The Byrds – Goin' Back / Change Is Now

Very weird that the original UK A Label is not listed here. I have it, so it exists.

“Goin’ Back” is another exceptional haunting song made famous by the Byrds, yet penned by Carole King and Gerry Goffin, a song David Crosby considered to be lightweight fluff, where the world can only be glad that he was overruled.

While the Byrds may have been proficient at rephrasing songs, and certainly the masters of that jangle guitar, it’s evident that they simply didn’t have the muster or the life experiences to write such wonderful interpersonal material as this. The number has a sincere country feel floating all around it, though not overtly so, especially when considering the lyrics, describing the loss of innocence that comes with age, along with the attempt we’re all guilty of, dragging our feet in an effort to slow the hands of time, to if not recapture, then to fondly remember and treasure the memories of our youth with warmth. Yet still, while we didn’t know the backstory during the heady days of the 60’s, we immersed ourselves in the thought that the song was a reflection of all the Byrds had lost with the passing of so many members stepping out of the outfit.

The Byrds were not the first to record this number, the all female rock band Goldie & The Gingerbreads laid down a version, though changed the lyrics which didn’t set well with Carole King, so the track was pulled, leaving Carole to record it herself, before passing it onto Dusty Springfield and then the Byrds.

No matter, this is just a fortunate song for the Byrds to have covered, their take is heads above another, taking a stance between pop and country, laced with flowing harmonies, an understated pedal steel guitar and the whispering nature of McGuinn’s 12 string Rickenbacker. “Goin’ Back” is nothing less than a delicate magic carpet ride of sound and vision, a song that for me, will always stand toe to toe with “In My Room” by the Beach Boys.

*** The Fun Facts: While McGuinn and Hillman always seemed to favor other people’s material, including this song Crosby especially didn’t like,“Goin’ Back.” For one thing, David felt the group should be emphasizing their own material, and perhaps Crosby’s songs in particular, in this case the song “Triad” (covered by the Jefferson Airplane). Of course David stormed out, missed the rest of the session, was a pain in the butt for a couple of live adventures, before being asked to leave the band … and all of that because of “Goin’ Back.”

Review by Jenell Kesler