of the greatest songs of all times, reminds me of a girl named Molly.

The line "And the downhill run
To Papeete." is referring to the longest open ocean sail stretch on the planet. It starts in Avalon, or the Port of Avalon which is located on the east coast of Panama and travel west to Papeete which is a city in Tahiti. I believe I remember it is like 2500 miles of open ocean until you see the first unhibited island and then another thousand somthing miles until you reach Papeete. My father who is the one who shared that with me also said that the Port of Avalon is always packed with boats that are each waiting for the perfect moment to set sail because once you begin you cannot turn around. Hints the "Downhill Run".

Steve Stills is the man.

Here are some pieces of trivia about Southern Cross Beer- one fictional, one real.
1. The beer that is drunk in the 1958 Plymouth during the 1983 Stephen King/John Carpenter horror film "Christine" toward the end is called Southern Cross. Someone once told me that the "beer" was really Cragmont Cola (Safeway's old house brand, discontinued around 10 years ago) in old-school tin cans.
2. A few years ago, I heard about "Southern Cross Wheat Beer" from Australia, but I never tried it. I don't know if it is still being brewed.
That finishes my lecture about Southern Cross Beer.

This song is timeless, beautiful & romantic. I listen to this amazing group all the time,my kids love them too.Hard to beleive they've been singing and writing these magical songs for forty years.They are a treasure,and have touched millions of people. The first song they knew by heart was " Teach your Children"

The Southern Cross is also emblematic for Brazil. It appears in the national flag, in the seal and other symbols. The first reference to the constellation in the brazilian land was made by a german astronomer who was along with Pedro Álvares Cabral's fleet, the portuguese discoverer of the country in 1500. The cross pattern is very symbolic and strongly visible in the darkness of the nights. The longest part of the cross indicates the South. That is why Southern Cross is useful for navigators, including those in South Pacific like the guy in CS&N's song.
- Carlos Alberto, São Paulo, Brazil

Their best song ..reminds me of college

I don't know if my post got on, but I will try again. Southern Cross is a great song, no doubt but it really kinda gets to me when I see that Stephen Stills wrote the song with some "HELP"from Richard & Michael Curtis. This is obviously misleading and credit should be rightly given where credit is due. No, Stephen didn't write Southern Cross, with 'help' from the Curtis'. The Curtis' wrote Southern Cross, with a little help from Stephen Stills---mainly his publishing co., Gold Hill, his status, and his insistence in re-writing the lyrics to a song called "7 League Boots", written by the Curtis' years earlier.I, friends know this as fact because I knew Richard very well and listen to the original demo all the time complete with Stevie Nicks backup vocals and Lindsey Buckingham behind the console producing it. although I enjoy both versions, and as good as "Southern Cross" is...I prefer the original, "7 League Boots" myself...but of course, that's just me. A great song anyway one slices it, but i do take issue with disinformation.It's funny, behind the scenes that is, and people's misguided perceptions. I will gladly steer you to Richard's surviving brother Michael, so that you can hear the virgin idea in it's pure form...for those of you out there into the spirit of the artistry of songwriting, it is awesome, how the song went through the transformative process...I find it just captivating!

I absolutely love this song. It is so well crafted and I truly salute the writers. As I listen to the song I imagine that I am sailing, using the Southern Cross to navigate. (This from a person who has never been sailing!)

Great song- cover of the album "Daylight again" reminds me of a Journey album cover.

Concious, intelligent, moving song. A work of art.

this is an awesome song. i saw CSN in concert in Northampton, MA, and they played this. the crowd went wild. it was intense.

This is such a beatiful song! I have a live version that is incredible! One of your best, Mr. Crosby-thank you for the beautiful music!

I, too, think this is a great song. I sang it to my son every night for a year after he was born. I have an idea regarding the "plot" of the song. I think the man telling the story was married or partnered with a woman and they had a child--I think that's why he refers to searching for that "woman/girl." I think this is backed up by the fact that she ran away twice. I think she ran away because she had to get away, discovered she was pregnant and thought it would be best to come back. Before she told him, she realized that she'd be better off without him. This is also backed up by "love can endure" which suggests that the love he has will endure through his child.

This recording has David Crosby in name only as he had reached the depths of his excesses his vocals were handled by Art Gurfunkel and Timothy B. Schmit

This is such a beautiful song, I wish more was included about the real meaning behind it instead of just flat facts.

It's the most beautiful song i ever heard in my life !!!I love Crosby,Stills and Nash , they are great musicians !!!

I remember when this song first came out in the early 80's. I was watching it on MTV while I was getting ready for school. I was running late that day, but I didn't care. I had to hear this song. I felt this song back then and I still do.

Actually his boat's name is "Music" as in "...she is all that I have left and Music is her name"

This song is one of my all time FAVORITES...it's so pretty. It was my childhood (and i'm only 18 now), and i love playing this on guitar. It's so uplifting! This song rocked in concert on July 19, 2004 at the Finger Lakes Performing Arts Center in NY. Rock on, CS&N!!!

I believe it's also the name of Stephen Stills's Boat