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/
Captain Kennedy
Neil Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm thinking about my family and what it was for
There's water on the wood and the sails feel good
And when I get to shore
I hope that I can kill good
My father was a sailor named Captain Kennedy
He lost his wooden schooner to the Germans on the sea
And humiliate that American Captain Kennedy
I saw him in Nassau in nineteen-seventy one
His strength was failing but he still ran a run
He worked until his fingers wore to the bone
To buy that wooden schooner and sail on his own
He was known in the islands as hundred foot iron
That steel hull freighter was passing its time
And time flew by faster with life on the sea
And the days grew shorter for Captain Kennedy
I am a young mariner headed to war
I'm thinking about my family and what it was for
There's water on the wood and the sails feel good
And when I get to shore
I hope that I can kill good
Neil Young's song "Captain Kennedy" tells the story of a young sailor who is heading to war, likely during World War II. He is mindful of his family and what they sacrificed for him, but also thinks of his own duty to serve his country. As he sets sail, he hopes that he will be able to carry out his job as a soldier and "kill good".
The title of the song comes from the young sailor's father, who was also a sailor named Captain Kennedy. Unfortunately, his wooden schooner was lost to the Germans during the war, leading to humiliation for the American captain. Despite this loss, Captain Kennedy did not give up his passion for sailing. In the song, Neil Young describes seeing Captain Kennedy many years later in Nassau, still working hard to buy another wooden schooner and continue sailing, even though his health was failing.
The lyrics of "Captain Kennedy" capture the aspiration of a young sailor to carry out his duty, while also paying tribute to the sacrifices and resilience of his father. The song is a poignant reflection on war and the human cost of conflict, and is typical of Neil Young's anti-war stance in his music.
Line by Line Meaning
I am a young mariner headed to war
The singer is a young soldier going to war.
I'm thinking about my family and what it was for
The singer is reflecting on his family and what they represent.
There's water on the wood and the sails feel good
The ship is sailing smoothly and everything seems to be going well.
And when I get to shore
I hope that I can kill good
The artist hopes to fight well in the war and be successful.
My father was a sailor named Captain Kennedy
The artist's father was a sailor named Captain Kennedy.
He lost his wooden schooner to the Germans on the sea
Captain Kennedy lost his wooden boat to the Germans during the war.
Exploded on the water for everyone to see
And humiliate that American Captain Kennedy
Captain Kennedy's boat exploded and it was a public spectacle that embarrassed him as an American sailor.
I saw him in Nassau in nineteen-seventy one
The artist saw Captain Kennedy in Nassau in 1971.
His strength was failing but he still ran a run
Captain Kennedy's health was declining, but he was still determined to work hard and continue sailing.
He worked until his fingers wore to the bone
To buy that wooden schooner and sail on his own
Captain Kennedy worked tirelessly to buy his own boat and sail independently.
He was known in the islands as hundred foot iron
Captain Kennedy was famous in the islands for his large, steel vessel.
That steel hull freighter was passing its time
And time flew by faster with life on the sea
And the days grew shorter for Captain Kennedy
Captain Kennedy's steel freighter was aging, and time passed quickly while he was living his life on the sea. As a result, he became an old man and his days grew shorter.
Lyrics Β© Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Neil Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jinglebe11rainbow37
One of my favorites. Thanks Neil for all you mean to me.
@JamesSullivan-fq9bw
Grass Roots music is so deep and meaningful and Neil is perfect for such music.
@elektrolyte
this is one of my favorite NY songs. powerful lyrics and cutting acoustic riff. Loved it from the very first time that I ever heard it
@pam8962
The first time I heard Neil was when I was 12 on an airplane βοΈ omg Neil is the best β€ππ
@user-sx4hs6oh5t
beautiful song from mr young β€οΈ
@Negat1veSpace
Always loved this one
@RolandMansfeld
Neil Young ist fΓΌr mich einer grΓΆΓten Musiker der letzten fΓΌnfzig Jahre
@hgh5762
π―
@pam8962
The most down to Earth π musician β€πβ€π
@lorijohnson2348
Beautiful! Thank you Neil. β€