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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Long May You Run
Neil Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With trunks of memories still to come
We found things to do in stormy weather
Long may you run
Long may you run
Long may you run
Although these changes have come
Long may you run.
Well, it was back in Blind River in 1962
When I last saw you alive
But we missed that shift on the long decline
Long may you run
Long may you run
Long may you run
Although these changes have come
With your chrome heart shining in the sun
Long may you run
Maybe the Beach Boys have got you now
With those waves singing "Caroline" (Caroline No)
Rollin' down that empty ocean road
Gettin' to the surf on time
Long may you run
Long may you run
Although these changes have come
With your chrome heart shining in the sun
Long may you run
Neil Young's Long May You Run is a powerful song that reflects on a long-lived relationship, whether it be between friends or a car. The verse "We've been through some things together/With trunks of memories still to come/We found things to do in stormy weather/Long may you run" highlights the depth of the relationship, referring to the memories they've made and the challenges they've overcome. The chorus "Long may you run" is a wish that the relationship continues for a long time. The chrome heart shining in the sun is a metaphor for the car and the memories attached to it.
The second verse tells the story of how the car has aged and experienced changes but still runs strong. The line "But we missed that shift on the long decline" can be interpreted to mean two things: the shift in gears that could have prevented the car from breaking down, and the decline of the relationship that couldn't be saved. However, the singer still wishes for the car to keep running strongly, symbolizing a hope that the relationship can be restored.
The last verse is an interesting one because it shows a shift from the car to a person named Caroline whom the Beach Boys might have. It is the possibility that the car has changed owners and is now with the Beach Boys. The line "Gettin' to the surf on time" is reminiscent of the surf culture of California, hitting close to home because the car is well-known to be a symbol of freedom and independence, which is a fundamental part of American culture.
Line by Line Meaning
We've been through some things together
We have shared experiences and memories together
With trunks of memories still to come
We still have many memories yet to make
We found things to do in stormy weather
We found ways to keep ourselves occupied during tough times
Long may you run
I hope you continue to thrive and succeed
Long may you run
I really hope you continue to thrive and succeed
Although these changes have come
Despite the changes that have occurred
With your chrome heart shining in the sun
With your spirit still shining brightly
Long may you run.
I really hope you continue to thrive and succeed
Well, it was back in Blind River in 1962
This is where our journey together began
When I last saw you alive
The last time I saw you before our journey apart
But we missed that shift on the long decline
But we lost touch as time went on
Long may you run
I really hope you continue to thrive and succeed
Long may you run
I really hope you continue to thrive and succeed
Although these changes have come
Despite the changes that have occurred
With your chrome heart shining in the sun
With your spirit still shining brightly
Long may you run
I really hope you continue to thrive and succeed
Maybe the Beach Boys have got you now
Perhaps you've moved on to new things, like the Beach Boys
With those waves singing "Caroline" (Caroline No)
Listening to their music, particularly the song Caroline No
Rollin' down that empty ocean road
Cruising down an open road, perhaps seeking new adventures
Gettin' to the surf on time
Making sure they don't miss out on any opportunities to catch some waves
Long may you run
I really hope you continue to thrive and succeed
Long may you run
I really hope you continue to thrive and succeed
Although these changes have come
Despite the changes that have occurred
With your chrome heart shining in the sun
With your spirit still shining brightly
Long may you run
I really hope you continue to thrive and succeed
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Neil Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind