It's time you walked away and set me free
I must move away, 'n' leave you be
Time has been good to us my friend,
Wait, and see how it will end
We come and go as we please
We come and go as we please (that's how it has to be)

Here in crystal chandelier, I'm home
Too many days, I've left unstoned
If you don't mind happiness
Purple-pleasure fields in the sun
Ah, don't you know I'm runnin' home
Don't you know I'm runnin' home (to a place to you unknown? )

I take great peace in your sitting there
Searching for myself, I find a place there
I see the people of the world
Where they are and what they could be
I can but dance behind your smile
I can but dance behind your smile (you were the world to me for a while)


Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings, edited by Mellow_Harsher

DCBA -25 Lyrics as written by Paul Kantner

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group

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D.C.B.A.-25 song meanings
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12 Comments

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  • +6
    My Opinion

    i have always liked the fact that this song means way more to me than anything that i can point to in any specific way.

    i suppose that i like the courage, the optimism in how he announces that the relationship is, for now at least, over. this kind of news is usually a bummer, but in this song it feels... kind of exciting...

    it is, after all, being sung in the fresh breezes of the Summer of Love- so who knows what either of us will find ourselves doing next... anything is possible... "wait and see how it will end..."

    I don't know who is right, but i always heard the second verse saying "if you don't mind happiness, purple pleasure fields in the sun." purple pleasure fields in the sun- now there's some LSD 25 going on there! sounds warm and bright and... groovy.

    "I see the people of the world- where they are and what they could be..." what a kind and generous invitation... i always want to climb into this gentle, happy, scattered little song and hang out at the Airplane House for a while.

    in any event, as perhaps you can tell, for some reason, i have loved this song since the first time that i heard it.

    dcbaon December 09, 2008   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    The title itself are the chords to the song (DCBA)with -25 as a reference to LSD-25.

    The song itself appears to be about the changing times of the late sixties, culturally and socially, leaving one way of living behind and exploring new possibilities.

    brumuson November 24, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Always loved this song. While it seems to be about breaking up with someone, it could apply to any kind of change. It could be something you say goodbye to just because it is time to let go and move on. Or it could be a change in the way things happen - "wait and see how it will end."

    AllyCDTVon March 21, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Good comments all, mostly.

    And why do we never, ever hear this on the radio, as opposed to the oversaturation of "Somebody To Love" and "White Rabbit", played unto death? DCBA is a far greater tune, more substance and subtlety. Guess "They" never recognized it, more's the pity. And another reason why Itunes blows in a major way; the hits you may buy as singles might never reach the heights of the unrecognised tunes one would get from the whole album.

    palealienon February 06, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    My favorite Jefferson Airplane song.

    ClicKon February 01, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    seems to just be a song about breaking up with someone but acknowledging the good times they had (in the lines times been good/you were the world.) this is easily one of my favorite airplane songs.

    blitzed_hippieon January 11, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "too many days ive left unstoned" possibly one of the greatest lines in music,

    scottjefferieson March 24, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's quite obvious that this is my favourite Jefferson Airplane song from their Surrealistic Pillow.

    DCBA25on November 23, 2009   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning

    This song is purely about LSD.

    The line "I see the people of the world where they are and what they could be" is the line that resonates most with my experience with psychedelics of all lyrics I have ever heard. It is a perfect description of the feeling of insight that you feel you have.

    BanjoEclipseon January 06, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Another LSD reference is the line..."Purple-pleasure fields in the sun". Purple-pleasure is a reference to Sandoz purple acid.

    MrsHippyon April 06, 2016   Link

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