Artist & Tune
Version by David Crosby
Version by Graham Nash
About the Song
Recordings above:
- Original 1971 studio album
- Live 2008 performance with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
- 2013 a cappella live perforance in Berlin of Crosby with Graham Nash
- Recorded live in Port Chester NY of Crosby with the Lighthouse Band in 2016
- 2018 performance on Live from Here with Chris Thile
Who are the men
Who really run this land?
And why do they run it
With such a thoughtless hand?
What are their names?
And on what streets do they live?
I’d like to ride right over
This afternoon & give them
A piece of my mind
About peace for mankind
Peace is not an awful lot to ask
- lyrics & music by Jerry Garcia, Michael Shrieve, Phil Lesh & Neil Young
(c) All rights reserved.
The song was 1st released on Crosby's debut 1971 solo album If I Could Only Remember My Name. The 4 authors credited for the song all performed on this album.Crosby explained to Mojo magazine January 2008 that this song about an invisible, ruling elite that is still just as relevant today: "I think that particular tune has lasted well because it's still true. We don't know who the people are who are running the planet. There is still a feeling they are in charge and we are not and we don't know who they are. We don't know where they go to school or if they even care about, say, seagulls, or if they ever liked a puppy or if they hate humans. We don't know anything about them."