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Southern Cross (Crosby, Stills and Nash song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Southern Cross
| cover = Southern Cross (Crosby, Stills and Nash song).jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Crosby, Stills & Nash
| album = Daylight Again
| B-side = Into the Darkness
| released = September 1982
| format =
| recorded = 1981
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = *4:41 (Album Version)
*3:55 (Single Version)
| label = Atlantic
| writer = *Stephen Stills
*Rick Curtis
*Michael Curtis
| producer = Crosby, Stills and Nash
| prev_title = Wasted on the Way
| prev_year = 1982
| next_title = War Games
| next_year = 1983
| misc =
}}
"'Southern Cross'" is a song written by Stephen Stills, Rick Curtis, and Michael Curtis and performed by the rock band Crosby, Stills & Nash. It was featured on the band's 'Daylight Again' album and was released as a single in September 1982. Stephen Stills sings lead throughout, with Graham Nash joining on the second verse. Because David Crosby did not reunite with Stills and Nash until the album was well underway, his vocals are not featured on the album version, although he did appear in the video and subsequently sang the song with the group in live performances. The single was a success on the charts, reaching No. 18 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 for three weeks in late November and early December 1982. As of 2022, it was the group's final hit in the Billboard Top 40.
Composition and music
"Southern Cross" is based on the song "Seven League Boots" by Rick and Michael Curtis.Michael Curtis, "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeWwDJrPXKg The Origins of the Song 'Southern Cross' by Stephen Stills, Rick and Michael Curtis"], interview on youtube, Nov 13, 2012. Retrieved Aug. 15, 2020.Scott McCormick, [https://blog.discmakers.com/2019/07/how-stephen-stills-turned-an-unreleased-leftover-into-the-smash-hit-southern-cross/ How Stephen Stills turned an unreleased leftover into the smash hit Southern Cross], 'Discmakers,' July 9, 2019. Retrieved Aug. 15, 2020.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNEpFrOWooE Seven League Boots] Stills explained, "The Curtis Brothers brought a wonderful song called 'Seven League Boots,' but it drifted around too much. I rewrote a new set of words and added a different chorus, a story about a long boat trip I took after my divorce. It's about using the power of the universe to heal your wounds. Once again, I was given somebody's gem and cut and polished it."Liner notes, 'CSN' (box set), 1991.
The song title and lyrics reference the Crux constellation, known as the Southern Cross.
Video
The video for the song, which got heavy play during the early years of the MTV and VH1 cable networks, featured Stephen Stills sailing a large boat (called 'Southern Cross'), intercut with images of the band singing, including David Crosby although he did not sing on the song (see above).
Personnel
* Stephen Stills vocals, guitars
* Graham Nash vocals
Additional musicians
* Timothy B. Schmit vocals* Michael Stergis guitars
* Mike Finnigan keyboards, backing vocals
* Richard T. Bear keyboards
* George "Chocolate" Perry bass
* Joe Vitale drums
* Joe Lala percussion
Cover versions
"Southern Cross" has also been covered by:
* Jimmy Buffett, whose version first appeared on the Live album, 'Buffett Live: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays'; the song became a staple at many of Buffett's concerts and corresponding live releases
* British artist Dave Mason
* Pat McGee, on his debut album 'From the Wood'
*Sludge metal band Weedeater, on their debut album '...And Justice for Y'all'
*Canadian singer Roch Voisine, on his cover compilation 'Americana 3'
*American cover band Foxes and Fossils on YouTube 2022-June
*
Locations
The song mentions a number of locations that one may visit on a sailing voyage from Southern California to the South Pacific, following the "Coconut Milk Run". In order of appearance in the song (and in reverse order of the narrating sailor's southwestward journey), they are:
*Southern islands - referring to Polynesia
*Papeete - the capital of French Polynesia on the island of Tahiti
*Marquesas - a group of volcanic islands in French Polynesia, northeast of Tahiti
*Avalon - a harbor town on Santa Catalina Island, just off the coast of Los Angeles, California.
See also
* Sailors' superstitions
* Seven-league boots in European folklore
References
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