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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Human Highway
Neil Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got lost on the human highway
Take my head, refreshing fountain
Take my eyes from what they've seen
Take my head and change my mind
How could people get so unkind?
Oh, and I
And I married the DJ's daughter
Since that day I've heard it mentioned
That my name is on the line
Now, my name is on the line
How could people get so unkind
Oh, and I
I come down from the misty mountain
I got lost on the human highway
Take my head, refreshing fountain
Take my eyes from what they've seen
Take my head and change my mind
How could people get so unkind?
Oh, now
The opening lyrics of Neil Young's song "Human Highway" evoke a sense of displacement and confusion. The singer speaks of coming down from a "misty mountain" and getting lost on the "human highway," a metaphor for the complexities and challenges of everyday life. He seeks relief from this strife; the "refreshing fountain" seems to represent a desire to be cleansed of the negative experiences he has had. The line "take my eyes from what they've seen" suggests that this relief might require some form of spiritual or psychological transformation. The singer is looking for a way to change his perception and understanding of the world, to move beyond the darkness he has experienced.
The second verse introduces a new element to the song: the idea of reputation and public perception. The singer identifies himself as someone who has come down from a "crooked mansion" and has married the DJ's daughter. There's a suggestion of scandal or disreputable behavior here, and the line "my name is on the line" amplifies this sense of anxiety and uncertainty. The singer is deeply concerned about how others perceive him, and his desire to change his mind and distance himself from the negative experiences he has had takes on added urgency.
Taken together, the lyrics of "Human Highway" speak to a sense of isolation and disconnection that many people feel. The singer is struggling to find his place in a society that sometimes seems cruel and unforgiving. He is seeking some kind of relief or salvation, whether from within or without, and the song invites listeners to share in this search. Ultimately, the song's message is a hopeful one, suggesting that even in the midst of confusion and darkness, there is always the possibility of renewal and transformation.
Line by Line Meaning
I come down from the misty mountain
I am leaving a place of retreat and coming into the chaos of the real world.
I got lost on the human highway
I am overwhelmed by the multitude of choices and paths in life, and have lost my way.
Take my head, refreshing fountain
I seek mental clarity and peace to rejuvenate my spirit and find direction.
Take my eyes from what they've seen
I want to forget the negative experiences and images that I have witnessed, in order to move forward with hope and optimism.
Take my head and change my mind
I am willing to open my mind and embrace new perspectives, in order to let go of negativity and find a brighter path in life.
How could people get so unkind?
I am baffled by the inhumanity and cruelty that I have seen in the world.
Oh, and I
I am expressing my personal feelings and reactions to the world around me.
I come down from the crooked mansion
I am leaving a place of deception and corruption, where things were not as they appeared.
And I married the DJ's daughter
I made a commitment to someone with connections and access to the world of media and entertainment.
Since that day I've heard it mentioned
I have become the subject of rumors and gossip, as people speculate about my motives and intentions.
That my name is on the line
My reputation and credibility are at stake, and I am in danger of being judged unfairly.
Oh, now
In light of my experiences and observations, I feel a sense of urgency and anxiety about the state of the world and my place in it.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Neil Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind