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/
For the Turnstiles
Neil Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hear the sirens on the shore
Singin' songs for pimps with tailors
Who charge ten dollars at the door
You can really learn a lot that way
It will change you in the middle of the day
Though your confidence may be shattered
All the great explorers
Are now in granite laid
Under white sheets for the great unveiling
At the big parade
You can really learn a lot that way
It will change you in the middle of the day
Though your confidence may be shattered
It doesn't matter
All the bush league batters
Are left to die on the diamond
In the stands the home crowd scatters
For the turnstiles
For the turnstiles
For the turnstiles
Neil Young's song For The Turnstiles is a commentary on society's willingness to flock to the latest trends and entertainments, and yet the ultimate disappointment that awaits those who chase them. The opening lines set the scene with a group of sailors, likely off-duty and taking their mothers out for a night of entertainment, hearing the warning sirens of the shore. The following line suggests that they are heading to a club or concert where the admission is steep - ten dollars - a sum that may have been more significant in the early 1970s when the song was released. The phrase "singin' songs for pimps with tailors" suggests a particular crowd attending the event. The phrase "charge ten dollars at the door" creates an impression that society can be mercenary without much effort.
The second verse is a reflection on past explorers who were once hailed as heroes and who are now forgotten or overlooked. They have been reduced to a footnote in history books and monuments of granite in graveyards. Young is suggesting that the heroes of the past have been forgotten and neglected, buried under "white sheets," only to be exhumed for a "big parade." The third verse shifts to baseball imagery, with Young reflecting on the fact that not all aspiring athletes will make it to the top. The home crowd in the stands eventually scatters after the game, but not before passing through the turnstiles.
Overall, the song suggests that even as people strive for greatness, there is a sense of futility in their efforts. Neil Young seems to imply that despite our best efforts, the ultimate result is predestined. The turnstile, in this case, may represent fate or destiny, and ultimately reminds us that not everything worth striving for leads to success.
Line by Line Meaning
All the sailors with their seasick mamas
The vulnerable, inexperienced sailors with their dependent mothers who are prone to sea sickness
Hear the sirens on the shore
Listen to the warning sounds on land indicating potential danger
Singin' songs for pimps with tailors
Performing for immoral characters and wealthy suits who are willing to pay a high price for entry
Who charge ten dollars at the door
These shady characters wouldn't hesitate to extract a large fee from their clients just to enter
You can really learn a lot that way
Through these harsh experiences, one can gain valuable knowledge and skills
It will change you in the middle of the day
These experiences can change you unexpectedly and at any moment
Though your confidence may be shattered
Despite obstacles and hardships, one's self-assurance may falter
It doesn't matter
Despite this, the experience and growth is still valuable
All the great explorers
Famous risk-takers and adventurers
Are now in granite laid
Now deceased and buried with headstones showing their identity
Under white sheets for the great unveiling
Covered and waiting for the big event where everyone will recognize their greatness
At the big parade
A grand celebration or commemoration, possibly after death
All the bush league batters
Inexperienced, amateur baseball players
Are left to die on the diamond
They are figuratively abandoned and forgotten on the baseball field
In the stands the home crowd scatters
Spectators quickly disperse, likely due to disappointment or low enthusiasm for the game
For the turnstiles
For the exit gates, ready to leave and move on from the uninspiring game
For the turnstiles
Repeated to emphasize the sentiment of leaving or exiting
For the turnstiles
Repeated to emphasize the sentiment of leaving or exiting
Lyrics © Silver Fiddle, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Neil Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind