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/
Double E
Neil Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Living on the Double E
In the sunshine of her life.
There's a really young filly
But Mom and Daddy won't let her leave.
Mom and Poppa won't let her go.
She breaks out on her own.
She's hot enough to burn the house down.
Mom and Poppa don't know.
When Edith and Earl renamed the Double E
They nearly made history.
The locals rose up and some of them were mad as hell
'Cause it used to be the Double L.
Change comes slow in the country.
When you're new there's a lot of distrust.
Years fly by uneventful.
Memories turn to dust.
Meanwhile Granny has got her bright colors on
And the sunshine in her eye.
Cruising by the bars and honkey tonks
Where she met grandpa
And caught that young man's eye.
Dusty white Eldorado,
Cruising through the trees.
Slipping through the shadows
Of what used to be.
Back in the day,
Living in the summer of love.
Living in the summer of love.
Grandma's okay,
But not the same since Grandpa's gone.
She's living in the summer of love.
Back in the day,
Living in the summer of love.
Living in the summer of love.
Back in the day,
Living in the summer of love.
Living in the summer of love.
The lyrics of Neil Young's song Double E speak of life in the countryside, particularly on a property called the Double E. The song begins by describing life on the Double E, as well as the young filly who lives there with her parents. She is not allowed to leave the property on her own, but when she goes out dancing, she becomes a force to be reckoned with. The parents remain oblivious to their daughter’s wild spirit, which serves to create a sense of tension in the song.
Neil Young then goes on to describe the history of the Double E. It was originally known as the Double L, but was renamed by Edith and Earl. This leads to some resistance from the locals, who didn't appreciate the change. The song suggests that change comes slowly in the country, where there can be a lot of distrust towards newcomers. However, time passes and memories fade, and the Double E becomes a part of the landscape.
The final part of the song focuses on Granny, who is driving around in her Dusty white Eldorado, reliving her memories of youth. She cruises by bars and honky tonks where she met her Grandpa, reflecting on the good times she had in the past. The song ends with a repetition of the line “Living in the summer of love,” which serves to tie the theme of nostalgia and reflection together.
Overall, Double E is a poignant tale of life in the countryside, and how people's memories are intertwined with the places they call home. It speaks to the idea that change can be slow, but that even in the face of resistance, new stories are created.
Line by Line Meaning
Back in the country
Reflecting on a time spent living in the rural countryside
Living on the Double E
Living on a ranch named the Double E with family members who are strict and overprotective
In the sunshine of her life.
Enjoying the best years of one's life in a happy rural setting
There's a really young filly
Referring to a young woman, who is considered attractive and lively
But Mom and Daddy won't let her leave.
The young woman is not allowed to go out on her own or make her own choices; her parents are strict and controlling
Mom and Poppa won't let her go.
The young woman is confined and watched by her strict parents
But when she goes out dancing
Despite her parents' restrictions, the young woman sneaks out to go dancing
She breaks out on her own.
She rebels against her parents' restrictions and takes control of her own life
She's hot enough to burn the house down.
The young woman is full of energy and passion, which could cause problems if not properly channeled
Mom and Poppa don't know.
The young woman keeps her activities a secret from her strict parents
When Edith and Earl renamed the Double E
Referring to the ranch's name change; the new owners nearly made history with this renovation
They nearly made history.
The name change could have significant impact and attention from others
The locals rose up and some of them were mad as hell
The community was not entirely accepting of these newcomers and their changes
'Cause it used to be the Double L.
The original ranch name was Double L, and the locals were upset with the change
Change comes slow in the country.
People in rural areas are not as open to change compared to urban areas; it takes time for new ideas to be accepted
When you're new there's a lot of distrust.
Newcomers are not quickly accepted in rural areas, and often treated with suspicion and caution
Years fly by uneventful.
Time passes slowly in the country, without much action or change
Memories turn to dust.
Over time, memories fade away and are forgotten
Meanwhile Granny has got her bright colors on
Grandma is excited to be out and about, and wearing her best clothes
And the sunshine in her eye.
Grandma is happy and optimistic about life
Cruising by the bars and honkey tonks
Grandma is driving around town, visiting local bars and honky tonks
Where she met grandpa
Referring to the time when Grandma and Grandpa met
And caught that young man's eye.
Grandpa was immediately attracted to Grandma
Dusty white Eldorado,
Refers to Grandma's car, a dusty white Eldorado
Cruising through the trees.
Grandma drives through the forest, enjoying the scenery
Slipping through the shadows
Grandma is driving through the forest, and her car moves quietly through the shadows of the trees
Of what used to be.
The lyrics are vague, but possibly referring to a place that the forest used to be before it was a forest
Living in the summer of love.
Grandma and Grandpa look back at their younger years with fondness, reminiscing about the time they met during the "summer of love"
Grandma's okay,
Grandma is doing fine, but things aren't the same since Grandpa passed away
But not the same since Grandpa's gone.
Grandma misses Grandpa and life isn't the same without him
Lyrics © Silver Fiddle
Written by: NEIL YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind