Neil Percival Young (born November 12, 1945) is a Canadian singer, guitaris… Read Full Bio ↴Neil Percival Young (born November 12, 1945) is a Canadian singer, guitarist, songwriter, and social activist who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation, particularly as Neil Young & Crazy Horse. Young was born in Toronto, but he moved to the family home of Winnipeg as a child, which is where his music career began. Young began performing as a solo artist in Canada in 1960, before moving to California in 1966, where he co-founded the band Buffalo Springfield along with Stephen Stills and Richie Furay.

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/

I'm Goin'
Neil Young Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well, I'm goin', I'm goin'
Goin' on a downhill slide
I'm goin', I'm goin'
Goin' on a downhill slide
Things feel so easy
I'm never gonna change my mind

I'm goin', I'm goin', I'm goin'

Well, ride me babe
Hang on to my hat
Ride me babe
Hang on to my hat
I'll howl like a wolf
Scream like an alley cat

I'm goin', I'm goin', I'm goin'

Don't wanna change my mind
Don't wanna reel it in
Don't wanna stop
This slidin' honey
That's the shape I'm in

I'm goin', I'm goin'
On a downhill slide
Things feels so easy
I'm never gonna change my mind

I'm goin', I'm goin', I'm goin'

Goin', goin',
Goin', goin', goin'

I'm goin' on a downhill slide

Watch me now, watch me now

Goin', goin',
Goin', goin', goin'

Overall Meaning

The song "I'm Goin'" by Neil Young is a straightforward blues track with a driving rhythm and catchy lyrics. The overall theme of the song displays a carefree attitude towards life, with the singer accepting his current state of mind and going down a "downhill slide". He is not afraid of what's ahead and doesn't want to change his ways. The chorus of "I'm going, going, going" emphasizes this sentiment and plays on the repetition of the phrase to further emphasize the down-spiraling tone. Young is obviously having a good time with this song and he uses simple metaphors like "hang on to my hat," "howl like a wolf," to enhance the overall feel.

The second chorus in the song, "don't wanna change my mind, don't wanna reel it in" emphasizes the theme of the song – the singer won't succumb to negativity, and he won't stop his downward trajectory. He is having too much fun and is happy to remain in his current state. He is a free spirit and he is not concerned with the judgments of others.

The line "watch me now" not only serves as an invitation to observe his actions, but also emphasizes his rebellious spirit. He is proud of who he is and the road he's chosen to take. The line also indicates that he is up for anything, no matter what society says.

Overall, "I'm Goin'" is a song about being unapologetically oneself and being content in the face of challenges. Neil Young’s bluesy guitar riffs and gravelly voice complement the theme and feel of this song perfectly.

Line by Line Meaning

Well, I'm goin', I'm goin'
I am leaving, I am departing

Goin' on a downhill slide
I am on a downward trajectory, everything has become easier and I am losing control

Things feel so easy
Life has become effortless, and I have lost the drive to change

I'm never gonna change my mind
I have made my decision and I am unwilling to reconsider

Well, ride me babe
Come along with me

Hang on to my hat
Hold on tight, it's going to be a wild ride

I'll howl like a wolf
I'll make a lot of noise and create a scene

Scream like an alley cat
I'll be loud and disruptive, like an animal in the night

Don't wanna change my mind
I am stubborn and won't budge from my decision

Don't wanna reel it in
I don't want to hold back or restrict myself

Don't wanna stop
I don't want to slow down or quit

This slidin' honey
I am enjoying this decline

That's the shape I'm in
This is the state I am in and I am content with it

Watch me now, watch me now
Look at me, observe my actions

Goin', goin',
Continuing to slide downhill

Goin', goin', goin'
The descent is ongoing and prolonged

I'm goin' on a downhill slide
I am not only leaving, but I am declining and losing control

Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Neil Young

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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01I'm Goin'

Neil Young

02Born to Run (1990, rehearsal)5:23

03Forever Young (1991-11-03, Bill Graham Memorial, Golden Gate Park Polo Fields, San Francisco, CA, USA)6:36

04Bad Fog of Loneliness3:57

05It Might Have Been (1970-02-25, Music Hall, Cincinnati, OH, USA)4:11

06Everybody's Alone (1970-02-19, KQED Studios, San Francisco, CA, USA)2:31

07War Song3:29

08Johnny (played over the PA) (1983-10-01, Beacon Theater, New York City, NY, USA)4:16

09Goodbye Dick (1974-08-14, Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY, USA)1:09

10Pushed It Over the End (1974-05-16, The Bottom Line, New York City, NY, USA)7:37

11Everything Is Broken (1989-10-28, Bridge School Benefit 3, Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA, USA)3:57

12Ordinary People (1988-08-27, Jones Beach Theater, Wantagh, NY, USA)12:26

13Last of His Kind (1999-09-12, Farm Aid '99, Nissan Pavilion, Bristow, VA, USA)4:29

14Berlin (1982-10-19, Deutschlandhalle, West Berlin, West Germany)5:59

15Nothing Is Perfect (1985-09-01, Minnesota State Fair, St. Paul, MN, USA)5:04

16Come Along and Say You Will (1973-01-15, Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Ontario, Canada)3:06

17If You Got Love (1982-10-08, Scandinavium, Göteborg, Sweden)4:29

18Sweet Joni (1973-03-11, Bakersfield Civic Auditorium, Bakersfield, CA, USA)2:12

