Having success on his own for a bit, he later joined the folk rock supergroup Crosby, Stills & Nash as a fourth member in 1969, thus forming Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. He forged a successful and acclaimed solo career, releasing his first album in 1968. His career has since spanned over 40 years and 34 studio albums, with a continual and uncompromising exploration of musical styles; his musical vision is notably referred to by his autobiographical tune"The Loner". Music critics have often called him one of the best single artists of all time, and several tunes such as "Heart of Gold" and "Rockin' in the Free World" remain popular on rock radio.
According to the Don't Be Denied Songfacts, the 16-year-old Neil was raising chickens and selling the eggs, with plans to go to Ontario Agricultural College and be a farmer. Only his leisure activities foretold his future, when he would hide from his family problems in his room with his transistor radio playing local station CHUM. From this, Young experienced a growing admiration for rock n roll originators such as Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and, of course, Elvis Presley. In 1958, his father bought Neil his first music instrument, a plastic ukulele. His father would later recall, "He would close the door of his room... and we would hear plunk, pause while he moved his fingers to the next chord, plunk, pause while he moved again, plunk."
In Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Neil started his professional music career in the mid-60s with a number of bands in Canada, including the Squires and later the Mynah Birds, which also included fellow future Buffalo Springfield bassist Bruce Palmer and future funk star Rick James. When the Mynah Birds broke up, Young and Palmer headed to California to meet Stephen Stills, whom he had met in Thunder Bay, and the result was Buffalo Springfield. That band split up after releasing three critically acclaimed albums, particularly achieving international fame for their tune "For What It's Worth".
Showing his strengths as a cynical yet experimental songwriter in the group, he also sung prominently in some of the band's songs such as the biting satire of 'rock star' life "Mr. Soul". Neil soon started his solo career with the release of 'Neil Young' on November 12, 1968. The album did not do very well commercially, but it included several strong tracks, including "The Loner", said to be a portrait of Stephen Stills but also being deeply auto-biographical.
On May 14, 1969, he recruited members of Crazy Horse and made the critically acclaimed 'Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere'. This was a much more consistent album, being the first to introduce longstanding collaborators Crazy Horse and beingbuilt around the balanced interplay between the guitar playing of Young and the talented Danny Whitten. The album also featured two lengthy classics, "Down by the River" and "Cowgirl in the Sand". The critically acclaimed solo album "After the Gold Rush" came out in 1971, featuring such classic songs as "Southern Man'", "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" and "Don't Let it Bring You Down". Harvest followed in 1972 with the hit"Heart of Gold".
During this time he also enjoyed considerable success as a quarter of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
Neil's subsequent work has zig-zagged across genres - dabbling in country rock on "Old Ways"; electronics on "Trans"; hooking up with the Shocking Pinks in a homage to old-time Rock 'n' Roll on "Everybody's Rockin'"; creating a wall of feedback on the live Arc-Weld; and cementing his status as Godfather of Grunge when collaborating with Pearl Jam on Mirror Ball.
His idiosyncratic approach to genre even led to him being sued by his record company (Geffen) in the 80s for making "uncharacteristic" music.
Young has also dabbled in film, most recently on the album/concert series/dvd Greendale.
Young is often known by the nickname "Shakey." According to his biographer Jimmy McDonough, the name was given by his friends after noticing very unsteady results holding a camera for home movies.
Young founded Pono Music, whose mission was to bring a digital player, download store, and streaming service devoted to hi-res music. It was a commercial flop and was shut down in 2016. Young has stated that the labels would not agree that "All songs should cost the same, regardless of digital resolution."
The film Canadian Bacon includes the line "Canadians are always trying to figure out a lot of ways to ruin our lives. The metric system, for the love of God! Celsius! Neil Young!"
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6. Running Dry
Neil Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm livin' by myself
I need someone to comfort me
I need someone to tell
I'm sorry for the things I've done
I've shamed myself with lies
But soon these things are overcome
I left my love with ribbons on
And water in her eyes
I took from her the love I'd won
And turned it to the sky
I'm sorry for the things I've done
I've shamed myself with lies
My cruelty has punctured me
And now I'm running dry
I'm sorry for the things I've done
I've shamed myself with lies
But soon these things are overcome
And can't be recognized
I'm sorry for the things I've done
I've shamed myself with lies
But soon these things are overcome
And can't be recognized
Neil Young's "Running Dry" is a song that laments the loss of love and the regret that comes with being cruel and dishonest towards someone. The lyrics convey the singer's desperation for comfort and forgiveness, as they acknowledge the shame and guilt that they feel for their actions. The repetition of the lines "I'm sorry for the things I've done" and "I've shamed myself with lies" highlights the singer's self-awareness and willingness to take responsibility for their mistakes.
The first stanza establishes the singer's need for companionship and emotional support. They are alone and seeking comfort from someone to tell them that everything will be okay. The second stanza reveals the cause of the singer's guilt - they have lied and done things that have caused shame. The third stanza shows that the singer has hurt someone they loved, and the image of ribbons and water in her eyes conveys the sadness and pain that the singer has caused.
The fourth stanza returns to the singer's self-awareness and regret, as they acknowledge the puncture in their own psyche that their cruelty has caused. The final two stanzas repeat the first two, underscoring the singer's desire for forgiveness and the hope that they can overcome their mistakes.
In conclusion, Neil Young's "Running Dry" is a powerful song that speaks to the universality of human emotions like regret, guilt, and the desire for forgiveness. Through its poignant lyrics and simple melody, the song captures the essence of human relationships and the challenges that we face in trying to navigate them.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, please help me, oh, please help me
The singer is asking for help because they are struggling and feeling alone.
I'm livin' by myself
The singer is living alone and doesn't have anyone to rely on or talk to.
I need someone to comfort me
The singer is in emotional pain and needs someone to provide comfort and support.
I need someone to tell
The artist needs someone to talk to about their feelings and problems.
I'm sorry for the things I've done
The artist acknowledges that they've made mistakes and feels regretful for their actions.
I've shamed myself with lies
The singer has lied and feels ashamed of their actions.
But soon these things are overcome
The singer believes that their mistakes can be overcome with time and effort.
And can't be recognized
The artist believes that they can move on from their mistakes and be a better person.
I left my love with ribbons on
The artist left a loved one behind, perhaps without saying a proper goodbye.
And water in her eyes
The loved one was crying when the artist left.
I took from her the love I'd won
The singer had a relationship with the loved one but ended it or left them behind.
And turned it to the sky
The artist let go of the love they had and moved on, perhaps feeling regret or sadness.
My cruelty has punctured me
The singer realizes that their actions and behavior towards others has hurt them as well.
And now I'm running dry
The singer is feeling emotionally drained and may be struggling to move forward.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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