The Youngbloods - Darkness, Darkness

The Youngbloods
Elephant Mountain
1969
________________________________________
I own no rights to anything in this video footage. All rights belong to
The Youngbloods, all associated members, and the label they are signed to.
This is for educational use, for people to learn about The Youngbloods's music, so it is covered under fair use

[markwatkins]

RIP David Lindley. The fiddle intro he played on this song is iconic to a generation of music lovers. He was truly one of a kind.

[fredacuneo]

So haunting and stirring. 40 years later and it still holds up.

[thomasmurray]

Saw them when I was in college (early 70's). They were on a bill with Arlo Guthrie. They all arrived late, and Arlo didn't want to wait, so went on first. Played his popular stuff, about 45 minutes, and then left. The Youngbloods came on and played for about 3 hours. They would take a break with one member left on stage doing some solo jamming. I can easily say that it was the best concert I went to during my college years.

[apf]

I was in my first year of college, saved up my spare change and bought a boom-box that let me record music off the radio. That was like Star Trek Tech in 1969! This was the first song I recorded, and I still have that cassette someplace. Hearing this song brings me back. A year later, I was drafted and training for jungle warfare. My brother was already in Vietnam, so I didn't have to go. Saved my Mom from having two sons to worry over.

[kennyhooberry]

I love this song. I first heard it in Vietnam on my 2nd tour. Brings back a lot of memories and some sorrow.

[liesdamnliesandstatsweird]

The Youngbloods were another criminally underrated band. Elephant Mountain is a work of art, a masterpiece. Then again, obscure music is usually some if tge best music.

[waynerhodes]

I've loved this song since I first heard it -- circa 1969 -- and never realized that the recently departed musical genius David Lindley is on fiddle.

[philmole]

Nearly 40 years later, this still is one of the most completely cathartic rock songs I've ever heard.

[mattcuddy]

This song kicks ass, starts out slow and folksy, and ends hard core acid rock 1960's style. The words are so deep too. The whole album was a breakthrough that no one noticed in '69.

[kellibond]

The tremendous empathy Jesse Colin Young had for his friends in Vietnam—in whatever way they came home—went well beyond the lyrics in this haunting, intense, and timeless piece. It comes through most powerfully in his voice and the Youngbloods' instrumentation as the song progresses! DEDICATION UPDATE 16 SEP 2021: For our men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces 2001-2021 who were on the front lines for us all—and watched teammates (military along with civilians) be injured, be maimed, or die. Likely a piece of themselves perished simultaneously.

[jefffelderman]

A very underrated masterpiece of an album. And this song is hauntingly beautiful.

[MeneerHerculePoirot]

Rediscovered this incredible gem about 6 years ago. My older brother had Elephant Mountain. I wore it out and had to buy him another one. This was before I became a guitar player. Hadn't thought of it in years. Came up on my feed. Suddenly I was able to figure it out because of my skill level. What a joy. What a song!

[jerzycaligirl]

This song is transforming and was/is in my top ten songs of all time - 💜🍀💜

[douglaslally]

It's an old song from a distant generation. I don't think most people understand it as a plea from a young American soldier to the darkness. He felt safe only at night when the enemy couldn't see him. Also, the violin intro was Charlie Daniels.

[Sheerkat]

I haven't thought of or heard this song in decades. Somehow, it came to me last night. It sounds just as good as I remembered. Thanks for sharing it. (Edited to add:) Jesse is still around and still touring. The old troubadour is still on the road. Good for him.

[annhendrickson]

Old old roots in Celtic. Our ancestors knew what this is about, the music punches through time expressing shared experience: to walk in courage, the choice made long ago, has costs, but dreading darkness also means, by holding on, you kept your soul.
. Darkness is music, that perfectly captures how memories, kept under firm control, wait, to start random videos for those moments your mind relaxes, twilight of slipping into sleep.
The vocalist did it right, not harsh and raw, cause to go there isn't the point. To admit is hard. To hear this, to know, that the beauty in humans balances the darkness we hold. This song astonished me, and I love it in a painful way. I'm grateful to the artists.

[smokinjz]

Darkness darkness, be my pillow
Take my head and let me sleep
In the coolness of your shadow
In the silence of your dream
Darkness darkness, hide my yearning
For the things that cannot be
Keep my mind from constant turning
Towards the things I cannot see now
Towards the things I cannot see now
The things I cannot see now
Darkness darkness, long and lonesome
Is the day brings me here
I have found the edge of sadness
I have known the depths of fear
Darkness darkness, be my blanket
Cover my with the endless night
Take away away the pain of knowing
Fill the emptiness of right now
The emptiness of right now
Fill the emptiness of right now
Darkness darkness, be my pillow
Take my head and let me sleep
In the coolness of my shadow
In the silence of my dream
Darkness darkness, be my blanket
Cover my with the endless night
Take away away the pain of knowing
Fill the emptiness of right now
In the emptiness of right now
In the emptiness of right now

[bobhickman]

Perfect blend of folk rock and psychedelic. The fuzz lead is at the head of the class.

[seekinganhonestpolitician]

My ex just died of alcoholism. He used to listen to this all the time. “Take away the pain of knowing ...”. So very sad.

[RZSilver]

Here's to all that never made it home or are still hiding in the darkness. May you be wrapped in love and human kindness.