Everybody's Been Burned

Album: Younger Than Yesterday (1967)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song was written by David Crosby a year or so before he joined up with Roger McGuinn and Gene Clark to form The Byrds. It was a melancholic take on temperance and trustworthiness.
  • The chord changes in this track are jazzier than what was happening in pop music at the time. Crosby has commended his fellow band members, especially Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman, for being open-minded about such matters.
  • In an interview with Steve Silberman in 1995, David Crosby said that he thought this was "the first actually passable song that I wrote."

Comments: 2

  • Nikkoarty from U.k. For me this is Crosby at his best crafting a song which succinctly explores the fears and hopes of love. As a 15 year old I was completely hooked. I still am. This song also enables Roger McGuinn to contribute one of the most emotionally charged guitar solos ever. If you want to tune in to some quality 60’s vibes I would always recommend listening to the Byrds. All Good Things.
  • Maryann from GeorgiaSO many years later (and I even saw the Byrds in concert back in the day) I just discovered this song and have been playing it over and over like a teenager. So haunting and beautiful.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Rock Revenge Songs

Rock Revenge SongsMusic Quiz

John Lennon, Paul Simon and Lynyrd Skynyrd are some of the artists who have written revenge songs. Do you know who they wrote them about?

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?Song Writing

A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.

Goodbye, Hello: Ten Farewell Tour Fake-Outs

Goodbye, Hello: Ten Farewell Tour Fake-OutsSong Writing

The 10 biggest "retirement tours" that didn't take.

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.

Janis Ian

Janis IanSongwriter Interviews

One of the first successful female singer-songwriters, Janis had her first hit in 1967 at age 15.