Southern Cross by Crosby, Stills, Nash

Southern Cross

Got out of town on a boat goin’ to southern islands
Sailing a reach before a followin’ sea
She was makin’ for the trades on the outside,
And the downhill run to Papeete Bay

Off the wind on this heading lie the Marquesas
We got eighty feet of the waterline, nicely making way
In a noisy bar in Avalon I tried to call you
But on a midnight watch I realized why twice you ran away

CHORUS:

Think about how many times I have fallen
Spirits are using me, larger voices callin’
What heaven brought you and me cannot be forgotten
I have been around the world lookin’ for that woman, girl
Who knows love can endure, and you know it will,
and you know it will

When you see the Southern Cross for the first time
You understand now why you came this way
‘Cause the truth you might be runnin’ from is so small
But it’s as big as the promise, the promise of a coming day

So I’m sailing for tomorrow, my dreams are a dyin’
And my love is an anchor tied to you, tied with a silver chain
I have my ship and all her flags are a flyin’
She is all that I have left and music is her name

CHORUS:

So we cheated and we lied and we tested
And we never failed to fail, it was the easiest thing to do
You will survive being bested
But somebody fine will come along
make me forget about loving you
In the Southern Cross.

- - -

The “Southern Cross” is a constellation also known as the Crux Constellation that can be viewed from most of the Southern hemisphere. The 4 brightest stars within the constellation form a cross pattern. Sailors have relied on the “Southern Cross” to help in navigating their boats.

Southern Cross
Written by Stephen Stills, Richard Curtis, and Michael Curtis
Performed by Crosby, Stills and Nash
Album: Daylight Again
Track #3: Southern Cross
Date: 1982