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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Black Coral
Neil Young Lyrics
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I mean way down under the ocean
Just inside Odin's reach
Better beware of this potion
And remember you don't belong
It always seemed so unfair
The fishes around will always remind you
You've only so much air
When you get a little deeper
If you slow down you might keep her
The sea, unforgiving and she's hard
But she'll make love to you
Show you glimpses of the stars
At about two hundred feet
You realize the peril
But seductive is the deep
That shark over there holds no terror
For a while you really belong
The ocean will always share
You become one like friends and lovers
But remember, take care, she'll try to keep you there
The deeper you go
'Cause of the pressure of the air
The nitrogen comes and goes, gets you high
It's an alien atmosphere
They call it rapture of the deep, be you not afraid
You're too far down by now to be scared
Two hundred and eighty-seven feet
I saw Jesus and it made sense that He was there
So belong but don't be long
There's plenty of ocean to share
Please take heed, there's mouths to feed
The ocean, she'll provide
Don't take more than you need
'Cause Heaven just might be the sea
The song “Black Coral” is a lyrical tribute to the beauty and mystery of the ocean. The lyrics speak to the idea of being completely immersed in something so powerful and otherworldly that it feels like a dream or a fantasy. The song talks about diving down to the depths of the ocean and exploring the hidden wonders and dangers that lie there. The lyrics use vivid descriptions to create a sense of danger and beauty all at once, with lines like “Better beware of this potion” and “But seductive is the deep.”
The lyrics suggest that there is a sense of belonging and intimacy that can be found in the ocean - the singer talks about how the ocean will “always share” with you and how you become “one like friends and lovers” when you’re down deep in the water. However, the lyrics also warn that the ocean is powerful and should not be taken lightly, as there are dangers and risks associated with exploring its depths. The singer advises listeners to be careful and not to take more than they need.
Overall, the song is a tribute to the beauty and unpredictability of nature, and a reminder that we must respect and appreciate it if we wish to enjoy its many wonders. The ocean is a symbol of this beauty and power, and the lyrics of “Black Coral” speak to our relationship with this vast and magnificent force.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you ever been down deep?
Have you ever explored the depths of the ocean?
I mean way down under the ocean
I mean so far beneath the ocean's surface
Just inside Odin's reach
But not quite so deep as the realm of the Norse god Odin
Better beware of this potion
You should be cautious of the effects of diving so deep
And remember you don't belong
Remember that as a human, you are not meant to live in the ocean's depths
It always seemed so unfair
It may feel unjust that humans cannot easily explore the oceans like fish can
The fishes around will always remind you
The marine life around you will serve as a constant reminder of your foreignness in that environment
Got to go slow, take it easy down there
It is important to pace yourself when diving in order to avoid accidents
You've only so much air
You have a limited amount of air in your tank and must use it wisely
When you get a little deeper
As you descend further down into the ocean
If you slow down you might keep her
If you move more slowly, you may be able to stay in tune with the ocean's rhythms
The sea, unforgiving and she's hard
The ocean can be harsh and unforgiving
But she'll make love to you
But if you show the proper respect and care, the ocean can be beautiful and awe-inspiring
Show you glimpses of the stars
You'll see amazing things that you wouldn't find on Earth's surface
At about two hundred feet
Around the depth of two hundred feet
You realize the peril
You become suddenly aware of the many dangers that could end your life at those depths
But seductive is the deep
Despite the danger, the allure of the deep is difficult to resist
That shark over there holds no terror
You become so at home in the ocean that even dangerous animals are not necessarily frightening
For a while you really belong
While you are diving, you feel like a part of the ocean ecosystem
The ocean will always share
The ocean has many treasures and wonders to offer explorers
You become one like friends and lovers
You feel intimately connected to the ocean and its inhabitants
But remember, take care, she'll try to keep you there
Despite this connection, you must maintain a respect for the ocean's power and avoid becoming stuck or trapped at deep depths
The deeper you go
As you continue to descend deeper beneath the ocean's surface
'Cause of the pressure of the air
Due to changes in atmospheric pressure at deep depths
The nitrogen comes and goes, gets you high
Your changing blood chemistry can cause mild euphoria, known as 'rapture of the deep'
It's an alien atmosphere
The high-pressure environment is totally foreign to humans
They call it rapture of the deep, be you not afraid
This term is commonly used to describe the strange sensations experienced by deep sea divers
You're too far down by now to be scared
By this point in the dive, you are already so deep that it doesn't make sense to be afraid
Two hundred and eighty-seven feet
A specific, incredibly deep depth at which the following event occurred
I saw Jesus and it made sense that He was there
The singer had a profound mystical experience while diving and felt like Jesus was present with him
So belong but don't be long
Feel connected to the ocean, but don't overstay your welcome and put yourself in danger
There's plenty of ocean to share
The ocean is vast and there are always new areas to explore
Please take heed, there's mouths to feed
Remember the responsibility of humans to take care of the environment and ensure its health for future generations
The ocean, she'll provide
The ocean does have many natural resources and can support life
Don't take more than you need
However, humans must avoid overfishing and other exploitative practices
'Cause Heaven just might be the sea
The ocean is a beautiful and mysterious place, and some people even consider it to be a spiritual, transcendent experience
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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