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Teach Your Children Lyrics
You, who are on the road, must have a code that you can live by.
And so become yourself because the past is just a goodbye.
Teach your children well, their father's hell did slowly go by,
and feed them on your dreams, the one's they fix, the one's you'll know by.
Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you would cry,
so just look at them and sigh and know they love you.
And you, of tender years, can't know the fears that your elders grew by,
and so please help them with your youth, they seek the truth before they can die.
Teach your parents well, their children's hell will slowly go by,
and feed them on your dreams, the one's they fix, the one's you'll know by.
Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you would cry,
so just look at them and sigh and know they love you.
And so become yourself because the past is just a goodbye.
Teach your children well, their father's hell did slowly go by,
and feed them on your dreams, the one's they fix, the one's you'll know by.
Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you would cry,
so just look at them and sigh and know they love you.
and so please help them with your youth, they seek the truth before they can die.
Teach your parents well, their children's hell will slowly go by,
and feed them on your dreams, the one's they fix, the one's you'll know by.
Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you would cry,
so just look at them and sigh and know they love you.
Song Info
Submitted by
kevin On Jul 27, 2002
More Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
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Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
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Our House
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this song is about the generation gap between young and old and how both groups dont always understand each other, however, both group must do their best to make the other understand them and meet in the middle somewhere.
This is such a great song; I can't believe there're only two comments posted. I totally agree with vipergt196 and disagree with AliWithAn i...How can you hate Neil Young? I also think it's a message to parents to take care of their children, and at the same time it's a message to children to look after their aging parents.
My parents are baby boomers and were in college in the late 60's and early 70's. Don't get me wrong, I love 80's & 90's music, but the 50's, 60's, & 70's will forever hold a special place in my heart. Anyway, I grew-up listening to my parents music on every car ride and of course while doing yard work, etc. I kind of lost track of this song for a number of years, but rediscovered it this evening while searching for song to play on my guitar. I have two sons that are both younger than four and having not heard this song since having boys of my own it took on a whole new meaning . . .
My grandfather is 98, has just had a stroke, and is close to dying. My mother is taking care of him and I see how her care for him is similar to the care she gave me. My parent are in their early 60's and it is the first time in my life that I am able to see that they will not live forever. I also look at my two boys and know how wonderful and difficult life will be for them and that my relationship with them will grow and evolve over our lifetimes. When I roll that all together this song really hits home . . .
For me this beautiful song somehow manages to capture the feelings of joyous hope, as well as that undercurrent of fear that raising children (or life) evokes, while simultaneously portraying the full circle of life and paradox that becoming a 'parent' is. In the end . . . good or bad, sunny or cloudy, I'll remember all I can do is "just look at my boys and sigh and know they love me."
@jimswim655 Very insightful observation of this song and your life! Well written!
@jimswim655 Very insightful observation of this song and your life! Well written!
Exactly right Regina. It is a positive song encouraging a connection between us all-old and young. Across generations...TEACH!!! Just a beautiful song. Now I thought the lyric was actually.."teach your children well, their fathers HEALTH will slowly go by. Not sure.
Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you will cry, so just look at them and sigh and know they love you.
I love this line there are so many ways I can think of it being true.
"The child is father to the man." So tru.
" the one they picks, the one you'll know by " I think I can take a guess but it isn't obvious what is mean here. Would love to hear any and all ideas, especially Neil Young's.
I love this song.
Bad ass song. CSNY rocks. Saw them live in lake tahoe 2 weeks ago. Freedom of speech tour!
It's on the Office!