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/
Computer Cowboy
Neil Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And they all eat in a line
When he turns the floodlights on each night
Of course the herd looks perfect
Computer cowboy
Well, he rides the range 'til midnight
And the wild coyotes yowl
And of course the rhythm is perfect
Computer cowboy
Ride along, computer cowboy
To the city, just in time
To bring another system down
And leave your alias behind
Computer Syscrusher
Syscrusher, Syscrusher
Crusher, Syscrusher
Syscrusher, Syscrusher
Come a ky ky yippee yi yippee yi ay
Come a ky ky yippee yi ay
Come a ky ky yippee yi yippee yi ay
Come a ky ky yippee yi ay
Computer Syscrusher
The song "Computer Cowboy" by Neil Young appears to be a commentary on the modernization of the American West and ranching culture. The lyrics suggest the singer is a cowboy who uses technology like computer systems to manage his herd and operations. The first verse references the numbered cattle and their orderly feeding routine, which is likely aided by technology. The second verse paints the picture of the cowboy riding through the night as coyotes howl and the floodlights keep rhythm. The chorus encourages the listener to ride along with the "computer cowboy" as he goes into the city to bring down more computer systems under the alias "Syscrusher."
The song seems to suggest a displacement of traditional Western ways in favor of technology and modernization. The computer cowboy represents a new kind of frontier spirit - a merging of the old and new. However, the fact that his work is in the city and involves bringing down computer systems suggests a sense of rebellion or dissatisfaction with the modern way of life. The song is ultimately an interesting commentary on the intersection of old and new ways of life, and how they clash and coexist in America.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, his cattle each have numbers
His cattle have been reduced to mere numbers, devoid of any individuality
And they all eat in a line
His cattle are so robotic that they all even eat in a straight line
When he turns the floodlights on each night
He exerts an eerie control over his cattle with artificial light and technology
Of course the herd looks perfect
His meticulous attention to detail ensures that the herd fits his idealized, artificial image
Computer cowboy
He is a heartless, automated cowboy who relies too much on technology
Well, he rides the range 'til midnight
He tirelessly pushes his dominance and control over the range using technology
And the wild coyotes yowl
He faces mere resistance from wild coyotes, but they cannot withstand his power and control
As he trots beneath the floodlights
He races through his automated work under the blinding lights of his machines
And of course the rhythm is perfect
He relishes the artificial, controlled rhythm imposed by his machines
Ride along, computer cowboy
A sarcastic invite to follow his tyrannical, automated cowboy persona
To the city, just in time
He sets his sights on his next prey, the defenseless city
To bring another system down
He seeks to maintain his power by destroying other systems that compete with his
And leave your alias behind
He hides his true identity and relies on his machine persona
Computer Syscrusher
He is the destroyer of systems, the master of machines
Syscrusher, Syscrusher
He repeats his own artificial identity in a show of maniacal might
Crusher, Syscrusher
He emphasizes his power to exert total control over everything, including the systems he crushes
Syscrusher, Syscrusher
He delights in his own monstrous computer identity
Come a ky ky yippee yi yippee yi ay
A mocking call to the wild west and the true cowboys who dared to rebel against conformity
Come a ky ky yippee yi ay
He taunts them, as they are long gone and cannot threaten his authority
Come a ky ky yippee yi yippee yi ay
A chilling reminder that the wild west has been tamed and dominated by automation
Come a ky ky yippee yi ay
A taunting call to the helpless remnants of a bygone era
Computer Syscrusher
He reaffirms his status as the ruler of technology, unchecked by the dwindling forces of nature
Lyrics © Silver Fiddle, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Neil Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind