The recording features an acoustic guitar tuned to EEEEBE ("
Bruce Palmer Modal Tuning") vs. the standard EADGBE tuning. This style of tuning would later be used for the
Déjà Vu songs "4+20" and "
Carry On". "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" has four distinct sections. The shortened version released as a single cut the second and fourth verses from the first section, the third and fourth verses from the second section, and the final verse and preceding break from the third section, and shortened the guitar break between the second and the third sections. The final section is the only part that stayed fully intact. The first section has four verses, featuring a chorus of "I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are." The lead vocal is performed by Stills, with Crosby and Nash providing harmonies. The second section is performed in half-time relative to the first section, and features four verses of three-part harmony from the band, with Stills performing a brief vocal solo between the second and third. This is followed by Stills' acoustic guitar solo, beginning the next section. The third section features poetic lyrics ("chestnut brown canary, ruby-throated sparrow"). Each of the three phrases is initially sung by Stills, with Nash then joining, and finally Crosby. Connecting the phrases are instrumental breaks performed by Stills on acoustic guitar. There is a conga‑type sound at the end of the song that was attained by beating the back of his Martin guitar. The
final section is sung in
Spanish, with "doo-doo-doo-doo-doo" backing vocals until the song concludes. Stills has said that he intentionally made the final stanzas unexpected and difficult, even using a foreign language for the lyrics, "just to make sure nobody would understand it". ==Live performances==