Teach Your Children
| "Teach Your Children" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| SinglebyCrosby, Stills, Nash & Young | ||||
| from the albumDéjà Vu | ||||
| B-side | "Carry On" | |||
| Released | May 1970 | |||
| Recorded | October 24, 1969 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:53 | |||
| Label | Atlantic | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Graham Nash | |||
| Producer(s) | Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young | |||
| Crosby, Stills, Nash & Youngsingles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Teach Your Children"is a song written byGraham Nashin 1968 when he was a member ofthe Hollies.Although it was never recorded by that group in a studio, the Hollies did record it live in 1983. After the song was initially recorded for the albumCrosby, Stills & Nashin 1969, a much more enhanced version of the song was recorded for the albumDéjà VubyCrosby, Stills, Nash & Young,released in 1970. As a single, the song peaked at No. 16 on theBillboardHot 100charts that year.[2]On theEasy Listeningchart, it peaked at No. 28.[3]In Canada, "Teach Your Children" reached No. 8.[4]Reviewing the song,Cash Boxcommented on the "incredible soft harmony luster" and "delicately composed material."[5]Billboardcalled it "a smooth country-flavored ballad that should prove an even bigger hit on the charts [than 'Woodstock']. "[6]Stephen Stillsgave the song its "country swing", replacing the "Henry VIII" style of Nash's original demo.[7]
Nash, who is also an accomplished photographer and collector of photographs, associated the song's message with a famous 1962 photo byDiane Arbus,Child with Toy Hand Grenade in Central Park,shortly after writing the song. The image, which depicts a child with an angry expression holding the toy weapon, prompted Nash to reflect on the societal implications of messages given to children about war and other issues.[8][9][10]
The recording featuresJerry Garciaonpedal steel guitar.Garcia taught himself how to play the instrument during his tenure with theNew Riders of the Purple Sage.[11]He told Lon Goddard of the British music newspaperRecord Mirrorin an interview that he recorded a series of pieces on the steel guitar and spliced them together in the studio to create the backing and solo. Garcia had made a deal that in return for his playing steel guitar on "Teach Your Children," CSNY would help members of theGrateful Deadimprove their vocal harmony for their upcoming albums,Workingman's DeadandAmerican Beauty.
Personnel[edit]
CSN[edit]
- Graham Nash– lead vocals, harmony vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar, percussion
- David Crosby– harmony vocals
- Stephen Stills– harmony vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar, bass guitar
Additional Personnel[edit]
- Jerry Garcia– pedal steel guitar
- Dallas Taylor– drums, tambourine, percussion
Chart history[edit]
Weekly charts (1970)[edit]
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Year-end charts (1970)[edit]
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"The Red Hots" (1994)[edit]
In 1994,Crosby, Stills & Nashre-recorded the song with guest vocals fromcountry musicartistsSuzy Bogguss,Alison KraussandKathy Mattea,crediting the recording to "The Red Hots". This version was included on the albumRed Hot + Country,a release by theRed Hot OrganizationbenefitingAIDSawareness. The Red Hots' version of the song spent one week on theHot Country Songschart in October 1994, at No. 75.[23]
In popular culture[edit]
- In 1971, "Teach Your Children" was the final song in the movieMelody.
- In 1979, the song was featured in theWKRP in Cincinnatiepisode "I Want to Keep My Baby".[24]
- In 1984, Democratic candidateWalter Mondaleused the song in apresidential campaigncommercial onarms control.[25]
- In 1985, the song was used with modified lyrics in a TV commercial promoting schools' use of theApple IIfamily of personal computers.[26]
- In 1991, the song was featured inThe Wonder Yearsepisode "Road Trip".[27]
- In the 1993The Simpsonsepisode "Marge in Chains",David Crosbymakes a cameo asLionel Hutz's 12-step sponsor, who tells him "Just take it one day at a time, and know that I love you.", paraphrasing the song's lyrics.
