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Rating: 1967 was an unrepeatable year. Rock had reached maturity, producing a stunning series of masterpieces. The second album by Buffalo Springfield is certainly to be counted among that elite.
Basing itself on an axis formed by three singer-guitarists (Stephen Stills, Rich Furay, and Neil Young), the group quickly emerged in the thriving folk-rock scene of Los Angeles. The British Invasion had been assimilated by then, while the Byrds had just changed the game by electrifying Bob Dylan's songs, and that was certainly the starting point for the group's sonic escapades. Their eponymous debut in 1966 had made it clear that the musical material they had crafted was more complex compared to McGuinn's already immense band. The vocal harmonies, in particular, were breathtaking and created the trademark of the West Coast sound, where the guitar intertwining between Stills and Young in tracks like “Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing,” “Go and Say Goodbye,” and the famous “For What It’s Worth” was more intense and varied, opening up to the emerging Californian psychedelia.
Even though it was born in an already tumultuous internal context – which would soon lead to the group's disbandment – “Buffalo Springfield Again” turned out to be an extraordinary receptacle of the best rock avant-gardes of the period, a sonic melting pot where the group found a clear and innovative stylistic hallmark like few others. One of the keys to understanding Buffalo Springfield was the friendship-rivalry in composition among the group members, a relationship that, like Lennon and McCartney, led them to surpass each other in the writing phase. The charismatic Stills was the undisputed leader and penned some absolute classics. “Rock & Roll Woman” first and foremost, an unsurpassable cornerstone of the Californian “flower power” sound. Or “Hung Upside Down,” futuristic folk rock supported by the electric slings of the guitarists and the incisive bass lines of Bruce Palmer. “Everydays,” an astonishing mix of distorted guitars and jazz nods. Finally, “Bluebird,” a visionary folk rock ballad with a delirious Spanish-style acoustic interlude and vocal harmonies reminiscent of Tim Buckley. Rich Furay was the group's calm soul. His contributions include “A Child’s Claim to Fame,” “Sad Memory,” and “Good Time Boy,” delicate sketches with a country flavor.
Neil Young, on the other hand, was “the Indian,” often overshadowed by Stills' overwhelming personality. In “Buffalo Springfield Again,” the Canadian, however, pulled out of the hat three numbers that gave the album that something that makes it a milestone. “Mr. Soul” first of all, a brilliant tribute to the Stones, made unique by an interpretation as neurotic and dry as few others. Assisted by producer Jack Nitzsche, later known as “Phil Spector on acid,” Young stamped two superb psychedelic compositions that rival the Beatles' “A Day in the Life” and Love's “Forever Changes.” “Expecting to Fly,” first of all. Melancholic, celestial, and rarefied, it develops a crystalline melody reinforced by the string arrangements. It is one of the most influential tracks of all time (Mercury Rev, Flaming Lips, and Grandaddy are proof). And then the epic “Broken Arrow,” a worthy seal to the album. A superb piano ballad, accompanied by a magnificent text about the American dream in which Neil begins to exorcise his demons. Bizarre Zappa-esque interludes and samples punctuate the track, leading up to the jazz ending. An unsurpassable pinnacle.
Referring to the Buffalo Springfield era, Young would later sing “back in the old folky days/the air was magic when we played.”
Indeed, more than songs, “Buffalo Springfield Again” seems composed of spells.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Mr. Soul (02:51)
Oh, hello Mr. Soul, I dropped by to pick up a reason
For the thought that I caught that my head is the event of the season
Why in crowds just a trace of my face could seem so pleasin'
I'll cop out to the change, but a stranger is putting the tease on.
I was down on a frown when the messenger brought me a letter
I was raised by the praise of a fan who said I upset her
Any girl in the world could have easily known me better
She said, You're strange, but don't change, and I let her.
In a while will the smile on my face turn to plaster?
Stick around while the clown who is sick does the trick of disaster
For the race of my head and my face is moving much faster
Is it strange I should change? I don't know, why don't you ask her?
