Buffalo Springfield — Expecting to Fly
Album: Buffalo Springfield AgainAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 952
Length: 3:38
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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.
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.
Comments (63)add comment
There are very few 'tracks of one's years' that make you stop - think about those who are no longer around - always a tear to my eyes - as ever - thank you RP
An astoundingly beautiful song.
lily34 wrote:
Umm... because he wrote it.
boy do i hear neil in this especially.
Umm... because he wrote it.
janeworthy121 wrote:
And, at the end of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas"
OMG - you're right - I forgot this was at the end of Fear and Loathing - 'Too Weird to live and too rare to die!!
And, at the end of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas"
OMG - you're right - I forgot this was at the end of Fear and Loathing - 'Too Weird to live and too rare to die!!
moodfood wrote:
I know what you mean - makes the hair at the back of the neck the stand up - well it would if I still had hair - that must be an age thing!
goosebumps every time, other worldly and magical.. 
I know what you mean - makes the hair at the back of the neck the stand up - well it would if I still had hair - that must be an age thing!
boy do i hear neil in this especially.
quite majestic
and melodic
merciful
and melodic
merciful
Man, the producer was a little heavy handed with the sweetening. Either put the producer front and center because of vanity or the producer felt it was a weak song that needed orchestral support.
Certainly one of the most unusual tracks of the entire late 20th century rock and roll. I don't know the shared responsibility of this, but give Neil Young the kudos for composing the genius and unorthodox sounds of this.
prs wrote:
Was it really a kinder world? I suspect the hate was always there but just not so visible
I still can't beleive this track is now 56 years old! What happened!! So much hope! Where do it all go wrong! At least I can close my eyes and remember a kinder world with out the likes of twitter and the other social media stuff that seem to spill out so much hate!!
Was it really a kinder world? I suspect the hate was always there but just not so visible
Shame there isn't a 12+ for this track - one of those 'stop/listen/remember'
sfyi2001 wrote:
They met that year when the Beatles were in L A for some studio work. IIRC, Blue Jay Way was about one of the hookups between the two groups.
idiot_wind wrote:
'Sgt Pepper' released in May '67.
'Buffalo Springfield Again' in November same year.
Does this predate Beatle's Sgt pepper album?
This is a very ground breaking album!
'Sgt Pepper' released in May '67.
'Buffalo Springfield Again' in November same year.
They met that year when the Beatles were in L A for some studio work. IIRC, Blue Jay Way was about one of the hookups between the two groups.
I still can't beleive this track is now 56 years old! What happened!! So much hope! Where do it all go wrong! At least I can close my eyes and remember a kinder world with out the likes of twitter and the other social media stuff that seem to spill out so much hate!!
one of my favorite tunes of theirs
bachbeet wrote:
the true pioneers of country rock and trippy rock
I actually think Buffalo Springfield was underrated. Great group which spawned others CSNY, Poco. Not to mention their solo careers.
the true pioneers of country rock and trippy rock
ooooh
one of neils best
who needs the beatles sgt pepper album, anyway?
one of neils best
who needs the beatles sgt pepper album, anyway?
I actually think Buffalo Springfield was underrated. Great group which spawned others CSNY, Poco. Not to mention their solo careers.
prs wrote:
Damn never heard this buffalo springfield song before,ITS GREAT
OMG - first 'You never give me etc', then 'Life on Mars' and now THIS!! Please stop Bill and Rebecca, I've work to do!! This has to be one of the finest Neil Young tracks ever -
Damn never heard this buffalo springfield song before,ITS GREAT
OMG - first 'You never give me etc', then 'Life on Mars' and now THIS!! Please stop Bill and Rebecca, I've work to do!! This has to be one of the finest Neil Young tracks ever -
idiot_wind wrote:
Does this predate Beatle's Sgt pepper album?
This is a very ground breaking album!
'Sgt Pepper' released in May '67.
'Buffalo Springfield Again' in November same year.
Sounds exactly like this was from the '67 era. Country hippie phantasmagoria. Only better. Sounds little or nothing like the era of '21. But still better. I think that's one definition of 'timeless'.
One of those - STOP WORK, volume UP, close eyes and ENJOY tracks.
Well...since I'm the only person to post on this song since last year....this is trippy enough to be considered with the likes Beatle's Sarge Pepper album and...
That's right. There is no other album or band that compares to this.
That's right. There is no other album or band that compares to this.
Don't get it.
Why can't bands experiment anymore like these guys?
Why not get trippy?
Why can't bands experiment anymore like these guys?
Why not get trippy?
Is it just me, or folks of my 60s age and '60s-'70s affinities, and the memories thereof, or is it likely we may never hear music like this again? 'Cause, jeez, the cultural shift in a mere 4 -5 years after the first wave of Brit invasion engendered such priceless experiments as this and produced some timeless entries in the catalogue.
Other than a 21 year old Neil Young no other member of Buffalo Springfield participated in the recording of Expecting to Fly.
what happened to bruce palmer?