- In 2006, it was sung bySteve CarellandRainn WilsononThe Officeepisode"Take Your Daughter to Work Day".
- In 2015, the song was covered byMatthew Morrisonduring the series finale episode ofGlee,"Dreams Come True".
- In 2018, the song was used frequently inThe X-Filesepisode "Rm9sbG93ZXJz".[28]
- In 2023, the song was covered byMonaLisa Twinson their albumThe Duo Sessions II.
References[edit]
- ^Roberts, David (2015). "Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young -" Ohio ". In Dimery, Robert (ed.).1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die.New York:Universe.p. 272.
- ^"Déjà Vu:Billboard Singles ".Allmusic.Retrieved10 August2010.
- ^Whitburn, Joel(2002).Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001.Record Research. p. 67.
- ^RPMWeekly 100, August 1, 1970
- ^"CashBox Record Reviews"(PDF).Cash Box.May 30, 1970. p. 42.RetrievedSeptember 15,2022.
- ^"Spotlight Singles"(PDF).Billboard.May 30, 1970. p. 76.Retrieved2023-04-27.
- ^Allen, Jim (December 6, 2018)."Making 'Déjà Vu' and the Early Days of CSN: An Interview with Graham Nash".Reverb.RetrievedSeptember 15,2022.
- ^Nash, Graham (Fall 2009)."Graham Nash on Diane Arbus'sChild With a Toy Hand Grenade in Central Park, N.Y.C., 1962".Aperture.No. 196. p. 88.RetrievedSeptember 15,2022.
- ^Varga, George (January 5, 2006)."Listening Post: As a Photographer, Graham Nash Still Hears the Music".San Diego Union-Tribune.Archived fromthe originalon July 17, 2011.
- ^Nash, Graham (September 18, 2017).Song Stories: "Teach Your Children".Reverb.RetrievedSeptember 15,2022– via YouTube (official channel).
- ^"Jerry Garcia And The Pedal Steel Guitar".No Depression.Archived fromthe originalon 2017-04-25.
- ^Kent, David(1993).Australian Chart Book 1970–1992.St Ives,N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book.ISBN0-646-11917-6.
- ^RPMWeekly 100, August 1, 1970
- ^"Jaaroverzichten – Single 1970"(in Dutch).Single Top 100.Hung Medien.RetrievedFebruary 25,2018.
- ^Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990-ISBN0-89820-089-X
- ^Whitburn, Joel(1993).Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993.Record Research. p. 61.
- ^Cash Box Top 100 Singles, August 1, 1970Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- ^"RECORD WORLD MAGAZINE: 1942 to 1982".worldradiohistory.Retrieved2020-12-28.
- ^"Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)".Australian-charts.Archived fromthe originalon 2016-06-02.Retrieved2017-05-07.
- ^"Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada".collectionscanada.gc.ca.17 July 2013.
- ^"Jaaroverzichten – Single 1970"(in Dutch).Single Top 100.Hung Medien.RetrievedFebruary 25,2018.
- ^Whitburn, Joel (1999).Pop Annual.Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc.ISBN0-89820-142-X.
- ^Whitburn, Joel (2008).Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008.Record Research, Inc. p. 342.ISBN978-0-89820-177-2.
- ^"WKRP in Cincinnati - I Want to Keep My Baby (TV Episode 1979) - Soundtracks".IMDb, Inc.Retrieved26 September2018.
- ^Mondale ad
- ^"Teach Your Children by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young".Songfacts.RetrievedSeptember 15,2022.
- ^"The Wonder Years - Road Trip (TV Episode 1991) - Soundtracks".IMDb, Inc.Retrieved31 August2018.
- ^"The X-Files - Rm9sbG93ZXJz (TV Episode 2018) - Soundtracks".IMDb, Inc.Retrieved16 November2018.
External links[edit]
- Crosby, Stills and Nash (1974).Teach Your Children.Atlantic Records – via YouTube (official channel).