19There Goes My Babe (Demo)1:42

20Dance Dance Dance (1971-02-23, BBC TV Studios, London, England, UK)1:54

21Soul of a Woman (1983-07-15, Reunion Arena, Dallas, TX, USA)3:14

22Your Love Is Good to Me (1984-02-06, Early Show, The Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA, USA)4:27

23Do You Wanna Dance? (1983-09-18, Hara Arena, Dayton, OH, USA)3:27

24Hello Lonely Woman (1988-08-27, Jones Beach Theater, Wantagh, NY, USA)4:45

25Lady Wingshot (1989-02-18, Municipal Auditorium, Eureka, CA, USA)3:04

26Fool for Your Love (1988-09-04, Auburn Hills Palace Arena, Detroit, MI, USA)4:16

27Aurora2:11

28Welcome to the Big Room (1987-11-02, Late Show, Cocoanut Grove, Santa Cruz, CA, USA)8:04

29So Tired (1984-02-07, Late Show, The Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA, USA)3:10

30Grey Riders (1985-09-01, Minnesota State Fair, St. Paul, MN, USA)5:39

31Rock, Rock, Rock (1984-02-07, Late Show, The Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA, USA)3:49

32Bright Sunny Day (1978-09-19, Pine Knob Music Theatre, Clarkston, MI, USA)4:02

33Leavin' The Top 40 Behind3:36

34I Ain't Got The Blues (demo)2:37

35Love Hotel (1982-09-24, National Exhibition Centre Arena, Birmingham, England, UK)3:24

36Kansas (1999-03-20, Paramount Theatre, Oakland, CA, USA)2:47

37Homefires (1992-03-24, Tower Theatre, Upper Darby, PA, USA)2:13

38Love Art Blues (1974-07-09, Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle, WA, USA)2:56

39Separate Ways (1993-07-03, Torhout Festival, Torhout, Belgium)5:49

40Crime of the Heart (1988-10-25, Kiva Auditorium, Albuquerque, NM, USA)5:23

41Bad News Comes to Town (1988-08-27, Jones Beach Theater, Wantagh, NY, USA)7:49

42Stranger in Paradise (1993-11-06, Bridge School Benefit 7, Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA, USA)3:05

43Run Around Babe (Demo)2:38

44Find Another Shoulder (1987-11-02, Cocoanut Grove, Santa Cruz, CA, USA)6:33

45Your Love Again2:21

46Guilty Train (1976-11-22, Early Show, Music Hall, Boston, MA, USA)0:54

47Doghouse (1988-09-04, Auburn Hills Palace Arena, Detroit, MI, USA)4:08

48Windward Passage (1977-08-22, The Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA, USA)8:38

49No One Seems to Know (1983-01-05, Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, Santa Cruz, CA, USA)2:46

50Extra, Extra (demo)2:34

51Give Me Strength (1976-11-15, Late Show, Auditorium Theater, Chicago, IL, USA)3:25

52Walking After Midnight (1988-04-19, Late Show, The World, New York City, NY, USA)4:37

53Rainin' in Paradise4:39

54Amber Jean (1984-09-25, Austin City Limits TV Show, Austin, TX, USA)3:37

55Hawaiian Sunrise (1974-09-08, Roosevelt Raceway, Westbury, NY, USA)2:48

56One More Sign

57Turbine (1980-10-03, Bread And Roses Festival, Greek Theater, Berkeley, CA, USA)3:21

58Hillbilly Band (1984-10-24, Pacific Amphitheater, Costa Mesa, CA, USA)2:48

59Modern World (1997-05-19, The Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA, USA)5:12

60Road of Plenty (1986-10-17, Met Center, Bloomington, MI, USA)8:00

61Beautiful Bluebird4:27

62High Heels (1987-11-02, Late Show, Cocoanut Grove, Santa Cruz, CA, USA)3:56

63I Shall Be Released (1999-10-30, Bridge School Benefit 13, Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA, USA)5:04

64That's All Right (Mama) (1983-07-15, Reunion Arena, Dallas, TX, USA)2:32

65Sultan2:32

66The Rent Is Always Due (Demo)2:50

67Hitchhiker (1992-06-29, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY, USA)7:44

68Time Off for Good Behavior3:32

69Sixty to Zero (1988-08-18, Canadian National Exhibition Grandstand, Toronto, Ontario, Canada)0:01

70Boxcar (1989-02-23, Opera House, Spokane, WA, USA)2:51

71Traces2:53

72Sad Movies (1976-03-28, Hammersmith Odeon, London, England, UK)2:39

73I'm Goin' (1988-08-27, Jones Beach Theater, Wantagh, NY, USA)5:42

74I Wonder Why4:19

75Don't Pity Me, Babe (demo)4:59

76Evening Coconut (1976-06-27, Civic Center, Springfield, MA, USA)5:24

77Let Your Fingers Do The Walking (1984-09-25, Austin City Limits TV Show, Austin, Texas, USA)2:56

78I Wonder2:24

79Mediterranean

80Greensleeves (1974-05-16, The Bottom Line, New York City, NY, USA)1:58

81Dead Man (acoustic theme)3:16

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Comments from YouTube:

neilyoungchannel

4y↑2

Hi, this is Neil. Link to the NYA info-card for this song with press, documents, manuscripts, photos, videos. Look around NYA for fun and listening! ALL my music in high resolution at https://neilyoungarchives.com/info-card?track=t1988_0818_01

Special Limited Edition

8y↑4

Thanks for making this available on a great LP-set! Today we will propose a toast with a glass of Californian red on your birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY NEIL YOUNG! You are still the main contributor to the soundtrack of our lives!