Teach Your Children – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (Live)

“Teach Your Children” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young is one of those songs that feels less like a performance and more like a gentle conversation passed down through generations. The song was released as a single in 1970 and appears on the band’s landmark album Déjà Vu, which came out the same year and became one of the defining records of the era.

Lyrically, the song centers on patience, understanding, and the responsibility that comes with guiding the next generation. Rather than lecturing, it emphasizes mutual respect – reminding parents that children have lessons to teach as well. The message feels calm and grounded, built on empathy instead of authority, which is part of why it continues to resonate decades later.

Musically, the warm harmonies and country-leaning arrangement give the song an intimate, almost reassuring tone. Jerry Garcia’s pedal steel guitar adds a subtle, soulful texture that perfectly matches the song’s reflective mood. Commercially, “Teach Your Children” performed well, reaching No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 11 on the Easy Listening chart, helping cement its place as one of CSNY’s most enduring and beloved songs.

Even today, it stands as a reminder that the values we pass on – and the willingness to listen in return – can shape families, relationships, and generations in quiet but lasting ways.