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/
Flying On The Ground Is Wrong
Neil Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm in pieces on the ground
And my eyes aren't open
And I'm standing on my knees
But if crying and holding on
And flying on the ground is wrong
Then I'm sorry to let you down
And I miss you
Turn me up or turn me down
Turn me off or turn me round
I wish I could have met you in a place
Where we both belong
But if crying and holding on
And flying on the ground is wrong
Then I'm sorry to let you down
But you're from my side of town
And I miss you
Sometimes I feel like I'm just a helpless child
Sometimes I feel like a kid
But baby, since I have changed
I can't take nothing home
City lights at a country fair
Never shine but always glare
If I'm bright enough to see you
You're just too dark to care
But if crying and holding on
And flying on the ground is wrong
Then I'm sorry to let you down
But you're from my side of town
And I miss you
The song "Flying on the Ground Is Wrong" by Neil Young was released in 1966, and it is a melancholic acoustic ballad that speaks to the vulnerability and confusion in the aftermath of a romantic breakup. The opening lyrics, "Is my world not falling down? I'm in pieces on the ground. And my eyes aren't open, and I'm standing on my knees" paint a picture of someone who is lost and struggling to cope with the end of a relationship. The singer acknowledges that they are crying and holding on, but wonders if their way of dealing with the pain is wrong.
The chorus, which repeats the line "flying on the ground is wrong," is particularly intriguing. It could be interpreted as a metaphor for the impossible task of trying to move on while still holding onto the memories and feelings of the past. The singer knows that they are not doing things the "right" way, but they cannot help themselves. They are from the same "side of town" as their former partner, and they miss them terribly. The final verse seems to suggest that the singer has changed in some way that makes it difficult to connect with their ex, even if they still have feelings for them. The song ends on a sad but hopeful note, with the singer admitting that they miss their former partner but unsure of what comes next.
Overall, "Flying on the Ground Is Wrong" is a beautiful and poignant song that captures the universal experience of heartbreak and loss. Neil Young's delivery is raw and emotional, and the lyrics are simple but powerful. It's a song that speaks to anyone who has ever loved and lost.
Line by Line Meaning
Is my world not falling down
Am I not in the midst of a crisis?
I'm in pieces on the ground
I am broken and shattered.
And my eyes aren't open
I cannot see things clearly.
And I'm standing on my knees
I am in a position of submission or humility.
But if crying and holding on
Even if expressing emotions and trying to persevere are deemed incorrect
And flying on the ground is wrong
If living and trying to survive in difficult circumstances is wrong
Then I'm sorry to let you down
I apologize for failing to meet your expectations.
But you're from my side of town
We come from similar backgrounds and situations.
And I miss you
I long for your presence and support.
Turn me up or turn me down
You have control over how you perceive me.
Turn me off or turn me round
You can choose to ignore or change me.
I wish I could have met you in a place
I regret not having the opportunity to connect with you in a more suitable setting.
Where we both belong
Where we both feel comfortable and accepted.
Sometimes I feel like I'm just a helpless child
At times, I feel powerless and vulnerable.
Sometimes I feel like a kid
Other times, I feel immature or inexperienced.
But baby, since I have changed
However, since I have grown and developed
I can't take nothing home
I cannot bring anything back with me.
City lights at a country fair
An out-of-place or mismatched setting.
Never shine but always glare
While the lights are bright, they do not have a positive or welcoming effect.
If I'm bright enough to see you
If I have the clarity and insight to recognize you.
You're just too dark to care
You are unwilling or unable to show concern or empathy.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NEIL YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind