Helpless was originally recorded with Young's band Crazy Horse in early 1969, before Young's new CSNY bandmates (he had joined the then-trio in mid-1969) convinced him it would suit them better. The song was simple, at its core effectively the repetition of one melody over a descending D-A-G chord progression, but despite (or perhaps because of) its simplicity the group found difficulty deciding on an arrangement and many different versions of the song were recorded before the group finally decided on the slow-paced version that appeared on the album. On this final version Young was in the foreground, singing the verses and the chorus with his bandmates providing the "helpless" refrain, while the instrumentation came in the form of acoustic guitar, pedal steel guitar (or electric guitar with volume pedal), and piano. It became one of the most revered songs from the Déjà Vu album (Q magazine's Peter Doggett regards it as "one of (the album's) showpieces"), and has remained a live favorite of Young's for over thirty years. Experimental rock artist Bill Nelson recorded a version of the song. K.D. Lang recorded a version with a lush string section for her album Hymns of the 49th Parallel. Nick Cave also recorded a rendition of this song for a Young tribute album. Young also performs the song with the Band and Joni Mitchell in the film The Last Waltz. Patti Smith covered the song on her album Twelve.
The "town in North Ontario" referred to in the opening line of the song is often presumed to be Ontario native Young's hometown; Young himself cleared up the rumors in a 1995 Mojo interview with Nick Kent:
"Well, it's not literally a specific town so much as a feeling. Actually, it's a couple of towns. Omemee, Ontario, is one of them. It's where I first went to school and spent my 'formative' years. Actually I was born in Toronto..."
Omemee, just west of Peterborough, is well within what is now considered Southern Ontario, and 130 km from Toronto by road.
The song's second verse contains the surreal nature-inspired imagery that was typical of Young's early 1970s work, similar to the lyrics of the well-known title track from the After The Gold Rush album:
Blue, blue windows behind the stars
Yellow moon on the rise
Big birds flying across the sky
Throwing shadows on our eyes
Helpless
Neil Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dream comfort memory to spare
And in my mind I still need a place to go
All my changes were there
Blue, blue windows behind the stars
Yellow moon on the rise
Big birds flying across the sky
Leave us
Helpless, helpless, helpless, helpless
Babe, can you hear me now?
The chains are locked and tied across the door
Baby, sing with me somehow
Blue, blue windows behind the stars
Yellow moon on the rise
Big birds flying across the sky
Throwing shadows on our eyes
Leave us
Helpless, helpless, helpless, helpless
Neil Young's song "Helpless" is an emotional and yearning depiction of a nostalgic longing for a small town in Northern Ontario. The song speaks of dreaming of the town and needing a place to go, suggesting that the singer has been away from the town for a while and desires to return. The feeling of nostalgia is emphasized further by the description of the town as a place of comfort memory to spare, where all the singer's changes took place.
The lyrical imagery employed by Young is evocative and emotive. The blue, blue windows behind the stars and the yellow moon on the rise nurture the themes of nature that are prominent in many of his songs. The big birds flying across the sky throwing shadows on their eyes could be interpreted as representing the sense of fear or uncertainty that accompanies nostalgia, as the comfort of the past pulls one in two directions.
The chorus of "Helpless" reinforces the feeling of a yearning ache for home, with the repeated lines of "Helpless, helpless, helpless, helpless" and "Babe, can you hear me now?". It is a plea for aid or support, with the chains locked and tied across the door representing a sense of entrapment or being stuck in the present. The song takes the listener on a journey of emotional turbulence, where the yearning for the town and the memories it holds is palpable and overwhelming.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a town in North Ontario
The singer reflects on a location of comfort in Ontario
Dream comfort memory to spare
The singer holds dear memories of the location
And in my mind I still need a place to go
Years on, it is still a comfort to think of the location
All my changes were there
The comforting location played a key role in the singer's life
Blue, blue windows behind the stars
The view of heavens beyond the small town had a blue tint
Yellow moon on the rise
The moon would rise and it would appear yellowish
Big birds flying across the sky
Large birds were a common sight overhead
Throwing shadows on our eyes
The birds' flight would create shadows that obstructed people's vision
Leave us
The birds simply fly on, uncaring of how much they affect the surroundings
Helpless, helpless, helpless, helpless
The singer feels trapped and unable to change his current plight
Babe, can you hear me now?
The singer seeks solace and refuge in his partner
The chains are locked and tied across the door
The singer's plight feels inescapable and oppressive
Baby, sing with me somehow
The singer turns to music as a form of catharsis
Helpless, helpless, helpless, helpless
The feeling of being trapped and helpless remains throughout the song
Helpless, helpless, helpless, helpless
The feeling of impotence and hopelessness resonates with the singer
Helpless, helpless, helpless, helpless
The song becomes a cathartic lamentation of the singer's present plight
Helpless, helpless, helpless, helpless
No resolution is offered, but the weight of the helpless emotion is expressed in repetition
(Helpless, helpless) helpless, helpless
The chorus is repeated, driving home the emotional angst of the song
Helpless, helpless, helpless, helpless
The helplessness keeps pervading the mind of the singer
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Neil Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dyn Jarren
What I like about Neil Young is he walks the walk. He doesn’t just talk the talk. He actually acts on his beliefs.
His voice is pure gold.
He is unique. No one else sounds like him.
This is one of my favorites.
He expresses pure emotion. Helpless. He expresses the pain of loss perfectly.
What a great artist.
Thanks Neil Young.
Haydenhoopla
There is a town in North Ontario
Dream comfort memory to spare
And in my mind I still need a place to go
All my changes were there
Blue, blue windows behind the stars
Yellow moon on the rise
Big birds flying across the sky
Throwing shadows on our eyes
Leave us
Helpless, helpless, helpless, helpless
Babe, can you hear me now?
The chains are locked and tied across the door
Baby, sing with me somehow
Blue, blue windows behind the stars
Yellow moon on the rise
Big birds flying across the sky
Throwing shadows on our eyes
Leave us
Helpless, helpless, helpless, helpless
lio jc
ce gars est un artiste hors pair quel talent un génie ...
Average Joe
Man song has helped me through some tough times. Absolutely beautiful.
Fuming Riley
Very nice live version, Neil's voice sounds so good here and just an upright piano and harmonica, fits perfectly for this song.
Dyn Jarren
What I like about Neil Young is he walks the walk. He doesn’t just talk the talk. He actually acts on his beliefs.
His voice is pure gold.
He is unique. No one else sounds like him.
This is one of my favorites.
He expresses pure emotion. Helpless. He expresses the pain of loss perfectly.
What a great artist.
Thanks Neil Young.
Brannon Adams
That’s why I respect him so much. He doesn’t just post on instagram about issues, he actually tries to find ways to act on it.
Ross Young
Such a simple song. So affecting. Neil Young's art an absolute world treasure
polkops
All the best songs are... simple. Neil is genious.
knarfggor
Well Said!!!!!!
michael kavanagh
He SURE IS. Ambrosia Australia
grew up with him. Played him forever, 70's. still adore his work. HE IS SO CLOSE TO GOD..in fact he is God. Child of LIGHT & LOVE.
michael kavanagh
giving, giving Heart tender heart truth, heart heart heart heart..give give give..
THANK YOU NEIL!!!! I GET IT!!!! Ambrosia