Complete List Of The Byrds Songs From A to Z

Feature Photo: KRLA Beat, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In the early 1960s, the Byrds emerged as one of the most innovative and influential bands in American popular music. Formed in 1964, the group’s original core consisted of Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, David Crosby, Chris Hillman, and Michael Clarke. The band was initially known for fusing the harmonies and melodic sense of folk with the rhythmic drive and energy of rock—a blend that would become a defining feature of their sound.

The Byrds began as folk enthusiasts, heavily influenced by the burgeoning folk revival in Los Angeles and inspired by the works of Bob Dylan and The Beatles. Their path to stardom started in earnest when McGuinn, Clark, and Crosby began performing as The Jet Set, later recruiting Hillman and Clarke to fill out the lineup. By the time of their first recording sessions in 1964, they had adopted the name The Byrds, a misspelling chosen partly in homage to The Beatles.

The band’s breakthrough came in April 1965 with their debut single, a jangly, electrified version of Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man.” The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, establishing The Byrds as a chart-topping act. Their debut album, Mr. Tambourine Man, released in June 1965, helped define the folk rock genre. The record also included the hit single “All I Really Want to Do” and set the template for the group’s early blend of twelve-string guitar, tight vocal harmonies, and poetic lyricism.

The follow-up album, Turn! Turn! Turn!, released in December 1965, continued The Byrds’ streak of success. The title track, adapted from a Pete Seeger song with lyrics drawn from the Book of Ecclesiastes, also hit number one in the United States. The album included standout tracks like “Set You Free This Time” and “It Won’t Be Wrong,” and further cemented The Byrds’ status as leaders of the folk-rock movement.

1966’s Fifth Dimension saw the band moving in a more experimental direction, with the hit single “Eight Miles High” introducing psychedelic elements that would soon become central to their sound. The track, with its jazz-influenced guitar work and surreal lyrics, is widely recognized as one of the earliest psychedelic rock songs. Internal tensions and the rigors of the road led to Gene Clark’s departure in 1966, a change that affected the group’s dynamic but not their ambition.

With the release of Younger Than Yesterday in 1967, The Byrds further explored psychedelia, incorporating brass arrangements and Indian influences. The album featured “So You Want to Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star” and “My Back Pages,” another Dylan cover that became a Top 40 hit. By now, the group was facing considerable lineup changes, with David Crosby’s departure in 1967 and the arrival of new members such as Gram Parsons.

Parsons’ entry in 1968 led to a significant shift in The Byrds’ sound, steering them toward country rock. The landmark album Sweetheart of the Rodeo was released that year, marking one of the first major forays of a rock band into country music. The album’s blend of country standards and originals, including Parsons-penned songs, is often cited as foundational in the development of country rock and Americana. Although it was not a major commercial success at the time, its influence has grown considerably in subsequent decades.

Throughout the late 1960s and into the early 1970s, The Byrds continued to evolve, with McGuinn remaining the only constant member. Albums like Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde (1969), Ballad of Easy Rider (1969), and Untitled (1970) showcased a group willing to experiment with country, rock, and even progressive elements. The 1970s saw the group release Byrdmaniax and Farther Along, with mixed critical and commercial fortunes. Despite the turnover in personnel, The Byrds maintained a reputation for pushing musical boundaries.

In total, The Byrds released twelve studio albums between 1965 and 1973. Their catalog includes some of the most revered works in American rock, spanning from the folk-rock innovations of their early years to the genre-blending explorations of their later records. Among their many singles, “Mr. Tambourine Man,” “Turn! Turn! Turn!,” “Eight Miles High,” “So You Want to Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star,” and “Chestnut Mare” are still celebrated today.

Recognition for The Byrds’ achievements has been substantial. In 1991, the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with the original five members reuniting briefly for the occasion. The Byrds’ influence on subsequent generations is evident in the work of artists ranging from Tom Petty to R.E.M., and in the entire genre of jangle pop and country rock that followed in their wake.

Outside of their main work as The Byrds, the group’s members contributed significantly to music history. David Crosby became a founding member of Crosby, Stills & Nash (and later Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young), Chris Hillman played a key role in The Flying Burrito Brothers and The Desert Rose Band, and Gram Parsons went on to be a pioneer in the country rock genre. Roger McGuinn launched a successful solo career and continued to innovate as a songwriter and performer.

Complete List Of The Byrds Songs From A to Z

2-4-2 Fox Trot (The Lear Jet Song) – Fifth Dimension – 1966
5D (Fifth Dimension) – Fifth Dimension – 1966
Absolute Happiness – Byrdmaniax – 1971
All I Really Want to Do – Mr. Tambourine Man – 1965
All the Things – (Untitled) – 1970
America’s Great National Pastime – Farther Along – 1971
Antique Sandy – Farther Along – 1971
Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins – Ballad of Easy Rider – 1969
Artificial Energy – The Notorious Byrd Brothers – 1968
B.B. Class Road – Farther Along – 1971
Bad Night at the Whiskey – Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde – 1969
Bag Full of Money – Farther Along – 1971
Ballad of Easy Rider – (Untitled) – 1970
The Bells of Rhymney – Mr. Tambourine Man – 1965
Blue Canadian Rockies – Sweetheart of the Rodeo – 1968
Born to Rock and Roll – Farther Along – 1971
Born to Rock ‘n’ Roll – Byrds – 1973
Borrowing Time – Byrds – 1973
Bound to Fall – The Notorious Byrd Brothers – 1968
Bristol Steam Convention Blues – Farther Along – 1971
Bugler – Farther Along – 1971
Build It Up – Ballad of Easy Rider – 1969
C.T.A.-102 – Younger Than Yesterday – 1967
Candy – Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde – 1969
Captain Soul – Fifth Dimension – 1966
Change Is Now – The Notorious Byrd Brothers – 1968
Changing Heart – Byrds – 1973
Chestnut Mare – (Untitled) – 1970
Child of the Universe – Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde – 1969
Chimes of Freedom – Mr. Tambourine Man – 1965
The Christian Life – Sweetheart of the Rodeo – 1968
Citizen Kane – Byrdmaniax – 1971
Cowgirl in the Sand – Byrds – 1973
The Day Walk (Never Before) – Turn! Turn! Turn! – 1965
Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos) – Ballad of Easy Rider – 1969
Dolphin’s Smile – The Notorious Byrd Brothers – 1968
Don’t Doubt Yourself, Babe – Mr. Tambourine Man – 1965
Don’t Make Waves – Younger Than Yesterday – 1967
Draft Morning – The Notorious Byrd Brothers – 1968
Drug Store Truck Drivin’ Man – Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde – 1969
Eight Miles High – (Untitled) – 1970
Everybody’s Been Burned – Younger Than Yesterday – 1967
Farther Along – Farther Along – 1971
Fiddler a Dram (Moog Experiment) – Ballad of Easy Rider – 1969
Fido – Ballad of Easy Rider – 1969
For Free – Byrds – 1973
Full Circle – Byrds – 1973
Get Down Your Line – Farther Along – 1971
Get to You – The Notorious Byrd Brothers – 1968
The Girl with No Name – Younger Than Yesterday – 1967
Glory, Glory – Byrdmaniax – 1971
Goin’ Back – The Notorious Byrd Brothers – 1968
Green Apple Quick Step – Byrdmaniax – 1971
Gunga Din – Ballad of Easy Rider – 1969
Have You Seen Her Face – Younger Than Yesterday – 1967
He Was a Friend of Mine – Turn! Turn! Turn! – 1965
Here Without You – Mr. Tambourine Man – 1965
Hey Joe (Where You Gonna Go) – Fifth Dimension – 1966
Hickory Wind – Sweetheart of the Rodeo – 1968
Hungry Planet – (Untitled) – 1970
I Am a Pilgrim – Sweetheart of the Rodeo – 1968
I Come and Stand at Every Door – Fifth Dimension – 1966
I Knew I’d Want You – Mr. Tambourine Man – 1965
I Know My Rider (I Know You Rider) – Fifth Dimension – 1966
I See You – Fifth Dimension – 1966
I Trust – Byrdmaniax – 1971
I Wanna Grow Up to Be a Politician – Byrdmaniax – 1971
I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better – Mr. Tambourine Man – 1965
If You’re Gone – Turn! Turn! Turn! – 1965
It Happens Each Day – Younger Than Yesterday – 1967
It Won’t Be Wrong – Turn! Turn! Turn! – 1965
It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue – Ballad of Easy Rider – 1969
It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding) – (Untitled) – 1970
It’s No Use – Mr. Tambourine Man – 1965
Jack Tarr the Sailor – Ballad of Easy Rider – 1969
Jamaica Say You Will – Byrdmaniax – 1971
Jesus Is Just Alright – (Untitled) – 1970
John Riley – Fifth Dimension – 1966
Just a Season – (Untitled) – 1970
Just Like a Woman – Byrdmaniax – 1971
Kathleen’s Song – Byrdmaniax – 1971
King Apathy III – Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde – 1969
Lady Friend – Younger Than Yesterday – 1967
Laughing – Byrds – 1973
Lay Down Your Weary Tune – Turn! Turn! Turn! – 1965
Lay Lady Lay – Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde – 1969
Lazy Waters – Farther Along – 1971
Life in Prison – Sweetheart of the Rodeo – 1968
Long Live the King – Byrds – 1973
Lost My Drivin’ Wheel – Farther Along – 1971
Lover of the Bayou – (Untitled) – 1970
Mae Jean Goes to Hollywood – Ballad of Easy Rider – 1969
Medley: My Back Pages/B.J. Blues/Baby What You Want Me to Do – Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde – 1969
Mind Gardens – Younger Than Yesterday – 1967
Moog Raga – The Notorious Byrd Brothers – 1968
Mr. Spaceman – (Untitled) – 1970
Mr. Tambourine Man – (Untitled) – 1970
My Back Pages – (Untitled) – 1970
My Destiny – Byrdmaniax – 1971
Nashville West – (Untitled) – 1970
Natural Harmony – The Notorious Byrd Brothers – 1968
Nothing Was Delivered – Sweetheart of the Rodeo – 1968
Oh! Susannah – Turn! Turn! Turn! – 1965
Oil in My Lamp – Ballad of Easy Rider – 1969
Old Blue – (Untitled) – 1970
Old John Robertson – The Notorious Byrd Brothers – 1968
One Hundred Years from Now – Sweetheart of the Rodeo – 1968
One in a Hundred – Byrds – 1973
Pale Blue – Byrdmaniax – 1971
Positively 4th Street – (Untitled) – 1970
Precious Kate – Farther Along – 1971
Pretty Boy Floyd – Sweetheart of the Rodeo – 1968
Psychodrama City – Fifth Dimension – 1966
Renaissance Fair – Younger Than Yesterday – 1967
Satisfied Mind – Turn! Turn! Turn! – 1965
(See the Sky) About to Rain – Byrds – 1973
Set You Free This Time – Turn! Turn! Turn! – 1965
She Don’t Care About Time – Turn! Turn! Turn! – 1965
She Has a Way – Mr. Tambourine Man – 1965
She’s the Kind of Girl – Byrds – 1973
So Fine – Farther Along – 1971
So You Want to Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star – (Untitled) – 1970
Space Odyssey – The Notorious Byrd Brothers – 1968
Spanish Harlem Incident – Mr. Tambourine Man – 1965
Stanley’s Song – Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde – 1969
Stranger in a Strange Land – Turn! Turn! Turn! – 1965
Sweet Mary – Byrds – 1973
Take a Whiff on Me – (Untitled) – 1970
There Must Be Someone – Ballad of Easy Rider – 1969
Things Will Be Better – Byrds – 1973
Think I’m Gonna Feel Better – Byrdmaniax – 1971
This Wheel’s on Fire – (Untitled) – 1970
Thoughts and Words – Younger Than Yesterday – 1967
Tiffany Queen – Farther Along – 1971
Time Between – Younger Than Yesterday – 1967
The Times They Are a-Changin’ – Turn! Turn! Turn! – 1965
Tribal Gathering – The Notorious Byrd Brothers – 1968
Triad – The Notorious Byrd Brothers – 1968
Truck Stop Girl – (Untitled) – 1970
Tulsa County Blue – Ballad of Easy Rider – 1969
Tunnel of Love – Byrdmaniax – 1971
Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There is a Season) – Turn! Turn! Turn! – 1965
Universal Mind Decoder – The Notorious Byrd Brothers – 1968
Wait and See – Turn! Turn! Turn! – 1965
Wasn’t Born to Follow – The Notorious Byrd Brothers – 1968
Way Beyond the Sun – Ballad of Easy Rider – 1969
We’ll Meet Again – Mr. Tambourine Man – 1965
Well Come Back Home – (Untitled) – 1970
What’s Happening?!?! – Fifth Dimension – 1966
White’s Lightning Pt.2 – (Untitled) – 1970
Why – Younger Than Yesterday – 1967
Wild Mountain Thyme – Fifth Dimension – 1966
Willin’ – (Untitled) – 1970
The World Turns All Around Her – Turn! Turn! Turn! – 1965
You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere – (Untitled) – 1970
You All Look Alike – (Untitled) – 1970
You Don’t Miss Your Water – Sweetheart of the Rodeo – 1968
You Won’t Have to Cry – Mr. Tambourine Man – 1965
You’re Still on My Mind – Sweetheart of the Rodeo – 1968
Your Gentle Way of Loving Me – Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde – 1969
Yesterday’s Train – (Untitled) – 1970