David Crosby Quotes

Powerful David Crosby for Daily Growth

About David Crosby

David Van Cortlandt Crosby, born August 14, 1941, in Santa Monica, California, is an iconic American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and a founding member of the folk-rock band The Byrds and the rock group Crosby, Stills & Nash (CSN). His music career spans over five decades, making him one of the most influential figures in rock 'n' roll. Crosby started his musical journey as a teenager, learning to play the guitar and singing with various groups. In 1964, he joined the Byrds, where he co-wrote several hits, including "Eight Miles High." However, personal conflicts led to his departure in 1967. The same year, Crosby formed CSN with Graham Nash and Stephen Stills. Their self-titled debut album in 1969 was a critical and commercial success, spawning hits like "Marrakech Express" and "Woodstock." In 1970, they released the groundbreaking album "Déjà Vu," which featured Neil Young as a fourth member, producing hits like "Teach Your Children," "Our House," and "Woodstock." Crosby's solo career also flourished, with notable albums such as "If I Could Only Remember My Name" (1971) and "Lighthouse" (1982). Throughout his career, Crosby has been open about his struggles with substance abuse and personal relationships. Despite these challenges, he remains a respected and admired figure in the music industry. Known for his distinctive voice, intricate guitar skills, and poignant songwriting, David Crosby's legacy extends beyond his music. His quotes reflect his philosophical outlook, social activism, and wisdom gained from a life lived passionately in pursuit of artistic expression: - "Be here now." - "Music is the only truth I know." - "The biggest killer on the road is not the road itself, it's the driver's ego." - "If you want to have a friend, be one." - "I believe in rock 'n' roll for the same reason I love horses – the power and the freedom."

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I have been a musician all my life. It's the only thing I know how to do. I love music more than anything else in this world."

This quote by David Crosby encapsulates his deep, lifelong passion for music. He identifies himself primarily as a musician, emphasizing the central role that music plays in his life. His declaration of loving music more than anything else highlights his profound dedication to this art form, suggesting a devotion that transcends casual interest or hobby status. Overall, it underscores the importance and significance that music holds for him personally.


"The older you get, the more you should be like water."

David Crosby's quote, "The older you get, the more you should be like water," suggests an approach to life that embraces adaptability, flexibility, and resilience, much like water. As we age, life presents us with many challenges, changes, and experiences. By emulating water, we learn to flow gracefully through these circumstances rather than rigidly resisting them. This quote reminds us to maintain our openness, fluidity, and responsiveness in the face of life's ebbs and flows, just as water does.


"Trust is a fragile thing, easily broken, but very hard to mend once it's shattered."

David Crosby's quote emphasizes that trust is a delicate and essential component of relationships, both personal and professional. It can be quickly destroyed by dishonesty, inconsistency, or betrayal, but rebuilding it after it has been shattered is challenging. This insight underscores the importance of maintaining trust in our interactions with others, as its loss can have lasting consequences.


"In the end, it's not about how hard you hit, it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward."

This quote by David Crosby signifies resilience, perseverance, and the importance of maintaining forward momentum in the face of adversity. It suggests that life isn't just about how much we can achieve or accomplish, but also about our ability to bounce back from setbacks and continue moving forward despite hardships. In essence, it encourages us to be strong, adaptable, and unwavering in pursuing our goals, even when faced with significant challenges.


"Art is never finished, only abandoned."

This quote by David Crosby suggests that art, much like life, is an ongoing process rather than a fixed product. It implies that artists continuously strive to refine and improve their work, recognizing that perfection may not be achievable. Instead of aiming for completion, they choose to move forward, understanding that the act of creation will inevitably involve making choices and sacrifices. This perspective encourages artists to embrace the journey rather than solely focusing on the destination, fostering a mindset that values progress over perfection.


I do see things that are funny on the net. I Googled myself the other day and found out that I was worth $250m, and that I was the highest-paid guy in show business! I wish so hard it was true. It is, of course, the complete opposite. I'm neither rich nor do I make a lot of money.

- David Crosby

Other, Guy, Show, Complete Opposite

I think music is a lifting force, I think love is the lifting force in the human condition. I think you see someone loving on their child, and it moves you, and you can't help it. It rings a bell inside of us that elevates us as human beings, and I treasure that. I think it's one of the few great things about human beings.

- David Crosby

Love, Human Condition, About, Rings

I don't collect the way other people do. Some people collect rare guitars, like, 'I have a '54 Strat worth $50,000.' And I don't collect the way Nash does. Nash has Duane Allman's guitar and Johnny Cash's guitar. I bought guitars because they sounded good. I played them, they sounded unbelievably good, and I couldn't resist.

- David Crosby

Good, Some, Other, Johnny

When I was 11 years old, my parents wanted me to do something besides get in trouble. So they enrolled me in sailing classes at the Sea Shell Association in Santa Barbara, Calif. From the moment I climbed into that 8-foot dinghy in 1952, I knew instinctively what to do and sensed I had done it before.

- David Crosby

Association, Before, Classes, Climbed

I gave up bread, and I've lost a bunch of weight, which is very good because I'm diabetic.

