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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Light a Candle
Neil Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Light a candle for where were going
There's something ahead, worth fighting for
When the light of time is on us, you will see our moment come
And the living sole inside will carry on
It's a chance to give new meaning to every move we make
When the light of dawn is on us
We will see what we can be
And the ancient ones will sleep the music sleep?
In the hallways of the ages, on the road to history
What we do now will always be with us
It's a chance to give new meaning to every move we make
In the caverns in the caves where we've gone wrong
Instead of cursing in the darkness
Light a candle for where were going
There's something ahead, worth looking for
When the light of time is on us
We will see our moment come
And the living sole inside will carry on
Light a candle in the darkness
So that others might see it
Light a candle in the darkness, when you go
Light a candle in the darkness so others might see ahead
Light a candle in the darkness when you go
The song "Light a Candle" by Neil Young is a call to action for the listener to remain hopeful and take steps towards improving the future. The lyrics convey that instead of dwelling on the darkness of the present, we should focus on the light of the future and work towards a better tomorrow. The repetition of "light a candle" symbolizes the need for hope and optimism.
The lyrics also suggest that our actions have a lasting impact and it's important to give new meaning to everything we do. The reference to the "ancient ones" and "hallways of the ages" add a spiritual dimension to the song, implying that our actions should be informed by the wisdom of the past.
Overall, the song encourages the listener to stay positive, believe in themselves, and work towards a brighter future. It offers a message of hope and perseverance in the face of darkness and uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
Instead of cursing in the darkness
Don't complain about the current situation
Light a candle for where were going
Be optimistic and take positive action towards a better future
There's something ahead, worth fighting for
There is a future worth working towards and pursuing
When the light of time is on us, you will see our moment come
When the right opportunities arise, seize them
And the living sole inside will carry on
Stay true to who you are and keep going
It's a chance to give new meaning to every move we make
Each action we take has the potential to make a positive impact
In the cavern, in the cave, where we've come from
Our past experiences have shaped who we are
When the light of dawn is on us
When hope and positivity emerge
We will see what we can be
We'll discover our true potential
And the ancient ones will sleep the music sleep?
The past will continue to influence and inspire us
In the hallways of the ages, on the road to history
We have the opportunity to make a lasting impact on future generations
What we do now will always be with us
Our actions have lasting consequences
Light a candle in the darkness, so that others might see it
Be a beacon of hope for others who are struggling
Light a candle in the darkness, when you go
Leave a positive legacy behind
Light a candle in the darkness so others might see ahead
Be a source of inspiration for others to aspire towards a better future
Lyrics © Silver Fiddle, Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Neil Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind