Triad by Jefferson Airplane

Album: Crown of Creation (1968)

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This is about a ménage à trois, otherwise known as a three-way (we heard). Byrds guitarist/vocalist David Crosby wrote the song, but when The Byrds rejected it, he gave it to Jefferson Airplane. Crosby states in interviews that this is not merely "about" three-way relationships, but that the song "happened, several times." Crosby was involved for some time in the late 1990s-early 2000s with both Melissa Etheridge and her partner, Julie Cypher, and was the biological father of their two children.
David Crosby performed a solo acoustic version of this song in 1970-71 tours with Stills, Nash and Young. It appears on the double live album Four Way Street. >>
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Ekristheh - Halath, for above 2
In the UK, this was released as the B-side to "If You Feel Like China Breaking." It wasn't released as a single in the US.
This was just one of many envelope-pushing songs recorded by Jefferson Airplane. "White Rabbit" details drug use and "Volunteers" featured one of the first recorded utterings of the F-word.
Crown of Creation went to #6 in the US despite not having any major singles.
Crosby would later make a guest appearance on Airplane guitarist Paul Kantner's 1970 album Blows Against the Empire.
The Byrds did perform the song live during a September 1967 engagement at the Whisky a Go Go. They also recorded it, and their version can be heard on the 1987 Never Before compilation album.
Crosby admitted to Mojo magazine February 2014 that he did participate in a ménage à trois, "a number of times." He added: "It's not actually something that you can do in real life and sustain. Somebody always feels that they're the low man on the totem pole. It can be the guy feeling that the girls are ganging up on him or one of the girls. But it was a good song."

Comments: 5

George from Vancouver, CanadaIf I was a young adult back then jealousy for Crosby might've killed me. But when I heard this sung by Grace Slick, I'd've been in love for sure -- the way the silver notes just flow through her lips -- pure Heaven! I would've foresworn threeways forever to have Grace. . .

David didn't write it for himself to sing, but for the Byrds, then when they said no, it made its way into Grace's hands & she sung it better than I can imagine any other doing it. I can picture myself pining for her as she's with the other leg of the triad, just from how she curls the notes as she sings. . .
George from Vancouver, Canadamenage a trois is sex among three. Triad is polyamory(love/marriage among three); a beautifully sung song from the heyday of music conceptualizing life. Now this ("Triad" is the accepted common term for three-way marriage.
Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScGrace Slick didn't write the song. David Crosby did. Imho David Crosby's version is better.
George from Harmsway, MnThe term "water brothers" is from the book Stranger In A Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein, which explored (among other things) non-traditional marriage/family structures. The term originated on Mars, and it indicated the deepest relationship possible. Its literal meaning is "someone with whom you have shared water," a very selfless gesture on the water-parched planet.
Em from Incheon, Korea - SouthGrace Slick was married to two guys at the same time when she was singing for Jefferson Airplane. This is probably one of the reasons she could write a song about this kind of thing.

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