Wasn't Born To Follow
The Byrds
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No I'd rather go and journey Where the diamond crescent's glowing And run across the valley Beneath the sacred mountain And wander through the forest Where the trees have leaves of prisms And break the light in colors That no one know the names of And when it's time I'll go and lay Beside the legendary fountain 'Till I see her form reflected In its clear and jewelled waters And if you think I'm ready You may lead me to the chasm Where the rivers of our visions Flow into one another I will want to dive beneath the white cascading waters She may beg, she may plead, she may argue with her logic And mention all the things I'll lose That really have no value in the end she will surely know I wasn't born to follow
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Written by: Carole King, Gerry Goffin
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Song Composition"Wasn't Born to Follow" is a folk-pop song written by the team of Carole King and Gerry Goffin.
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First ReleaseThough the song was covered by multiple artists, it was first popularized by the American band "The Byrds" in 1968.
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AlbumThe song was included in The Byrds' album "The Notorious Byrd Brothers."
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Song ThemeThe song reflects an anti-establishment and anti-conformist message, marking the countercultural sentiments of the 1960s.
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Film Appearance"Wasn't Born to Follow" was featured in the soundtrack of the cult classic "Easy Rider" (1969).
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Dusty Springfield CoverBritish pop singer Dusty Springfield covered the song, and her version was included in her 1970 album "A Brand New Me."
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Carole King's ContributionAs one of the co-writers of the song, Carole King was already a successful musician and songwriter before she penned "Wasn't Born to Follow." She's also known for hits like "You've Got a Friend" and "I Feel the Earth Move."
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Gerry Goffin's RoleGerry Goffin, the co-writer, was not just a longtime partner of Carole King in music, but he was also her husband. They wrote numerous hit songs together before their divorce in 1968.
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The Byrds' LeadershipUnder the leadership of Roger McGuinn, The Byrds' version of "Wasn't Born to Follow" features their signature harmonies and 12-string Rickenbacker guitar sound.
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LegacyThe song is still celebrated today and is seen as a reflection of both anti-establishment attitudes and the freedom of the open road, further popularized by its inclusion in the "Easy Rider" soundtrack. The song itself has become a classic in the counterculture and popular folk-rock genres.
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Citation
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"Wasn't Born To Follow Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 3 Jun 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/23365748/The+Byrds/Wasn%27t+Born+To+Follow>.
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