‘Suite: Judy Blue Eyes’ is a song written by Stephen Stills and performed by Crosby, Stills & Nash (CSN). It appeared on the group's self-titled debut album in 1969 and was released as a single, reaching number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart. In Canada, ‘Suite: Judy Blue Eyes’ peaked at number 11. The song imitates the form of a classical music suite as an ordered set of musical pieces. The album version runs 7:22, which was considered too long for radio, so the single was cut down to 4:35. Many FM radio stations played the album cut, which is now considered the definitive version.
Stephen Stills wrote this song about his then-girlfriend, folk singer Judy Collins. In the Crosby, Stills & Nash 1991 boxed set, Stills said: "It started out as a long narrative poem about my relationship with Judy Collins. It poured out of me over many months and filled several notebooks. I had a hell of a time getting the music to fit. I was left with all these pieces of song and I said, 'Let's sing them together and call it a suite,' because they were all about the same thing and they led up to the same point."
During a July 15, 2007 interview for the National Public Radio program All Things Considered, Stills revealed that Collins was present in the studio when the demo tapes were recorded and had advised him, "Don't stay in here [in the studio] all night now." Stills also commented that the breakup with Collins "was imminent. ... We were just a little too big for one house." Stills said that he liked parts of this demo version of ‘Suite: Judy Blue Eyes’ better than the released version; the song and other demos of early Crosby, Stills and Nash songs were released commercially on the album Just Roll Tape.
‘Suite: Judy Blue Eyes’ was named the 51st greatest song ever in a 2000 list by VH1. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked it number 418 in the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It was also included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's "500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll".
Label – Atlantic
Songwriter – Stephen Stills
Producers – David Crosby, Graham Nash, Stephen Stills
SONG LYRICS
[Part 1][Verse 1]
It's getting to the point where I'm no fun anymore
I am sorry
Sometimes it hurts so badly, I must cry out loud
"I am lonely"
[Chorus]
I am yours, you are mine
You are what you are
You make it hard
[Verse 2]
Remember what we've said and done and felt about each other
Oh babe, have mercy
Don't let the past remind us of what we are not now
I am not dreaming
[Chorus]
I am yours, you are mine
You are what you are
You make it hard
[Instrumental Bridge]
[Verse 3]
Tearing yourself away from me now--you are free
And I am crying
This does not mean I don't love you--I do, that's forever
Yes and for always
[Chorus]
I am yours, you are mine
You are what you are
You make it hard
[Verse 4]
Something inside is telling me that I've got your secret
Are you still listening?
Fear is the lock and laughter the key to your heart
And I love you
[Chorus]
I am yours, you are mine
You are what you are
You make it hard
And you make it hard
And you make it hard
And you make it hard
[Part 2]
[Verse 5]
Friday evening, Sunday in the afternoon
What have you got to lose?
Tuesday morning, please be gone, I'm tired of you
What have you got to lose?
[Bridge]
Can I tell it like it is? (help me, I'm suffering)
Listen to me, baby
It's my heart that's suffering, it's a-dying (help me, I'm suffering)
And that's what I have to lose
[Verse 6]
I've got an answer
I'm going to fly away
What have I got to lose?
Will you come see me Thursdays and Saturdays?
What have you got to lose?
[Instrumental Break]
[Part 3]
[Verse 7]
Chestnut brown canary
Ruby throated sparrow
Sing the song, don't be long
Thrill me to the marrow
[Verse 8]
Voices of the angels
Ring around the moonlight
Asking me, said she so free
"How can you catch the sparrow?"
[Verse 9]
Lacy, lilting, leery
Losing love, lamenting
Change my life, make it right
Be my lady
[Part 4]
[Outro]
Do-do-do-do-do, do, do, do-do-do-do
Do-do-do-do-do, do, do, do-do
Do-do-do-do-do, do, do, do-do-do-do
Do-do-do-do-do, do, do, do-do
¡Que linda!
Do-do-do-do-do, do, do, do-do-do-do
Me recuerda a Cuba
Do-do-do-do-do, do, do, do-do
Do-do-do-do-do, do, do, do-do-do-do
La reina de la Mar Caribe
Do-do-do-do-do, do, do, do-do
Do-do-do-do-do, do, do, do-do-do-do
Quiero sólo visitarla allí
Do-do-do-do-do, do, do, do-do
Do-do-do-do-do, do, do, do-do-do-do
Y que triste que no puedo. ¡Vaya!
Do-do-do-do-do, do, do, do-do
Do-do-do-do-do, do, do, do-do-do-do
Do-do-do-do-do, do, do, do-do
O Va! O Va!
Do-do-do-do-do, do, do, do-do-do-do
Do-do-do-do-do, do, do, do-do
Do-do-do-do-do, do, do, do-do-do-do
Do-do-do-do-do, do, do, do-do