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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Hey Babe
Neil Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I need it oh so bad
Hey babe, hey babe
I know that all things pass
Let's try to make this last
Oh, can you see my love shining for you?
Oh, can you see my love shining for you?
Hey babe, can I count on you
To see me through?
Hey babe, hey babe
All I need is your love
And the stars above
Oh, can you see my love shining for you?
Oh, can you see my love shining for you?
Hey babe, say you're mine, all mine
I need you oh so bad
Hey babe, hey babe
I know that all things pass
Let's try to make this last
Oh, can you see my love shining for you?
Oh, can you see my love shining for you?
Hey babe, I know that all things pass
Let's try to make this last
The lyrics of Neil Young's song Hey Babe may seem simple, but they are effective in conveying a powerful message of love and commitment. The singer is pleading with his lover to stay with him, promising that he needs her love in order to survive. He knows that everything is temporary, and that their time together may be fleeting, but he wants them to make the most of it and try to make it last.
The chorus of the song is especially poignant, as Young asks his lover if she can see his love shining for her. This may seem like a simple question, but it represents a deep and abiding love that the singer has for his partner. He wants her to know that his affection is genuine and that he will do whatever it takes to make their relationship work.
Overall, the lyrics of Hey Babe are a testament to the power of love and commitment in relationships. Young's simple but effective words speak to the hearts of his listeners and remind us all that love is a powerful force that can get us through even the toughest of times.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey babe, say you're mine, all mine
The singer is requesting the person to confirm their love and commitment to him.
I need it oh so bad
He desperately desires their love and attention.
Hey babe, hey babe
The singer is calling out to the person, trying to hold their attention.
I know that all things pass
The singer acknowledges that all things eventually come to an end.
Let's try to make this last
Despite the temporary nature of all things, the singer is proposing that they make an effort to prolong their relationship.
Oh, can you see my love shining for you?
The singer is indirectly asking if the person can feel his love for them.
Hey babe, can I count on you
The singer is inquiring if he can rely on the person to support him.
To see me through?
He wants to know if they will be there for him during difficult times.
All I need is your love
The singer is asserting that the person's love is the only thing he needs to be happy.
And the stars above
The singer is expressing the grandeur and vastness of their love, comparing it to the vastness of the universe.
Hey babe, I know that all things pass
The singer repeats his acknowledgement that everything is temporary.
Let's try to make this last
But he reiterates his proposal to make their relationship endure despite this fact.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Neil Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind