The Byrds - He Was a Friend of Mine

[pdorn777]

Chris Hillman's bass is subtle..almost lost in the mix. But it's a huge part (imho) of what makes this song work.

[centralparocker]

Simple but powerful song....!!!!

[pweedman11]

your tube my new best friend lol

[pweedman11]

dedicated to your tube. like a uhh Like a makeup song

[shanehenning26]

great song

[jokr8790]

MVProd TV-The answer to your question is that the people responsible for hatching the conspiracy to kill JFK were at the highest levels of wealth and government.

[jokr8790]

“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.” Jimi Hendrix

[warrioroftheworld01]

@jokr8790 Amen!

[tribegoddess]

I always loved the Byrds. After JFK was killed, Our group, the 1st Special Forces, put a black line around our solid yellow beret flash. I still have mine. Sp5 Miles 1st SFGA Vietnam 1968

[ncsnsetkatie]

@tribegoddess God bless you, goddess (smile)

[aellarex]

@tribegoddess When the military is put in it's place maybe peace to us all will come. 2 was of aggression since 1990. That is the same as the Germans & Russians invading Poland. Not a dime's worth of difference. I don't want another GI to die for the military industrial-complex. After 1965 the young people of the US began a civil, non-violent revolt against these persons who could care less about you. Can you say bushite? They belong in jail on charges of treason.

[miroleander]

i am so in love.

[oldtones]

GREAT SONG GREAT BAND THE BYRDS

[MDProdTV]

This is a moving song...How different would the world been be if JFK was still with us...why is it that the USA can't bring to justice the people reponsible for this crime??

[spacepatrolman]

@MDProdTV Because oswald the lone assasin is dead

[TheGatorfan93]

@spacepatrolman riiiiight

[TheGatorfan93]

@spacepatrolman sure

[kento568]

oh... the song tuning sucks..... their is no emotion......... although its good to hear...

[Samdonttrollshyt]

3 people aren't friends of mine.

[rondunderfunk]

rest in peace, Jack.

[spoildn8410]

Next time someone asks me McGuinn or Crosby, I'm gonna say "tie".

[bughead3]

Discovery of great music transcends biological age. Long like the music of the Byrds.

[FUbuilderburg]

though I never met him, I knew him just the same.

[unreal030]

JFK

[11xzxzxz]

Nice. Also Phil Och's "That was the President (and that was the man)" is mandatory listening.

[Dukegrievousangel]

Maybe from the 1973 Reunion Album debacle? But that was nearly 40 years ago...

[avocadorange]

Relax and enjoy the jingle jangle....

[Dukegrievousangel]

I know McGuinn doesn't want a Byrds reunion and Crosby does, but I'm not sure if it's about religion. Otherwise, why would they rerecord those numbers in the early '90s? My understanding is that McGuinn just doesn't see the point of a reunion, and Hillman has recently come to concur. But hey, who knows.

[Wandered1441]

@Dukegrievousangel David Crosby said in an interview I read in Rolling Stone about a year ago that he was interested in working with McGuinn again but "Roger doesn't like me." He didn't give any other details.

[Manchild1250]

What really bothered me was when Pat Robertson had one of the members of the Byrds on his show so the member could rant about how he became disillusioned with the "evil" 1960s and found God through Ronald and Nancy Reagan. This was so typical of that generation when the 1980s arrived and remains true for many even today. It went from understanding a greater truth to aiding in the greater lie. They became the children of the devil. The flower children became the children of the beast.

[Dukegrievousangel]

@Manchild1250 Do you remember which member it was? I'd be interested to know....McGuinn or Hillman, if memory serves me right, became pretty Christian.

[EmpZappa66]

@Dukegrievousangel It was McGuinn who became a born-again christian. The reason why there aren't any Byrds reunions anymore is because McGuinn refuses to work with Crosby who's an atheist.

[catoohey]

@EmpZappa66 Well - the fact that Gene Clark and Michael Clarke are deceased might have something to do with it too.....

[CHUCKLOVES1969]

@EmpZappa66 that sucks big time,,to what u say if, that is the reason that mcguinn wouldn't get together for a reunion with crosby. it would unreal if they were to do a tour in small venues. there is hardly a band that is so closely linked to the incredible sound and styles of the sixties than LA's own Byrds. i was lucky to have seen them at the hollywood bowl,,and buffalo springfield too later in a small club. i hope they do get back for a few good times...but it's too late.

[Manchild1250]

This song is part of the global warming conspiracy to stop us from worshipping Rush Limbaugh Christ.

[Derekgarlandmusic]

Love this song!!

[dweideman]

If you like the Byrds in the early days, listen to the new album of The Coral.....

[sangell3]

Crosby said the Byrds weren't America's answer to crabgrass. He was right too. But this song was important. Kennedy getting his head shot off in Dallas was supernatural and Kennedy was a 'friend of mine'. Not Ted or Bobby but John was a friend of mine.

[shaneh1983]

happy birthday david crosby

[Jornaquin]

dave van ronk

[13thfloor18]

@Jornaquin His version is amazing too, i cant play it Van Ronks so I play it this way, i love this version

[captainsoul1953]

This along with Turn Turn Turn and She Dont Care About time have only ever been issued in Mono..i a lost or mislabelled tape in the CBS Columibia vaults perhaps

Jim

[SeaSharkGull]

We were in the cinema in Dover, Kent watching The Great Escape and they flashed it up on the screen that JFK was dead (how did they do it so quick in those days -anyone know?) anyway it was the middle of the Cold War and we all thought that when we got out of the cinema The Russians would have invaded or dropped the bomb or life as we knew it would be over. Great Man - things did change too before he died, but then they got Robert as well not long after. Strange times - all those assasinations

[grumpyoldgeek]

Moviechick, he was the last great president. He was respected and loved around the world. After the mediocre and flat bad presidents of the last 50 years, it's hard to describe what having a good president was like - and then loosing him.

[SANITYFADES79]

One of the saddest songs I'll ever know

[funtimegall]

if your don't know what this song is about, the is just sad. go look up Nov. 23, 1963 in a history book and educate yourself!

[moviechick9620]

@funtimegall u said it!!!! its really rather sad when ppl have no idea who JFK was only know, "that president that got shot rite?" grrrr....

[moviechick9620]

RIP John Fitzgerald Kennedy 1917-1963...

"'Dont Let It Be Forgot, That Once There Was A Spot, For One Brief Shining Moment, That Was Known As Camelot.'There'll Never Be Another Camelot'"

[funtimegall]

@moviechick9620 hey hey hey hey!!! i cant believe u remembered that quote!!!

[moviechick9620]

@funtimegall can i help it if it like imprinted on my mind! thank u very much! :D

[shanehenning26]

great song

[MikeInVentura]

A PLUS PLUS.... That's just evil to misspell "satanic" like that... but it made me chuckle!

[Seattlecarnut]

Beautiful song.

[mistressofmyth]

I'm sorry to be so ignorant, but who wrote this song? Thanks!

[BigChiefLtd]

@mistressofmyth It's a traditional folk song. The original writer is unknown. It's NOT Dylan as some think. But this version was re-written by Jim McGuinn (who later changed his name to Roger McGuinn), lead guitarist. He re-wrote it on the night of JFK's assassination, but didn't record it until The Byrds' second album. They sang it at Monterrey Music Festival where David Crosby claimed Lee Harvey Oswald didn't kill JFK but that it was a gov't conspiracy. No doubt Rosie O'donnell believes it.

[mistressofmyth]

@BigChiefLtd

Thanks for the education! = )

[1mperator]

@mistressofmyth

I think it was Bob Dylan.

[captainsoul1953]

The Turn turn Turn album is a beautiful record

thats it really

Jim

[badedas75]

in lovin' memory about JFK...epic moment when Crosby and friends played that at Monterey'67 festival

[TRAVISJAMES03]

Aren't they talking about John F. Kennedy in this song?

[gootenslog]

Yes

[BLEITJE]

Fascinerend fraaie song die me terug voert naar een zaterdagmorgen in de wastobbe; ma komt binnenrennen met de boodschap dat Kennedy is vermoord. Ik ben het nooit vergeten.

[meathead891]

stop arguing. Just listen, its a great song.

[famous4life44]

rip jfk

[DouGlasHeartSongs]

a comment in captainsoul's post about some believing the Byrd's didn't play on all their tracks. How we I know with certainty, not having been in the studio, but I saw them live and close several times. Sounded like their records, remarkably so! Whether a studio drummer might have sat in for young Michael Clark early on . . . seems possible but the general idea doesn't seem to have merit. They were a GREAT band in several variations.

[Ferrisfair]

This is my new favorite song. I've heard a fuller acoustic version with better, more powerful vocal harmonies.

[ddimosthenes]

ahhahahahahhaahahahahha

[charliebubblesoar]

The Byrds are incredible, I love their vibe, their harmonies, their folksy charm.

[pt109girl]

this is great song. the byrds are awesome.

[captainsoul1953]

No...Roger Mcguinn...why would jimmy page be playin on a Byrds album?

Jim

[ztubs6]

probably confused with the yardbirds

[captainsoul1953]

Good thinkin ztubs6..getting a bit slow in my old age..thought it was referring to the still held belief by some that the Byrds didnt play on their records

Jim

[rayman21287]

jimmy page?

[mdpk1]

"From a 6th floor window a story got around."

[tylercrossleythe1ao]

Beautiful lyrics

[ejazzed1059]

For JFK

[TheDorkVariety]

The byrds rule. I'm 21, so I missed out on them... when they were cool.. (The byrds could beat Akon anyday.)

[TheHummingbirdsong]

@TheDorkVariety i totally agree but im 15

[yardtechbrando]

@TheDorkVariety I'm 30 and could agree more :)

[cossydog]

@TheDorkVariety you get it so you did not miss out on anything they were "cool" and still are by whatever the current venacular

[Byrds1967]

I love the Byrds! Their music makes life worth living.....

[skychurchify]

@Byrds1967 Right-on.

[znkp]

Thanks.