Teach Your Children Lyrics

Everytime I hear this song, it makes me cry, because for me it's a simple message of love and hope between parents and their children. Not a political message or a statement of equality or passing a torch--just love and caring for each other, and sharing our wisdom with each other. Parents can teach their children their values; children can show their parents their hopes and dreams. And so life goes, from one generation to another, a continuum of dreams and passions. For me, it's a timeless connection, and it reminds me that long after I'm gone, my daughter will be singing the same inspiring song to her own children.

Pamela, if you marched in the 60's and 70's, then you're most likely a grandparent now. And, yes, grandparents were still out marching with Occupy last fall. John is referring to his parents' generation. My daughter also noticed that Occupy had young people and grey-haired people. Her question to me was, "Where's your generation, Mom?"

@John, you're absolutely right. I remember being in college and most in my generation were cheering on "Reaganomics." As long as they got theirs, they couldn't have cared less about helping the next guy or paying it forward. Even before that in the 70's we were dubbed the "Me Generation." I hated that name, but now have to admit we've done a fabulous job of living up to it. Of course, there were those, like me, but not enough of us to hold back the tide.

This song means a lot to me because I was raised in a multi-generational family. When I was in college, my Great Aunt was horrified by my cousins and young people supporting Reagan's policies. She commented, "It's always the young people who bring about change. If not them, then who? If they're conservative now, where will this country be in 20 or 30 years?" She said she was counting on me to carry the dream to the next generation because she wouldn't live that long. I've done the best I can.

Good Luck to you, John. We need you and those of your generation to help restore this country to what it once was.

I remember teaching my 13 year old sister Doreen to pick out the chords for this song on her old guitar and I don't play guitar. But I took piano lessons years before and knew what I was listening for. We must have sung it thousands of times over the decades at campfires in Grand Etang by the breakwater. Good old memories of making music in Cape Breton Island, teenagers in cut off jeans enjoying the magic of the 60's.

The really interesting thing about this song is its message is reproduced in the debate that follows. The song has two versus one directed at the elder generation and one at the younger but the message to both is the same - we cant hope to understand each other's hopes and fears but we can learn from each other - neither knows best! My daughter is only 11 and I can't imagine what the issues of the day will be when she's 17 but I'm pretty sure I wont understand them the way she does. When she was born a friend asked me how it would change my life. I said that now I dont want to miss spending time with her because I got arrested on a protest demo - I want to be there to bail her out when she is! To me this song is telling us to pass on the torch.

I think this song has an excellent message....each generation has its own issues of that day and age to deal with & try to change. I find it impossible to believe that someone young (and by that I am primarily referring to teenagers) can possibly have all the answers when they are just starting out in life. You can't have all the answers when your life experiences are few.....on that note it would serve us all well to listen to those who have gone before us. I'm sure many of them have made their share of mistakes and they have wisdom to pass on, if only we listen. There is a gap between each generation.......each generation of children for the most part at some time or another thinks their parents are out of touch and not very smart. For the most part parents try their best to teach their children values and equip them for life. I love this song....there is much wisdom in these words. Thanks Crosby, Stills & Nash!

Thanks John, I agree. Each generation has to learn from the next, but respect the past. This song explains it all. It instills hope and inspires us to accept change, which isn't always easy. Our youth today is more connected than anyone in the 1960's could fathom. We have so many tools on hand that make it capable to unite and make our voices heard. But if we don't even try to fight this battle we don't deserve to get back what is owed to us.

Pamela, I respectfully disagree. Your generation had its marches and its changes, and I understand that ours feel different. They ought to. We're a different generation and we live in a different world. What worked (or really, didn't work) for your generation won't work for ours.

Please, before you judge your children's generation, listen to this song again. "And you, of tender years can't know the fears that your elders grew by/ And so please help them with your years, they seek the truth before they can die./ Teach your parents well, their children's hell will slowly go by, /And feed them on your dreams, the one they picked, the one you're known by."

This is the dream that we are known by. The dream of American equality sort of fizzled out over the last eighty years; Reagan sold it and the Democrats allowed it to be sold. We want it back, please, and if you think we want handouts then you aren't paying attention. We want the dignity that you grew up enjoying; we want the social safety net promised to us by the New Deal and the Great Society, which the Republicans have gutted and which you, our parents, have let them gut by voting for them.

Are we angry at you? A little bit, to be honest, because those of us who know our history don't understand you a generation like yours let people take away benefits that belong to us all. We would like them back, and we would like your help in getting them back.

I have always loved this song, but I feel that it is NOT an anthem for the "Occupiers"! I marched along with the best of 'em in the 1960's and '70's, but we had a purpose. These children, losers, and criminals are riding on hand-outs and no central statement. Why C&N would get behind them is dubitable (DOUBTFUL), but my guess is a promo for a tour. SAD, but probable. LOVE C&N and C,S,N,and Y&S,and C.S,N,&Y, saw them all! So take that!

Last Satuday night 09/11/2010 I attended a Crosby, Stills & Nash concert at the Palace Theatre in Louisville Kentucky .

They were great and the audience went crazy when they played teach your children. Stills continues to be one of the best musicians ever!

I'm 62 years old now with four grandchildren and wish they could have been with me there at the concert.

As I am a parent of four girls, this song has so much truth to it........we teach our children the best we can and they do the same with us.......it is a true testament of love between parent and child and vice versa. The song is a timeless treasure.

ich habe diesen song anfang der 70`er zuerst ge-
hört. und er ist heute noch immer einer der schöns-
ten songs der musikgeschichte. die,die immer meckern über diese(68èr) zeit: bitte sehr,zeigt mir einen ähnlich tollen song aus den letzten jahren!

When you think of the stiff era of the 50's culture and how those parents wanted so much for their kids, they were pretty overwhelmed by the explosiveness of the 60's. "Why this?", "why that?", "old enough to go to War" and "I've got a say." Now the kids of the 60's are becoming parents with Don’t you ever ask them why
If they told you, you would cry
So just look at them and sigh
And know they love you. Also practice what you preach and teach your children well.

I remember this song playing at my sisters Cafe on the juke box, it sounded so cool back then and still is, the lyrics were in the mist then. I was trying to be cool like all the older generation that was wearing thier uncombed hair with thier jeans full of patches and this song just gave all the younger generation a lift to be who they are and who we are today. I feel that we are the normal ones then and now...

I am rewriting this song's lyrics for my 95 year old aunt's funeral this week for her 5 remaining out of 7 children. Such a powerful love song for any generation... Thanks to CSN for their inspiration.

I remember the first time I heard this song. I thought it was so cool. I tried to sing it but I didn't know the words, and was high as a kite.
Oh the good ole days when weed was great, and love was free.