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/
Do I Have to Come Right Out and Say It
Neil Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And say it,
Tell you that you look so fine?
Do I have to come right out
And ask you to be mine?
If it was a game I could play it,
Trying to make it
But I'm losing time
You're overworking my mind.
Indecision is crowding me,
I have no room to spare
And I can't believe she cared
Like a dream she has taken me
And now I don't know where
And a part of me is scared
The part of me I shared,
Once before.
Do I have to come right out and say it,
Tell you that you look so fine?
Do I have to come right out
And ask you to be mine?
Indecision is crowding me,
I have no room to spare
And I can't believe she'd care.
Like a dream she has taken me
And now I don't know where
And a part of me is scared
The part of me I shared
Once before.
Do I have to come right out and say it girl,
Tell you that you look so fine?
Do I have to come right out,
And ask you to be mine?
If it was a game I could play it,
Trying to make it
But I'm losing time.
I got to bring you in,
You're overworking my mind.
Do I have to come right out and say it, girl
Tell you that you look so fine?
The lyrics of Neil Young’s song Do I Have to Come Right Out and Say It? describe a man who is indecisive and unsure about his feelings regarding a woman he is interested in. The singer asks himself whether he needs to express his attraction and desire for her clearly and straightforwardly, or if he can continue playing coy and hoping she’ll notice his interest without being prompted. The lyrics reflect the anxiety and fear that come with taking a risk in matters of the heart, and the singer is struggling with the potential consequences of both revealing his feelings and keeping them hidden.
He acknowledges that there is a risk involved in either strategy, but he ultimately decides that he needs to be more direct, as his current approach isn’t producing any results. The fear and nervousness in the lyrics are palpable, and they reflect the universal experience of trying to navigate a new relationship or connection with someone who has caught your eye.
Overall, the song’s lyrics convey the feelings of uncertainty, hope, and fear that can accompany romantic attraction, and they offer a relatable portrayal of the complex emotional landscape of early-stage relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Do I have to come right out and say it,
Neil Young is unsure whether he should be straightforward about his feelings or take a more indirect approach.
Tell you that you look so fine?
He's not just nervous about confessing his love, but also about coming on too strong.
Do I have to come right out
Neil is reluctant to be too obvious about his intentions.
And ask you to be mine?
He's hoping that the girl will pick up on his signals and respond in kind.
If it was a game I could play it,
Neil is grappling with the uncertainty and unpredictability of love and romance.
Trying to make it
He's doing his best to navigate the tricky social dynamics of courtship.
But I'm losing time
Neil feels like he's running out of opportunities to make a move.
I got to bring you in,
He knows that he needs to take action if he wants to pursue a relationship with this girl.
You're overworking my mind.
Neil is preoccupied with thoughts of the girl and the potential for a relationship.
Indecision is crowding me,
Neil is struggling with doubts and uncertainties about whether he should pursue this girl or not.
I have no room to spare
These uncertainties are causing him a great deal of mental and emotional turmoil.
And I can't believe she cared
Neil is both excited and surprised that the girl might actually be interested in him.
Like a dream she has taken me
He feels like he's been swept up in a romantic fantasy.
And now I don't know where
Neil is unsure where this potential relationship might lead.
And a part of me is scared
He's worried about the possibility of rejection or heartbreak.
The part of me I shared,
Neil has been open and vulnerable with the girl about his emotions.
Once before.
He has been in this position before, and it didn't end well.
Do I have to come right out and say it girl,
Neil is fearful of being too blunt or direct with his emotions.
If it was a game I could play it,
He wishes that love was more like a game with clear rules and objectives.
But I'm losing time.
Neil feels like he's running out of opportunities to make a move.
Do I have to come right out,
Even though he is hesitant, Neil knows that he needs to take action if he wants to pursue a relationship with this girl.
And ask you to be mine?
He's hoping that the girl will pick up on his signals and respond in kind.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NEIL YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-pt5xq5rs1t
닐 영의 After The Gold Rush 오디오에 비틀스의 Let It Be와 비슷하다는 우리나라 사람들의 댓글들이 종종 보여서, 두 곡의 정보를 찾아봤습니다. 닐 영이 Let It Be를 듣고 영감을 받아서 작곡했을 가능성도 충분히 있겠네요.
LET IT BE는 1970년 3월 6일에 발매되었고, 닐 영은 같은 해 3월 12일에 녹음해서 8월에 발표했습니다.
저는 처음에는 닐 영의 곡에서 비틀스를 전혀 떠올리지 못했는데, 댓글들을 읽고 나서 들어보니 ' Speaking words of wisdom Let It Be'가 연상되는 '미미파미미레 미도도미레' 소절 등이 좀 비슷합니다.
서구사회에서는 70년에 LET IT BE가 히트하고 곧이어 나온 노래라서 유사성을 느끼고 지적한 언론이나 대중이 있었을 법도 한데 아무 문제 없이 지나갔고, 아마 오랜 세월이 흐르도록 표절시비가 일어난 적이 없었을 겁니다.
만약에 닐 영이 우리나라 아티스트였다면 클릭 장사로 돈 버는 유튜버들이 표절 선동하고, 이에 선동 당한 악플러들이 무지성 욕으로 도배할 테지요. 아주 조금, 한 소절만 비슷해도, 또는 그리 비슷하지 않은 곡들도 표절로 몰아가고.. 음악가의 명예를 한 방에 실추시킵니다.
@jonathanbirch2022
One of the most emotional/powerful songs ever written
@Blisstew
In 1971-1972, driving my old 2-ton lumber truck, working for Anderson Lumber company in Provo, going job to job delivering lumber, sheet rock, nails, etc. to construction sites I'd have this song playing, singing along. Loved Niel Young's Gold Rush album. Now, all these decades later, hearing this it takes me back to being 20 again. Lots of water under the bridge. Turned 67 today. Still married to the same good woman.
@MM-ro9jn
good on u 2
@miqiee
Amazing how music stirs up the memories, isn't it?
@randyblackburn9765
Yeah I'm married to same woman since 76 now I'm 68 and our daughter is 19 , thing is I get these songs stuck in my head and can't get em out been struggling with ' Alone again Naturally, for a week . Guess it's ole Neil's turn now
@NormAppleton
I can think of worse fates. Well done
@sorwoggpm
Bee-yootiful
@harvest22222
This song saved my life in 1970. At a party I inadvertently consumed way too much acid that someone had dumped in a wine bottle but forgot to tell anyone. The next memory I have is coming to on the floor behind the living room couch hours later, still at the party, and this song was playing full blast. I laid there between the dusty drapes and the old beat up couch listening to Neil sing this masterpiece, tears just flowing. To this day I believe that this song brought me back from where ever I had gone to. It means rebirth to me. Even now. To this day I get chills every time I hear it.
@lesromanchuk1293
Acid in those days was like that, it took you places that were amazing but it was always nice to come back Lol
@annedrury1748
Beautiful story Neil Young brings me to tears every time my brothers room had its own door ppl in/out Party room. Happiest memories we told my parents Columbia Gold Sensamilian was incense, we had to move 2k miles away as a teenager left the only home I ever knew my brother was so heartbroken he joined the army as soon as he turned 18 (6months) I lost my only friend left, the other 16 grew up next to a cup-de-sac. I’ve never had a real home since 1977. When my Mom died I bought one my husband was so abusive he stopped paying the mortgage he destroyed my confidence. I got it back after more years and finally left. Neil reminds me of my real home 😭.