Does this predate Beatle's Sgt pepper album?
This is a very ground breaking album!
This is a very ground breaking album!
This is the second time you have played this in the past few hours. How's the dementia Bill you old snake?
Bill 8==D----- Rebecca
Bill 8==D----- Rebecca
justin4kick wrote:
Apart from the drugs you would need a huge load of talent.
In high school I had "Best Of Buffalo Springfield" which was largely songs from "Buffalo Springfield Again". I guess that I saw an article in Life Magazine about LSD but thought little of it. When I hear music from this era I don't think about whether drugs were part of the creative process because the music stands on its own. Disclaimer: Well, maybe Jefferson Airplane.
Apart from the drugs you would need a huge load of talent.
In high school I had "Best Of Buffalo Springfield" which was largely songs from "Buffalo Springfield Again". I guess that I saw an article in Life Magazine about LSD but thought little of it. When I hear music from this era I don't think about whether drugs were part of the creative process because the music stands on its own. Disclaimer: Well, maybe Jefferson Airplane.
Amazing album. My favourite track is Everydays. Steve Stills rules!
hayduke2 wrote:
And, at the end of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas"
gorgeous : )
was used in the strong film Coming Home
was used in the strong film Coming Home
And, at the end of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas"
gorgeous : )
was used in the strong film Coming Home
was used in the strong film Coming Home
10. Godlike. Glad that Radio Paradise plays this.
goosebumps every time, other worldly and magical..
One of those songs that when you hear it for the first time, it amazes you with its beauty, and when you hear it later, it blows you away.
pihlr00 wrote:
Yes, and nice use of strings; enough but not too much.
One of the most beautiful songs ever
Yes, and nice use of strings; enough but not too much.
jab49 wrote:
Apart from the drugs you would need a huge load of talent.
Never done drugs, but I would have written a song like this if I had. Thanks for playing it.
Apart from the drugs you would need a huge load of talent.
Never done drugs, but I would have written a song like this if I had. Thanks for playing it.
One of the all time best .... thanks BF!
idiot_wind wrote:
Summer of 67 recording, Neil had heard Pepper for sure.
Trippy masterpiece.
This was recorded in 1967 or 68?
Does this pre-date Beatles' Pepper album? It pre-dates most of Pink Floyd better stuff.
This was recorded in 1967 or 68?
Does this pre-date Beatles' Pepper album? It pre-dates most of Pink Floyd better stuff.
Summer of 67 recording, Neil had heard Pepper for sure.
thewiseking wrote:
WTF?
Very nice but not as nice as The Moody Blues
WTF?
In theTop 10 of best songs ever, for sure.
Nice...2nd Buffalo-S song today! Most awesome!Very nice but not as nice as The Moody Blues
I am always amazed at how much I still love this album. I will be playing it all tonight. Pure genius. 
This is surely an album fully deserving of playing a complete side Bill? 
This is surely an album fully deserving of playing a complete side Bill? Trippy masterpiece.
This was recorded in 1967 or 68?
Does this pre-date Beatles' Pepper album? It pre-dates most of Pink Floyd better stuff.
This was recorded in 1967 or 68?
Does this pre-date Beatles' Pepper album? It pre-dates most of Pink Floyd better stuff.
Who hasn't wished they could make such a graceful exit?
One of the most beautiful songs ever
Everybody in my alien space craft loves this song... we love sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll...
kcar wrote:
Karc, I am soooo proud of you, you are finally spreading your eagle wings and flying! Way to go! Good for you! You go girl! Great comment!
Bill, please play this more or at least put more Buffalo Springfield into your rotations. Thanks!
Karc, I am soooo proud of you, you are finally spreading your eagle wings and flying! Way to go! Good for you! You go girl! Great comment!
Well, on that sublime moment.... I'm off to bed
Sweet dreams one and all
It has been far too long since I've heard this one
Haven't heard this in years - brings back memories of a time and place, and someone long gone from this planet.
Miss you every day, Barney.
Miss you every day, Barney.
this song makes me weep. especially the end.
Bill, please play this more or at least put more Buffalo Springfield into your rotations. Thanks!
Incredibly sublime in the extreme sense..
Brilliant. One of a kind. It's Neil but certainly not the Like a Hurricane Neil.
What a beautiful opening to a song, to hear unexpectedly... after not hearing it for a very long time... like maybe 6 months. Hey, I never get TOO far away from the classic Neil Young.
Wow! 1967 ! Really?
I am amazed that this has never been played before. This piece shows all the hallmarks of Neil Young, one of which is ambition that may exceed his abilities, although in this case it worked.
Never played on RP before? Inconceivable.
Is it just me, or folks of my 60s age and '60s-'70s affinities, and the memories thereof, or is it likely we may never hear music like this again? 'Cause, jeez, the cultural shift in a mere 4 -5 years after the first wave of Brit invasion engendered such priceless experiments as this and produced some timeless entries in the catalogue.
Well put. Agree completely.