According to the Mr. Soul Songfacts, "Mr. Soul" was written and performed b… Read Full Bio ↴According to the Mr. Soul Songfacts, "Mr. Soul" was written and performed by Neil Young , the contested frontman for Buffalo Springfield, backed up by co-frontmen Richie Furay and Stephen Stills. In just three short verses with no chorus, Young practically flaunts his lyrical prowess at this early stage in his career.

Mr. Soul
Buffalo Springfield Lyrics

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Oh, hello, Mr. Soul, I dropped by to pick up a reason
For the thought that I caught that my head is the event of the season
Why in crowds just a trace of my face could seem so pleasin'
I'll cop out to the change, but a stranger is putting the tease on

I was down on a frown when the messenger brought me a letter
I was raised by the praise of a fan who said I upset her
Any girl in the world could have easily known me better

She said, "you're strange, but don't change," and I let her

In a while will the smile on my face turn to plaster?
Stick around while the clown who is sick does the trick of disaster
For the race of my head and my face is moving much faster

Is it strange I should change?
I don't know, why don't you ask her?
Is it strange I should change?
I don't know, why don't you ask her?
Is it strange I should change?
I don't know, why don't you ask her?

Is it strange I should change?
I don't know, why don't you ask her?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Buffalo Springfield's "Mr. Soul" hold a sense of introspection and self-doubt. The opening lines address the soul, as if it is a separate entity from the singer, suggesting that the soul is an ever-evolving concept that requires nurturing and attention. The next line “I dropped by to pick up a reason” hints at the idea that the singer may be searching for purpose or direction in his life. He is pondering on the thought that his head is the "event of the season" and reflecting on how strange it is that just a trace of his face could be so pleasing to an audience.

The second verse shifts the focus to a message the singer receives from a fan who claims to know him but finds him strange. The fan refuses to let him change, which is intriguing to the singer, as he wonders why she would want him to stay the way he is. The tone of the lyric is ambiguous in nature, questioning whether the changes are good or bad, and whether it is better to remain steadfast or grow and change.

The final verse brings the doubts to a climax. The worries embedded earlier resurface, with the singer questioning whether his smiles and façade will be nothing more than plaster one day. The reference to the "clown" emphasizes the fear that the singer is simply putting on a performance for the world, and perhaps the world is not responding as expected. In the end, the questions posed in the song remain unanswered, creating a sense of unrest and leaving the listener to ponder the unknown.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, hello, Mr. Soul, I dropped by to pick up a reason
I'm here to find an explanation for the feeling I have that I'm the center of attention

For the thought that I caught that my head is the event of the season
I feel like I'm really important and everyone is paying attention to me

Why in crowds just a trace of my face could seem so pleasin'
Even when I'm in a big crowd, people still seem to notice me and like me

I'll cop out to the change, but a stranger is putting the tease on
I'll admit that I've changed, but it wasn't my idea and someone else is leading me on

I was down on a frown when the messenger brought me a letter
I was feeling sad when I received a letter from someone

I was raised by the praise of a fan who said I upset her
I always sought validation from fans, even if it was negative

Any girl in the world could have easily known me better
I realize that any girl could have seen through my facade and known the real me

She said, "you're strange, but don't change," and I let her
A girl I was interested in accepted me for who I was, and I didn't feel the need to change

In a while will the smile on my face turn to plaster?
I worry that my happiness is only temporary and won't last

Stick around while the clown who is sick does the trick of disaster
Stay with me while I try to be funny and distract from my own issues

For the race of my head and my face is moving much faster
My thoughts and emotions are speeding up and I can't keep up

Is it strange I should change? I don't know, why don't you ask her?
I don't know if it's strange that I'm changing, you should ask the girl who knows me well

Is it strange I should change? I don't know, why don't you ask her?
I'm still not sure if changing is a good thing, you should ask the girl who knows me well

Is it strange I should change? I don't know, why don't you ask her?
I'm really uncertain about my changing identity, you should ask the girl who knows me well

Is it strange I should change? I don't know, why don't you ask her?
I'm seeking advice about my changing identity from someone who knows me well

Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Neil Young

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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