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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All Those Dreams
Neil Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With all those dreams in your pretty head
I light a fire while the sun comes creeping
All across the meadow bed
The old clock has stopped, no longer ticking
No longer counting every second
Out by the car, our snowman's melting
His smile a twig and his nose a cucumber
His eyes two pinecones looking out
We got pictures of him like two little kids laughing
In the snow we were walking hand in hand
We went looking for a big surprise
And when we found before our eyes
Two white elks grazing on the green
We heard the honkers coming
Landing on the lake of summer
Nesting there and waiting for a dream
When the morning comes and you're still sleeping
With all those dreams in your pretty head
I light a fire and the sun comes creeping
All across the meadow bed
The lyrics of “All Those Dreams” by Neil Young are packed with dreamy imagery and moments of reflection. The song appears to be a dream or a memory of a time shared between two people. The opening lines set the mood by describing the beauty of the morning, while the second line refers to the dreamer's “pretty head” and the dreams they held within. As the singer lights a fire, the sun enters a meadow full of possibilities, setting the scene for the rest of the song.
The clock no longer ticks, offering a picture of a peaceful time that seems frozen. The descriptions of the snowman melting and the elks grazing show the passage of time and the transience of things, hinting at melancholy. The happy memory of walking hand in hand in the snow is a moment of contrast against this background of change. The song ends with the repetition of the opening lines, emphasizing that all those dreams are still inside the dreamer's head, as the singer watches the sun rise and warm the world.
“All Those Dreams” is a perfect example of how Neil Young can create a visual, emotional scene with only a few carefully chosen words. The song is a beautiful tribute to both the passage of time and the memories we keep in our heads. Young’s emotive and moving lyrics are paired with gentle, acoustic guitar that provides a sense of tranquility and calm throughout.
Line by Line Meaning
When the morning comes and you’re still sleeping
Even when the day breaks, you still remain oblivious to the reality of life.
With all those dreams in your pretty head
Your mind is occupied with numerous aspirations for the future.
I light a fire while the sun comes creeping
As you rest, I light the fire and prepare for the new day that is gradually approaching.
All across the meadow bed
The sun's rays spread across the grassy field, painting a beautiful picture of nature's wonders.
The old clock has stopped, no longer ticking
The passage of time is of no consequence; its importance has faded away.
No longer counting every second
I am not in a rush, nor do I feel the need to beat the clock. I am happy living in the moment.
Out by the car, our snowman's melting
The once-frozen thing has lost its shape and is slowly returning to its original state.
Nothing can bring ‘em back now
The past is gone, and there is no way to change or retrieve it again. We must learn to accept its loss.
His smile a twig and his nose a cucumber
Even though it was nothing of great significance, our snowman's goofy smile and quirky nose helped make us happy during the little moments in life.
His eyes two pinecones looking out
The snowman's eyes were simple decorations, yet they were a source of entertainment for us.
We got pictures of him like two little kids laughing
We may have grown up, but we still get excited about the little joys life has to offer. The memories of that snowman always bring smiles to our faces.
In the snow we were walking hand in hand
We were together, enjoying each other's company and creating beautiful memories amidst the snow.
We went looking for a big surprise
We decided to embark on an adventure to uncover hidden treasures that life has to offer.
And when we found before our eyes
When we discovered what we had been searching for, it was an extraordinary moment to behold.
Two white elks grazing on the green
The sight before us showed us that nature can offer us breathtaking moments, and we were there to witness it.
We heard the honkers coming
The sound of birds indicated new life was blossoming, and it was time to embrace it.
Landing on the lake of summer
The birds had reached their final destination – a serene lake that they called home.
Nesting there and waiting for a dream
The birds found a safe haven to rest, and they were waiting for their dreams to be fulfilled.
When the morning comes and you’re still sleeping
As the night fades away and the new day dawns, you remain lost in your thoughts.
With all those dreams in your pretty head
You continue to hold on to your dreams for the future, even as life moves forward.
I light a fire and the sun comes creeping
While you remain in the comfort of your dreams, I prepare for the new day that is on the horizon.
All across the meadow bed
Nature awakens, and the sun spreads its light across the grassy fields, signaling a new beginning.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: NEIL YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind