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!"
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Get Back On It
Neil Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hope I see you soon
Get back on it, get back on it
Think I'll get back on the highway
I hope I'll see you soon
Get back on it, get back on it
I may be late in comin' though
I got some things I gotta do
Don't let me see your tail light
I pull a heavy load
Get back on it, get back on it
Don't let me see your tail light
I pull a heavy load
Get back on it, get back on it
There ain't no way to stop it though
Oh, it might explode
It's too late for General Custer
Too late for Robert E. Lee
Get back on it, get back on it
It's too late for General Custer
Too late for Robert E. Lee
Get back on it, get back on it
But I'll get back on the highway
Before it's too late for me
Get back on it, get back on it
Think I'll get back on the highway
I hope I'll see you soon
Get back on it, get back on it
Think I'll get back on the highway
I hope I'll see you soon
Get back on it, get back on it
I may be late in comin' though
I got some things I gotta do
The lyrics of Neil Young & Crazy Horse's "Get Back on It" explore the theme of moving forward and getting back on track. The song describes the singer’s realization that he needs to get back on the highway and make a new start. With the repetition of the phrase, "get back on it," the song encourages the listener to leave behind the past and move ahead, even if they may be running late.
The lyrics emphasize the importance of taking action and not giving up, even if the road ahead is uncertain. Neil Young's cautionary words - "Don't let me see your tail light / I pull a heavy load" - reminds the listener not to turn back but stay on the new course they have set for themselves. The song’s final verse acknowledges that it may be too late for some historical figures, such as General Custer and Robert E. Lee, but the singer intends to get back on the highway before it's too late. The overall message of the song is to keep pushing forward, no matter what.
Line by Line Meaning
Think I'll get back on the highway
I am planning to return to my journey on the highway
I hope I see you soon
I wish to meet you again on this journey
Get back on it, get back on it
I need to continue with my journey, no matter what
I may be late in comin' though
It is possible that I may be delayed in returning to my journey
I got some things I gotta do
I have some important tasks that I need to complete before returning to my journey
Don't let me see your tail light
I don't want to be left behind and lose sight of you
I pull a heavy load
I am carrying a lot of baggage and need to keep moving forward
There ain't no way to stop it though
There is no other choice but to keep moving forward
Oh, it might explode
If I don't keep moving forward, I may become overwhelmed and lose control
It's too late for General Custer
Even great leaders like General Custer couldn't change the outcome of their fate
Too late for Robert E. Lee
Even great generals like Robert E. Lee couldn't turn the tide of the war
But I'll get back on the highway
I am determined to get back on my journey, no matter the obstacles
Before it's too late for me
Before I lose the chance to continue on this journey
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Neil Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind