5D (Fifth Dimension)
| "5D" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "Captain Soul" |
"5D (Fifth Dimension)" is a song by the American rock band The Byrds that was first released as a single in June 1966 and was written by band member Jim McGuinn.[1] The single reached #44 on the Billboard Hot 100 but failed to chart in the United Kingdom.[2][3] The song was also included on the band's third album, Fifth Dimension, released on July 18, 1966.[4] "5D (Fifth Dimension)" followed the release of the band's influential "Eight Miles High" single and arguably took the band's psychedelic experimentation to even further extremes than their previous single had.[5]
According to McGuinn, the song's lyrics were an attempt to explain Einstein's theory of relativity and were directly inspired by the book 1-2-3-4, More, More, More, More by Don Landis.[6] In a 1966 interview with Hit Parader magazine the guitarist stated that "It's sort of weird but...what I'm talking about is the whole universe, the fifth dimension, which is height, width, depth, time and something else. But there definitely are more dimensions than five. It's infinite. The fifth dimension is the threshold of scientific knowledge."[7] Talking to Michael Ross of Creem magazine in 1970, McGuinn further explained the song's meaning: "'5D' was an ethereal trip into metaphysics, into an almost Moslem submission to an Allah, an almighty spirit, free-floating, the fifth dimension being the 'mesh' which Einstein theorized about. He proved theoretically - but I choose to believe it."[8]
Unfortunately, the song's abstract lyrics were largely interpreted by the band's audience as being about an LSD trip, much to McGuinn's dismay.[7] The notion that the song was about drugs was given further credence when it was singled out, within a month of the single's release, by Variety magazine as one of a recent spate of pop songs containing references to illegal drug use.[7]
The song would be performed sporadically by The Byrds in live concerts during 1966 but was abandoned for the rest of the group's lifespan.[9] However, the song is frequently performed by Roger McGuinn during his solo concerts and consequently appears on his Live From Spain album.[10] The song was a favourite of The Byrds' bass player Chris Hillman, who described it as "one of the greatest songs McGuinn has ever written...I love that song. It just swings like a big pendulum."[8]
"5D (Fifth Dimension)" was produced by Allen Stanton and featured the Bach influenced organ playing of Los Angeles composer, arranger, producer and session musician, Van Dyke Parks.[7][11]
References
- ^ Rogan, Johnny. (1998). The Byrds: Timeless Flight Revisited (2nd ed.). Rogan House. pp. 544–546. ISBN 0-95295-401-X.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel. (2008). Top Pop Singles 1955-2006. Record Research Inc. p. 130. ISBN 0-89820-172-1.
- ^ Brown, Tony. (2000). The Complete Book of the British Charts. Omnibus Press. p. 130. ISBN 0-7119-7670-8.
- ^ Rogan, Johnny. (1998). The Byrds: Timeless Flight Revisited (2nd ed.). Rogan House. p. 546. ISBN 0-95295-401-X.
- ^ "5D (Fifth Dimension) review". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-11-28.
- ^ "Fifth Dimension". ByrdWatcher: A Field Guide to the Byrds of Los Angeles. Retrieved 2009-11-28.
- ^ a b c d Rogan, Johnny. (1998). The Byrds: Timeless Flight Revisited (2nd ed.). Rogan House. pp. 177–179. ISBN 0-95295-401-X.
- ^ a b Hjort, Christopher. (2008). So You Want To Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star: The Byrds Day-By-Day (1965-1973). Jawbone Press. p. 95. ISBN 1-90600-215-0.
- ^ Rogan, Johnny. (1998). The Byrds: Timeless Flight Revisited (2nd ed.). Rogan House. pp. 591–614. ISBN 0-95295-401-X.
- ^ "Live From Spain". Sundazed Records. Retrieved 2009-11-28.
- ^ Rogan, Johnny. (1996). Fifth Dimension (1996 CD liner notes).