A song by The Byrds, banned by some radio stations for its "references to LSD" - "Mr. Tambourine Man" suffered a similar fate earlier.

Gene Clark's lyrics may have been about a UK tour (flying "six miles high" - the original title, IIRC - to England; Clark would soon leave the group, in part because of his fear of flying) and meeting The Beatles ("rain gray town known for its sound" - Liverpool? "Swinging London"?).

Roger McGuinn's guitar parts, which framed the verses, were musically inspired (sorta) by John Coltrane; the 45's flipside, "Why?", was influenced by Ravi Shankar.

Eight miles high and when you touch down
You'll find that it's stranger than known
Signs in the street that say where you're going
Are somewhere just being their own

Nowhere is there warmth to be found
among those afraid of losing their ground
Rain gray town known for its sound
In places small faces unbound

Round the squares huddled in storms
Some laughing some just shapeless forms
Sidewalk scenes and black limousines
Some living some standing alone

Log in or register to write something here or to contact authors.