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/
Journey Through the Past
Neil Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On that new home of mine
Will you think of me and wonder if I'm fine?
Will your restless heart come back to mine
On a journey through the past?
Will I still be in your eyes and on your mind?
On a journey through the past
And I won't be back 'til February comes
"I will stay with you, if you'll stay with me"
Said the fiddler to the drunk
And we'll keep the tab on a journey through the past
When the winter rains come pourin' down
On that new home of mine
Will I still be in your eyes and on your mind?
Will I still be in your eyes and on your mind?
The lyrics to Neil Young's song Journey Through the Past are reflective of a person who is leaving their home and wondering if they will be missed by their loved ones. The singer questions if they will be on the mind of the person they are leaving when the winter rains start to pour down on their new home. The person is wondering if their restless heart will come back to the loved one on a journey through the past, suggesting that maybe they will return one day.
The person declares that they are going back to Canada on a journey through the past, and they won't be back until February. The lyrics seem to suggest that the person is revisiting old memories and places from their past, possibly homes or towns or people they haven't seen in a while. By referencing the fiddler and the drunk, Young touches on the idea of nostalgia, reminiscence and musical traditions which are all important motifs in the song.
The last two lines in the song are a repeat of the previous lines where the singer asks if they will still be in the eyes and on the mind of their loved one. Overall, the song reflects on the idea of leaving, revisiting the past and the feelings that come with it. It's a contemplative and nostalgic song that touches on the complexities of human relationships, love and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
When the winter rains come pourin' down
When difficult times and struggles come my way
On that new home of mine
In the new phase of my life or new surroundings I find myself in
Will you think of me and wonder if I'm fine?
Do you still care about my wellbeing and think of me?
Will your restless heart come back to mine
Will your unsettled soul and feelings ever return to me
On a journey through the past?
On a reflection or introspection of our past experiences and time spent together
Will I still be in your eyes and on your mind?
Will you still remember me and how I was a part of your life
Now I'm goin' back to Canada
I am headed back to a place that holds memories from our past
And I won't be back 'til February comes
I will be gone for a long time and we may not see each other until the winter has passed
"I will stay with you, if you'll stay with me"
"Let's stay together and support each other through the ups and downs"
Said the fiddler to the drunk
These words were spoken in a candid moment between two people, perhaps friends or strangers sharing an intimate conversation
And we'll keep the tab on a journey through the past
As we reflect on our shared memories, we will remember and acknowledge the good times along with the bad
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, Broken Fiddle Music
Written by: Neil Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@faizsyafiq4475
When the winter rains
come pourin' down
On that new home of mine,
Will you think of me
and wonder if I'm fine?
Will your restless heart
come back to mine
On a journey thru the past.
Will I still be in your eyes
and on your mind?
Now I'm going back to Canada
On a journey thru the past
And I won't be back
till February comes
I will stay with you
if you'll stay with me,
Said the fiddler to the drum,
And we'll keep good time
on a journey thru the past.
When the winter rains
come pourin' down
On that new home of mine,
Will I still be in your eyes
and on your mind?
Will I still be in your eyes
and on your mind?
@neilstrauss3318
"I will stay with you
if you'll stay with me,
Said the fiddler to the drum,
And we'll have good time
on a journey thru the past.
When the winter rains
come pourin' down
On that new home of mine,
Will I still be in your eyes
and on your mind?
Will I still be in your eyes
and on your mind"?
Love me!
@groenkjaer7
Don't think I ever heard anything as beautiful as this.
@robertwiesler381
I have to agree
@michaelkoller633
Same. But except all the other things he does^^
@Karmakatt6
😢 ❤️
@leesbegley6231
Right on, you are right on!
@ronouwendijk1109
Me too
@mediapc4747
Every song from this 1971 BBC session has stood the test of time. Says it all.
@wut7640
This and his Massey hall album
@user-pp9lm7hn4e
Many of Neil's song leave me speechless, but this song just hits me at a higher level. Haunting and simply beautiful.
@MadMan731
Heard this thanks to Inherent Vice. Neil Young is a poet artist of the highest caliber and we should appreciate him while he's still here.