Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Graham Nash explains his inspiration for the song in his 2013 autobiography:
The origin of the song came from my recent infatuation with art. I had begun collecting photographs around that time, powerful images that had an emotional effect on me. One, in particular, was a Diane Arbus image of a boy...
[Verse 1]
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
[Chorus]
Teach your children well
Your father's hell did slowly go by
And feed them on your dreams
The one they pick's the one you'll know by
[Bridge]
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
[Verse 2]
And you of tender years (Can you hear and do you care?)
Can't know the fears (And can you see?)
That your elders grew by (We must be free)
And so please help (To teach your children)
Them with your youth (What you believe in)
They seek the truth (Make a world)
Before they can die (That we can live in)
[Chorus]
Teach your parents well
Their children's hell will slowly go by
And feed them on your dreams
The one they pick's the one you'll know by
[Bridge]
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
Teach Your Children was written by Graham Nash.
Teach Your Children was produced by Neil Young & Graham Nash & Stephen Stills & David Crosby.