Born in Cleveland, Ohio, and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, Neil was one of the songwriters who for a time worked out of New York City's famous Brill Building. He has often been called a pioneer of the folk rock & singer-songwriter musical genres; his most frequently cited disciples are Tim Buckley, Harry Nilsson, and the Jefferson Airplane, but his most prominent descendants have been Stephen Stills, James Taylor, Paul Simon and Joni Mitchell. In concert appearances, as well as the liner notes for his 2003 album, Meet Me In Margaritaville: The Ultimate Collection, Jimmy Buffett called Neil "one of my heroes." Some of Neil's early compositions were recorded by Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison; he played as a session guitarist on hits by Bobby Darin and Paul Anka. In 1968, Nilsson recorded a cover version of Neil's song "Everybody's Talkin'," which became a huge hit a year later when it was featured in the film Midnight Cowboy.
Neil was an accomplished professional musician atypically inclined to a very modest frugality. "Candy Man", his first of two Top-40-hit compositions, substantially introduced him to a sufficient income stream for life in his early 20's; he became increasingly disinclined to work if he did not feel like it. Consequently his two fully realized albums (see next paragraph) are remarkable for their singularly unpretentious authenticity. His combination of baritone vocal and 12-string guitar remains unusual, and his combo recordings provide his shimmering melodies with muscular grooves; but his exemplarity is that of resolving the apparent opposition between aesthetic integrity and commercial value almost entirely in favor of aesthetic integrity, which gives all of his recordings a unique historical resonance.
He had debts to previous singer-songwriters such as Woody Guthrie, Robert Johnson, Chuck Berry and Hank Williams (Senior); but his approach to melody was more in the manner of Cole Porter and to rhythm very much in the school of Ray Charles. His popularly acclaimed albums are "Bleecker & MacDougal" (also known as A Little Bit of Rain) without drums (1965) and "Fred Neil" (also known as Everybody's Talkin') in (1966), made during his residences in the Greenwich Village section of lower Manhattan in New York City and in Coconut Grove, Florida, respectively.
The reigning web expert in (October) 2005 has been Richie Unterberger. The Rick O'Barry interview at the dedicated website (fredneil.com) claims that a third fully realized album, Neil's "Stuff Sessions" of 1978, was never released by Columbia. The unreleased "Walk on the Water" album was recorded at Bayshore studios in Coconut Grove, with a second set of sessions taking place in NJ with the group Stuff.
After the mid 1970s he ceased to maintain a residence in Woodstock, New York, and spent his remaining decades enjoying life on the shores of southern Florida. His last public performance was in 1981 coffeehouse concert in Coconut Grove where he joined Buzzy Linhardt onstage.
Fred Neil died of natural causes in 2001.
Ba-De-Da
Fred Neil Lyrics
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Hangin' around this town
All this old city life
Should bring us fellow down
Badada dada
Dadada dada
Dadada dada
I get so tired
Trying to sleep at night
All this old city life
They keep on burning bright
Badada dada
I get so tired
Hangin' around this town
All this old city life
Should bring us fellow down
Badada dada
The song "Ba-De-Da" by Fred Neil is a poignant commentary on the monotony and frustration that can result from city life. Neil sings of a sense of exhaustion and disillusionment with the pace of urban existence, highlighting the draining effect of constant noise and light pollution. The song's repeating chorus, "Ba-de-da," captures this sense of weariness - a sort of resigned sigh that speaks to the futility of trying to fight against the endless city churn.
The verses of "Ba-De-Da" touch on different facets of Neil's dissatisfaction with city life. He describes how even trying to sleep at night is a challenge, given the constant ambient hum and light pollution that surrounds him. While the city may seem like a beacon of excitement and opportunity, Neil suggests that it can also wear a person down, leaving them feeling empty and disillusioned.
"Ba-De-Da" is a powerful reflection on the toll that living in the city can take on our bodies and minds. Neil's lyrics evoke a sense of longing for a simpler existence, free of the ceaseless stimulation and noise pollution that define city life. In a way, the song encourages listeners to pause and reflect on their own relationship with the urban environment, and to consider the toll that it may be taking on them.
Line by Line Meaning
I get so tired
Exhausted by the routine of life
Hangin' around this town
Stuck in the same place with little to do
All this old city life
The urban environment that can be monotonous and draining
Should bring us fellow down
Leads to feeling down and unfulfilled
Badada dada
Nonsensical syllables that convey the singer's emotional exhaustion
Dadada dada
Continuation of emotional exhaustion
Dadada dada
Further continuation of emotional exhaustion
Ba-de-da
Closing phrase, repeating the same feeling of exhaustion
Trying to sleep at night
Difficulty sleeping due to the incessant noise and activity of the city
They keep on burning bright
The city lights and activity never cease, making it difficult to fully rest or relax
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: FRED NEIL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind