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/
Last of His Kind
Neil Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was the last of a dying breed
Living off the land
And taking what he needs
Don't say much for the future
When a family can't survive
I'd hate to say the farmer
Was the last of his kind
In the struggle for power
Not one man's voice will sound
For the foundation of the conglomerate
Is firmly in the ground
They want to feed the world
But for power and for greed
Then they'll cut off the supply
Until they get what they need
I'd hate to say the farmer
Was the last of a dying breed
Living off the land
And taking what he needs
Don't say much for the future
When a family can't survive
I'd hate to say the farmer
Was the last of his kind
They'll be ploughing down the White House
And replanting for next year
Ploughing down the White House
And replanting for next year
In Neil Young's song "Last of His Kind," the lyrics depict the plight of the traditional farmer, who represents a dying breed. The first verse highlights the farmer's way of life, living off the land and taking what he needs. It suggests that this lifestyle is becoming increasingly rare, pointing towards the struggles faced by farmers and their families in the modern world. The lyrics express concern about the future when families can't survive on farming alone, indicating a shift away from this traditional occupation and the potential consequences of losing such an integral part of society.
The second verse delves into the power dynamics at play in agriculture. Young criticizes the conglomerates that control the food production industry, emphasizing their focus on power and greed rather than adequately feeding the world. The lyrics suggest that these powerful entities manipulate the food supply to serve their own interests, cutting off access until they receive what they desire. This not only highlights the injustice of the system but also suggests the disregard for the well-being of farmers and consumers alike.
In the final lines, Young employs metaphorical imagery. He imagines a scenario where the White House is ploughed down by the farmers, symbolizing a revolt against the power structures that oppress them. The act of replanting for the next year signifies the potential for a fresh start, a future where traditional farming practices and the values they represent can flourish once again.
Overall, "Last of His Kind" explores the diminishing role of farmers and the threats they face from industrialization, corporate control, and societal shifts. Neil Young uses these lyrics to shed light on the consequences of abandoning this way of life and the importance of preserving and supporting traditional farming practices.
Line by Line Meaning
I'd hate to say the farmer
It pains me to acknowledge the reality of the farmer
Was the last of a dying breed
He represents the fading presence of a specific group or type
Living off the land
Dependent on resources provided by nature
And taking what he needs
Utilizing only what is necessary
Don't say much for the future
Does not bode well for what lies ahead
When a family can't survive
When a household cannot sustain itself
I'd hate to say the farmer
It pains me to acknowledge the reality of the farmer
Was the last of his kind
He is the final representation of his unique identity
In the struggle for power
Amidst the battle for control and dominance
Not one man's voice will sound
No single individual's opinion will be heard
For the foundation of the conglomerate
Because the core of the corporation
Is firmly in the ground
Is rooted deeply and firmly
They want to feed the world
Their intention is to provide sustenance globally
But for power and for greed
Motivated by the pursuit of control and excessive desire
Then they'll cut off the supply
They will sever the provision
Until they get what they need
Until their demands are fulfilled
They'll be ploughing down the White House
Metaphorically, they will dismantle established systems
And replanting for next year
And initiate a new cycle or era
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Neil Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Diane Kennedy
Just another reason to love Neil Young.
Rosemary Mattson
This gives me chills and goosebumps, it's so good!
Yao Marcus
HIS songs guided me from 1973 (15yrs old). Thank you Neil, you're the Best!!!
James Greene
Me to brother since I was 15 I'm now 44 years old was lucky enough to see Neil and Crazy Horse back in 93 and last July when he came to Ireland with Promise of the Real and Bob Dylan can honestly say we will never see the likes of Neil Young again long may you run Yao best wishes from Ireland
Romulo Tristao
Perfeitos.
Animesh Das
A Great Friend. He sung for all. Hats of Neil.
KW Norton
Perspective of time - love Neal’s songwriting, musicianship. Political landscape has changed now by 2022 & this song rings ever more true.
Kooka Munga
Neil and Willie are kindred spirits.
Doris Johansson
They are so good !!
PLEASE PLEASE
Magnifique vidéo, que j'admire cet homme...