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/
Days That Used To Be
Neil Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ideas that once seem so right, now have gotten hard to say
I wish that I could talk to you and you could talk to me
'Cause there very few of us left my friend
From the days that used to be
Seem like such a simple thing to follow one's own dream
But possessions and concession are not often what they seem
But we never had to make those deals
In the days that used to be
Talk to me, my long lost friend, tell me how you are
Are you happy with your circumstance, are you driving a new car
Does it get you where you want to go, with a seven year warranty
Or just another hundred thousand miles away
From the days that used to be
The lyrics of Neil Young's song Days That Used To Be encapsulate the nostalgia and longing for a bygone era, filled with simpler times, ideals, and dreams. The singer muses on how certain ideas that once seemed so right may now be difficult to express. The desire to reconnect with old friends and reminisce about the past is palpable throughout the song. The lyrics imply that there are fewer and fewer people left who share the singer's memories and values from the days gone by.
The second stanza seems to suggest that the ideals and dreams of our youth are often compromised as we grow older and take on responsibilities. Possessions and concessions, disguised as security, can become heavy burdens that drag us down. However, the singer points out that "we never had to make those deals in the days that used to be." This line is a nod to the simplicity of life in the past, where people perhaps were not as materially wealthy but had less to worry about.
The final stanza is a direct plea to the singer's long lost friend. Through a series of questions, the singer tries to gauge his friend's happiness with their current circumstances. The mention of a seven-year warranty and a hundred thousand miles away reinforces the idea that the modern world is heavily influenced by materialism, and the values of the past are becoming more and more difficult to hold onto.
Overall, Neil Young's lyrics convey a sense of loss and yearning, balanced with an unshakeable belief in the virtues of a simpler life, free from the trappings of the modern world.
Line by Line Meaning
People say don't rock the boat, let things go their own way
People advise you to not interfere and let things happen naturally.
Ideas that once seem so right, now have gotten hard to say
The ideas which were once seen as correct are now difficult to express.
I wish that I could talk to you and you could talk to me
The singer desires to communicate with a former friend.
'Cause there very few of us left my friend
There are only a few individuals left who remember and understand the past.
From the days that used to be
Referring to a previous period in time.
Seem like such a simple thing to follow one's own dream
Pursuing one's own aspirations appears to be an easy task.
But possessions and concession are not often what they seem
Material items and compromises are not always genuine or beneficial.
They drag you down and load you down in disguise of security
They prevent you from progressing and deceive you into thinking they provide safety.
But we never had to make those deals
During a previous era, deals like that were unnecessary.
In the days that used to be
Referring to a previous period in time.
Talk to me, my long lost friend, tell me how you are
The singer wants to know how their former friend is doing.
Are you happy with your circumstance, are you driving a new car
The artist queries if the person is content with their situation and possessions.
Does it get you where you want to go, with a seven year warranty
Do the things you possess assist you in reaching your goals and are they reliable?
Or just another hundred thousand miles away
Or are you still far away from achieving your objectives?
From the days that used to be
Referring to a previous period in time.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@davidbowman4259
This just might be my favorite Neil Young album.
@dewdrop7648
July 15, 2023 at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley CA. While he wasn't rock'n, he was still one of the best concert experiences I've ever had. Probably the last concert I'll attend in my lifetime, glad I was able to share it with my kid too.
@stuartakers3310
Don't say never man, U never know.
@stuartakers3310
Yeah, I really mean that I haven't been to a concert in yrs.
One day a good group will come close enough to travel to and I'll go !!!
@garybrinker4522
NOT ROCK&ROLL ??
@dewdrop7648
@@garybrinker4522 no, not this time. He was more like an old man taking a look at himself. It was spectacular!
@garybrinker4522
@@dewdrop7648 I saw him in Lincoln Nebraska with Promise of the Real,,5yrs ago?? He rocked it !
@whitesnow2966
Thanks Neil.. Another gift for today.. Love🙏💚💕🎸🎶
@sharonhouser7838
Another fantastic song Neil . You sre mumber one . We love you ❤❤❤
@alansmith7699
One of many great sonic landscapes from a soldier and sonic astronaut and ploughman.