What is "lay down"

vb. 1 To give up, surrender, or yield (e.g. a weapon), usually by placing it on the ground. 2 To intentionally take a fall while riding a motorcycle, in order to prevent a more serious collision. 3 To specify, institute, enact, assert firmly, state authoritatively, establish or formulate (rules or policy). 4 To stock, store (e.g. wine) for the future. ''See also'' '''lay by'''. 5 To sacrifice, especially in the phrase "to lay down one's life." 6 (context intransitive nonstandard proscribed English) To '''lie down'''; to place oneself in a reclined or horizontal position, on a bed or similar, for the purpose of resting. 7 (context nautical dated English) To draw the lines of a ship's hull at full size, before starting a build.

v. institute, enact, or establish; "make laws" [syn: establish, make]

"Lay Down" is a song by English band Strawbs featured on their 1973 album Bursting at the Seams. Their first hit single, it had peaked at No. 12 in the UK Singles Chart late the previous year.

The lyrics are loosely based on the 23rd Psalm in the Old Testament and the song was widely considered to be writer Dave Cousins's most commercial and radio-friendly offering to date. Indeed, some aficionados accused Cousins and the band of "selling out", especially as the band later appeared on Top of the Pops dressed in glittery " glam rock" outfits and wearing make-up (with drummer Richard Hudson unusually placed at the front of the stage).

The single was described, in the original A&M Records Press Release, as ".. the Strawbs first real attempt to crack open the singles market." It featured strong rock guitar riffs from the band's new guitarist Dave Lambert. The album version features an additional guitar solo, making it about thirty seconds longer than the single.

The song was brought to the public's attention again in 2007 when it featured on the BBC television series " Life on Mars". It was, however, unaccountably absent from the DVD boxset soundtrack.

"Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)" was the second single from Melanie's 1970 album Candles in the Rain. The song proved to be her breakthrough hit in the United States, climbing to number six on Billboard's Hot 100 and number three on the Cash Box Top 100. The record was ranked #23 on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1970.

Released in March 1970, the recording was a spirited collaboration between folk singer/songwriter Melanie (Safka) and California gospel act the Edwin Hawkins Singers, who had reached the national Top Ten the previous year with " Oh Happy Day". Melanie wrote the song after performing at Woodstock in August 1969; the song's lyrics describe what she felt as she looked out at the sea of people attending the music event.

“Lay Down” is also associated with certain events occurring during the Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam, held in the autumn of 1969.

The single reached the Top Ten in several countries including the Netherlands, where in late March 1970 it replaced the Beatles' “ Let It Be" at number one. In its native America “Lay Down” spent what was then a lengthy 17 weeks on both the Billboard and Cash Box charts. In May and early June 1970 it remained at number one for three weeks on WRKO-AM in Boston, ultimately ranking tenth among the station's year-end Top 100. In addition it reached number one in both Minneapolis/St. Paul ( WDGY) and Albany ( WPTR (AM)) in July, when it also peaked nationally. In Australia “Lay Down” spent 23 weeks on the Go-Set national charts, reaching number three.

In most territories the album's spoken-word title track "Candles in the Rain" – also part of the single's title — featured as the B-side.

Lay Down may refer to:

• " Lay Down", a song by the Strawbs from the album Bursting at the Seams
• "Lay Down", a song by Priestess from the album Hello Master
• " Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)", a song by Melanie from the album Candles in the Rain