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!"
For recent news see: http://www.neilyoung.com/
Can't Stop Workin'
Neil Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When nothing else is going on
It's bad for the body but it's good for the soul
Might even keep you breathing when you lose control
Can't stop workin'
Can't stop workin'
I thought I knew you better
Come down to the edge of the sea today
And write a letter, there in the sand
Forgiveness
Forgiveness
I can't stop workin' 'cause I like to work
When nothing else is going on
It's bad for the body but it's good for the soul
Might even keep me breathing when I lose control
Can't stop workin'
Can't stop workin'
I might take some time off
I can't stop workin'
Might take time off for forgiveness
Forgiveness
Can't stop workin'
Can't stop workin'
In Neil Young's song Can't Stop Workin', the lyrics describe Neil's desire to work constantly, even when nothing else is going on. He admits that it may be bad for his physical health, but it's good for his soul and may even keep him breathing when he loses control. It's almost as if he's addicted to working and finds fulfillment in it.
The second verse takes a turn as he questions where he's been all these years and whether he really knows someone as well as he thought. He suggests writing a letter of forgiveness in the sand by the sea. It seems as though the constant work may be a distraction from facing and dealing with personal issues.
The chorus repeats the same lines, emphasizing the idea that he can't stop working, despite the potential negative effects it may have on his health and personal relationships. The final lines suggest that he may take some time off for forgiveness, but immediately reverts back to saying he can't stop working. It's almost as if he's trapped in a cycle of work, which serves as both a coping mechanism and an addiction.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I can't stop workin' 'cause I like to work
I am unable to stop working because I enjoy being productive and active.
When nothing else is going on
During times with little or no other activities or distractions.
It's bad for the body but it's good for the soul
Even though it takes its toll on the body, being productive contributes positively to the inner self and mental health.
Might even keep you breathing when you lose control
Being engaged in work can keep you going and give you a sense of direction in life, even in tough times.
Where have I been for all these years
Expressing confusion or disappointment about a relationship or experience that may not have been fully understood or appreciated until recently.
I thought I knew you better
Believing to have had a better understanding of the situation or person in question, but having been mistaken.
Come down to the edge of the sea today
Invitation to revisit a special place by the sea with someone special or to reflect alone.
And write a letter, there in the sand
Creating a lasting, tangible memory by expressing thoughts and feelings in written form on a surface that is powerful and unchanging.
Forgiveness
Releasing resentment or blame towards oneself or others, and choosing to move on towards a more positive and peaceful state of being.
I might take some time off
Considering taking a break or hiatus from work in order to reflect or deal with other aspects of life.
Might take time off for forgiveness
Possibly taking a break from work or other obligations in order to focus on the process of forgiving oneself or others.
Can't stop workin'
Reiterating the inability to disengage from work or productivity, for better or worse.
Can't stop workin'
Repeated expression of the difficulty in stopping work or being idle.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lee Burger
Well I can't stop workin' cause I like to work when nothing else is going on
It's bad for the body but it's good for the soul
Might even keep you breathing when you lose control
Can't stop workin'
Can't stop workin'
Where have I been for all these years
I thought I knew you better
Come down to the edge of the sea today
And write a letter, there in the sand
Forgiveness
Forgiveness
I can't stop workin' cause I like to work
When nothing else is going on
It's bad for the body but it's good for the soul
Might even keep me breathing when I lose control
Can't stop workin'
Can't stop workin'
I might take some time off
I can't stop workin'
Might take time off
For forgiveness
Forgiveness
Can't stop workin'
Can't stop workin'
Lee Burger
Well I can't stop workin' cause I like to work when nothing else is going on
It's bad for the body but it's good for the soul
Might even keep you breathing when you lose control
Can't stop workin'
Can't stop workin'
Where have I been for all these years
I thought I knew you better
Come down to the edge of the sea today
And write a letter, there in the sand
Forgiveness
Forgiveness
I can't stop workin' cause I like to work
When nothing else is going on
It's bad for the body but it's good for the soul
Might even keep me breathing when I lose control
Can't stop workin'
Can't stop workin'
I might take some time off
I can't stop workin'
Might take time off
For forgiveness
Forgiveness
Can't stop workin'
Can't stop workin'
Tim McCarthy
first time hearing this.....GREAT STUFF
Eddy Bamyasi
It’s not surprising after 36 albums or whatever it is that these old artists start to repeat themselves quite a bit but that’s not a bad thing when a new Neil Young song is sounding like Down By The River.
John Johnston
Neil can't stop working.....and we're glad for it...from a place in Northern Ontario
ttmilbr
Such an angry harmonica. Good tune.
HitmanHart56
Rockin' a little bit of Willie's style vocally here. At least the pacing seems that way to me.
scott parrack
sounds alot like down by the river
Connie Mardon
Neil, when can I meet and sing with you? I used to sing in front of your house in Zuma Beach..long long ago..
ClangersSpace
Is that a distorted harmonica at the end or ....?
EVE CHATELET
1:35