- David Crosby

Bread, Very, Which, Diabetic

I've always been a very careful sailor. I know, me and being careful - doesn't really sound right, does it? But when I sail, I take it seriously and take along spares for everything. You have to be careful when you're 1,500 miles from land. There's no one you can call. You're on your own.

- David Crosby

Sail, Been, Very, Spares

Norah Jones is a breath of fresh air. Norah Jones can sing and play. She's got some talent. I was totally ecstatic that that girl got noticed, because she's wonderful.

- David Crosby

Play, Some, Ecstatic, None

Sailing became one of the mainstreams of my life. I suppose my father was an influence. I remember seeing a photo of him at home sailing a big boat to Bermuda in his 20s. I still have it.

- David Crosby

My Life, Big, Became, Boat

When it all started, record companies - and there were many of them, and this was a good thing - were run by people who loved records, people like Ahmet Ertegun, who ran Atlantic Records, who were record collectors. They got in it because they loved music.

- David Crosby

Good, Run, Records, Ran

When it all started, record companies - and there were many of them, and this was a good thing - were run by people who loved records, people like Ahmet Ertegun, who ran Atlantic Records, who were record collectors. They got in it because they loved music... Now, record companies are run by lawyers and accountants.

- David Crosby

Run, Lawyers, Records, Ran

I am having so much fun performing, I feel almost guilty. I think, my God, I hope no one comes and busts me for this.

- David Crosby

Think, I Think, Having, So Much Fun

My songs emerge from my life, or wherever they do, unbidden and unplanned and completely on a schedule of their own.

- David Crosby

Life, My Life, Own, Wherever

I get egotistical about things where I can do something well - for example, my singing. Most other things, I don't have the wherewithal to back it up.

- David Crosby

Singing, Other, About, Wherewithal

Describing Woodstock as the 'big bang,' I think that's a great way to describe it, because the important thing about it wasn't how many people were there or that it was a lot of truly wonderful music that got played.

- David Crosby

Big, I Think, Great Way, Bang

My father being in the movie business, I thought being an actor would be great. But when I started singing to people in coffeehouses, you know, singing folk music and then, later, singing songs that I started to write myself, I felt more than an affinity for it.

- David Crosby

Father, Thought, Movie, Affinity

My father being in the movie business, I thought being an actor would be great. But when I started singing to people in coffeehouses, you know, singing folk music and then, later, singing songs that I started to write myself, I felt more than an affinity for it. I felt a calling.

- David Crosby

Father, Thought, Movie, Affinity

I come from a school of people, folk singers, and the tradition there is troubadours, and you're carrying a message. Now admittedly, our job is partly just to make you boogie, just make you want to dance. Part of our job is to take you on a little voyage, tell you a story.

- David Crosby

Tell, Part, Admittedly, Carrying

Being a hippy was the most natural thing in the world to me.

- David Crosby

World, Most, Natural Thing, Hippy

I would do a Byrds tour or a Byrds record in a minute. I miss that band now. I've tried to convince Roger over and over to do it, but he's not interested. Music isn't something you can legislate into being.

- David Crosby

Over, Being, Tour, Roger

I'm an inveterate bookstore wanderer. I read constantly, so I love a good bookstore. I can't help it.

- David Crosby

Love, Read, Constantly, Wanderer

I started singing in coffeehouses when I was still in high school, in Santa Barbara. I took a job washing dishes and busing tables in the coffeehouse, so I could be there, and would beg permission to sing harmony with the guy who was singing onstage. That was the first time I ever got on a stage in front of people.

- David Crosby

Harmony, Guy, Beg, Washing

The people who run record companies now wouldn't know a song if it flew up their nose and died. They haven't a clue, and they don't care. You tell them that, and they go, Yeah? So, your point is?

- David Crosby

Run, Tell, Died, Flew

I gave a Collings dreadnought to a young guitar player in the Valley where I live because he didn't have a good acoustic, and he's a terrific player.

- David Crosby

Good, Young, Guitar Player, Acoustic

I don't like greed, I don't like ignorance. I really don't like anger. But I love love.

- David Crosby

Love, Ignorance, I Love, Greed

I've met Bill Clinton, Obama a couple of times... I certainly didn't meet George Bush, and wouldn't want to.

- David Crosby

Couple, Certainly, Bush, Bill

I love voyaging - the longest has been 3,000 miles to Hawaii. I've also spent weeks all over the Caribbean.

- David Crosby

Love, Over, Been, Hawaii

I can't legislate a song into being; it just will not happen for me.

- David Crosby

Song, Will, Happen, Legislate

I'm older than I'd like and I'm creaky, but I'm doing alright.

- David Crosby

Doing, Like, Than, Alright

Now record companies are run by lawyers and accountants. The shift from the one to the other was definitely related to when the takes started to get big.

- David Crosby

Lawyers, Big, Other, Related

I love Stephen Stills and Neil Young dearly. We talk all the time. We see each other.

- David Crosby

Love, Young, Other, Dearly

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