03 Everydays (02:41)
Look at the sad goodbyes
Every day's a killing time
Sun coming up outside
No men are born this time
Saturday's child stays home
Nothing to say so long
Well well well another day
Well well well another day
Grocery store ten bucks
Just making change for plastic cherries
Up in a tree a Jay Bird looking at me
No word
Everyone looks but can't see
We can't be ignored so easily
Well well well another day
Well well well another day
Soft within the wayward things
Like ecstasy, the sound of trees
Most anything, what a baby sees
Beautiful face all right
Many a place out of sight
Old woman there with red shoes
Four million balloons all used
Drive over hills forget your fear
Getting it out of second gear
Well well well another day
Well well well another day
04 Expecting to Fly (03:45)
There you stood on the edge of your feather,
Expecting to fly.
While I laughed, I wondered whether
I could wave goodbye,
Knowin' that you'd gone.
By the summer it was healing,
We had said goodbye.
All the years we'd spent with feeling
Ended with a cry,
Babe, ended with a cry,
Babe, ended with a cry.
I tried so hard to stand
As I stumbled and fell to the ground.
So hard to laugh as I fumbled
And reached for the love I found,
Knowin' it was gone.
If I never lived without you,
Now you know I'd die.
If I never said I loved you,
Now you know I'd try,
Babe, now you know I'd try.
Babe, now you know I'd try,
Babe.
05 Bluebird (04:34)
Listen to my bluebird laugh.
She can't tell you why.
Deep within her heart, you see,
She knows only crying.
Just crying.
There she sits, aloft at perch.(?)
Strangest color blue.
Flying is forgotten now.
Thinks only of you.
Just you.
Oh yeah...
So, get all those blues,
Must be a thousand hues.
And be just differently used.
You just know.
You sit there mesmerized
By the depth of her eyes
That you can't categorize.
She got soul.
She got soul.
She got soul.
She got soul!
Do you think she loves you?
Do you think at all?
Soon she's going to fly away.
Sadness is her own.
Give herself a bath of tears
And go home, and go home.
07 Sad Memory (03:03)
Soft winds blow in the summertime
Young lovers feel so free
Walking hand in hand down a shady lake
What happened to me?
What happened to me?
Did you ever love a girl who
Walked right out on you
You should know just how I'm feeling
Why I'm so blue
Why I'm so blue
How can I forget those nights
When she'd kiss me soft and true
And whisper words only lovers know
I Love You
I Love You
We'll I've made up my mind
I'll find a new girl
Who'll love me tenderly
Forget the past
I left behind now
to sad memories
09 Rock & Roll Woman (02:48)
There's a woman that you ought to know
And she's coming, singing soft and low
Singing rock and roll, she's a joy to know
'Neath the shadow of a soothing hand
I am free there, just to make my plans
Dream of faraway lands, anything close at hand
And she will follow me wide, do you know
Familiar places she's been by, that I know
Could it be, she don't have to try
And tomorrow, she's a friend of mine
And the sorrow, I see her face is lined
She's no longer blind, she's just hard to find
10 Broken Arrow (06:13)
The lights turned on and the curtain fell down,
And when it was over it felt like a dream,
They stood at the stage door and begged for a scream,
The agents had paid for the black limousine
That waited outside in the rain.
Did you see them, did you see them?
Did you see them in the river?
They were there to wave to you.
Could you tell that the empty quivered,
Brown skinned Indian on the banks
That were crowded and narrow,
Held a broken arrow?
Eighteen years of American dream,
He saw that his brother had sworn on the wall.
He hung up his eyelids and ran down the hall,
His mother had told him a trip was a fall,
And don't mention babies at all.
Did you see him, did you see him?
Did you see him in the river?
He was there to wave to you.
Could you tell that the empty quivered,
Brown skinned Indian on the banks
That were crowded and narrow,
Held a broken arrow?
The streets were lined for the wedding parade,
The Queen wore the white gloves, the county of song,
The black covered caisson her horses had drawn
Protected her King from the sun rays of dawn.
They married for peace and were gone.
Did you see them, did you see them?
Did you see them in the river?
They were there to wave to you.
Could you tell that the empty quivered,
Brown skinned Indian on the banks
That were crowded and narrow,
Held a broken arrow?
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