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/
Hawaiian Sunrise
Neil Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lying over the water
With my sun in your eyes
When you hear the melody play
It changes every day
Oh, Hawaiian sunrise
Once when we were there
Thought we might settle down.
But the music called me
And my friends have much to spread around,
We moved from town to town.
Hawaiian sunrise.
And in the morning when you rise,
Will you look in my son's eyes?
I know you do.
Pretty Maui Mama
Lying over the water
With my moon in your eyes
From my hotel window in the clouds
I love you right out loud.
Ohm Hawaiian sunrise.
And in the morning when you rise,
Will you look in my son's eyes?
I know you do.
Neil Young’s “Hawaiian Sunrise” is a love song that talks about his passion for Hawaii and its culture. The song is a tribute to the natural beauty of the island and the people's love for music. The opening line, “Pretty Maui Mama lying over the water, with my sun in your eyes,” paints a vivid picture of a gorgeous Hawaiian girl lying on the beach, enjoying the sunrise. The sun is so stunning, and yet it pales in comparison to the beauty of the girl's eyes.
The song also captures the artist's love for music, and how it has influenced his life. He talks about his desire to settle down in Hawaii, but his love for music and his friends was too strong, and he continued moving from town to town. The line “but the music called me, and my friends have much to spread around, we moved from town to town” refers to the artist’s search for musical inspiration and creative significance.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase “Hawaiian Sunrise,” which signifies the beauty of nature and the personal connection that the artist has with Hawaii. The lyrics also allude to a young child, likely his son, in the final verse, saying, “And in the morning when you rise, will you look in my son's eyes? I know you do.” This line suggests that the artist has found contentment and joy in his life and found a deep connection with the island from the birth of his son.
Line by Line Meaning
Pretty Maui Mama
Addressing a beautiful woman in Maui
Lying over the water
Referring to the woman's location on an island surrounded by water
With my sun in your eyes
Describing the woman looking into the sun, with the singer standing between her and the sun
When you hear the melody play
Implying that the woman is familiar with the local music
It changes every day
Noting the variety and versatility of the music
Oh, Hawaiian sunrise
Musing about the beauty of the Hawaiian morning
Once when we were there
Recalling a past visit with fondness
We had relaxing times,
Reflecting on the peaceful and leisurely moments spent there
Thought we might settle down.
Entertaining the idea of staying in Hawaii permanently
But the music called me
Acknowledging the pull of music and art that led to a nomadic lifestyle
And my friends have much to spread around,
Referring to the musical talents of the singer and his companions
We moved from town to town.
Travelling and playing music in different places
Hawaiian sunrise.
Reflecting on the beauty of Hawaiian mornings, where the song originated
And in the morning when you rise,
Starting a reference to the woman's morning routine
Will you look in my son's eyes?
Asking if the woman will take notice of the singer's child
I know you do.
Expressing certainty and appreciation for the woman's connection with the child
With my moon in your eyes
Describing the woman gazing up at the moon in the night sky
From my hotel window in the clouds
Describing the singer's high vantage point
I love you right out loud.
Expressing the singer's love in a bold and public manner
Ohm Hawaiian sunrise.
Closing the song with a final ode to the beauty of Hawaiian mornings
Contributed by Asher C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.