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/
Ever After
Neil Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the dawn, in the dawn
There's really no way of knowing
What goes on, what goes on
The world is full of questions
Some are answered, some are not
The only faith you're keepin'
I love the sound of laughter
And music in the air
And in the ever after
I know it's always there
A man had many boxes
And he liked them quite a lot
But they would not be opened
Cause the value would be shot
Sometimes when I go walkin'
In the trees, in the trees
That's where I do my prayin'
In the trees, in the trees
The world is full of answers
Some are right, some are wrong
The one that I believe in is a wish in a song
I love to see you smilin'
And hear your voice so fair
And in the ever after
I know you're always there
In this song, Neil Young reflects on the unpredictability of life and the uncertain future. He describes how the sound of a rooster crowing in the morning signifies the beginning of a new day, but one never knows what that day will bring. Despite the world being filled with questions that are often left unanswered, the only thing one can hold onto is their faith. Young expresses his love for the simple things in life such as the sound of laughter and music, and acknowledges that even in the afterlife, they will still be present. In the second verse, Young tells a story about a man who has many boxes but is afraid to open them because he believes their value will diminish. This serves as a metaphor for how people often hold onto things for fear of losing their perceived value, despite the potential joy that could be found if they were to open up.
As the song progresses, Young finds solace in nature and speaks about how he likes to pray amongst the trees. He believes that the world is full of answers, but not all of them are correct. He imparts that the one he believes in is a wish in a song, perhaps demonstrating the power of music as a form of expression and reflection. Lastly, Young expresses his love for a person and how their smiling face and voice make him happy. He once again acknowledges that even in the ever after, he knows that person will always be there.
Overall, "Ever After" is a contemplative song that speaks to the human condition and our desire to find meaning and purpose in life. It highlights the importance of holding onto faith, and seeking joy in the little things. It also underscores the idea that life is unpredictable, and it's important to take risks and open up to new experiences, even if it means risking the perceived value of something.
Line by Line Meaning
When you hear that rooster crowing
At the break of dawn, when one hears the rooster crowing, one is reminded that there are many mysteries in this world and it is impossible to know everything.
In the dawn, in the dawn
This is a repetition of the previous line which accentuates the importance of the break of day and the message it brings.
There's really no way of knowing
The world is full of secrets, puzzles and enigmas which every human being cannot decipher.
What goes on, what goes on
This phrase further reiterates that there is still much kept secret in the world.
The world is full of questions
The world is full of questions which we ask looking for answers, yet not all may have a response.
Some are answered, some are not
Some questions achieve answers, while others, due to their complexity or the limited human capacity to understand, will always be without a response.
The only faith you're keepin'
The sole belief that one has been able to maintain amidst all the confusion and uncertainty is one's faith.
Is the faith that you still got
A repetition of the previous line, reinforcing the idea that the only belief that remains despite all the facts is one's faith in the things you cannot see or know for sure.
I love the sound of laughter
One of Neil Young's greatest pleasures in life is to hear the sound of somebody laughing, as it reminds him of joy and happiness.
And music in the air
He is expressing he also loves the sound of music, which brings about an atmosphere of lightness and enjoyment.
And in the ever after
This line refers to the notion of an afterlife, or the eternal existence after death.
I know it's always there
Young believes that in the afterlife, laughter and music will always be present, creating a happy and fulfilling world.
A man had many boxes
There was a man with multiple boxes full of something that he treasured and cherished deeply.
And he liked them quite a lot
The man loved his boxes so much that he did not want to open them in fear of losing their worth.
But they would not be opened
The boxes of the man remained unopened and a mystery to those around him because he did not want to reveal their contents.
Cause the value would be shot
The man believed that if the contents of the boxes were revealed, their value would diminish or disappear altogether.
Sometimes when I go walkin'
At certain moments, when on a walk, the beauty of the surroundings can inspire Neil Young to feel spiritual and filled with wonder.
In the trees, in the trees
This is another repetition of the previous line, which emphasizes the idea that nature inspires him to become introspective and have spiritual moments.
That's where I do my prayin'
Neil Young finds it easier and more comfortable to engage in prayer and reflection amidst the natural setting of the trees.
The world is full of answers
There are answers to every question in this world, but not all of these answers are necessarily true.
Some are right, some are wrong
Some answers are correct, while others are incorrect - this is the reality of the world we live in.
The one that I believe in is a wish in a song
Young believes that the true answer to life's mysteries is hope, and this hope can be conveyed through the wishful lyrics of a song.
I love to see you smilin'
Neil Young values being able to make someone else smile and feel happy.
And hear your voice so fair
He values communication and the sweet sound of somebody's voice that can bring reassurance and comfort.
And in the ever after
This phrase harkens back to the idea of an afterlife, where he believes that happiness and laughter will endure.
I know you're always there
Young believes that those he loves will always be with him, even in the afterlife, just like the laughter and music he loves so much.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NEIL YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind