The song was written for the caretaker of the northern-California Broken Arrow Ranch, which Young purchased for $350,000 in 1970. The song compares a young man's life to an old man's and shows that the young man has, to some extent, the same needs of the old one. James Taylor played six-string banjo (tuned like a guitar) and sang on the song, and Linda Ronstadt also contributed vocals.
In the movie Heart of Gold, Young introduces the song as follows:
“ About that time when I wrote that song [the previously played "Heart of Gold"], and I was touring, I had also -- just, you know, being a rich hippie for the first time -- I had purchased a ranch, and I still live there today. And there was a couple living on it that were the caretakers, an old gentleman named Louis Avala and his wife Clara. And there was this old blue Jeep there, and Louis took me for a ride in this blue Jeep. He gets me up there on the top side of the place, and there's this lake up there that fed all the pastures, and he says, "Well, tell me, how does a young man like yourself have enough money to buy a place like this?" And I said, "Well, just lucky, Louie, just real lucky." And he said, "Well, that's the darndest thing I ever heard." And I wrote this song for him."
He tells a similar story when introducing the song at a February 23, 1971 performance broadcast by the BBC (in which he says that he purchased the ranch from "two lawyers").
Covers
Bob Dylan regularly covered this song at a number of concerts on his 2002 tour, including one at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Dylan played the keyboard on his arrangement of the song.
The song was covered by American R&B/Soul singer N'Dea Davenport on her 1998 debut album, N'Dea Davenport.
In 2003 Howard Stern and The Losers covered the song on his radio show.
In 2004 the song was covered by Canadian folk trio The Wailin' Jennys for their debut full length album, 40 Days.
In 2004 the song was covered by Pop trio Wilson Phillips for their covers album, California.
In 2008, the two man internet band "Count Gilbert" covered this song for a single.
Old Man
Neil Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a lot like you were
Old man, look at my life
I'm a lot like you were
Old man, look at my life
Twenty-four and there's so much more
Live alone in a paradise
Love lost, such a cost
Give me things that don't get lost
Like a coin that won't get tossed
Rolling home to you
Old man, take a look at my life, I'm a lot like you
I need someone to love me the whole day through
Ah, one look in my eyes and you can tell that's true
Lullabies, look in your eyes
Run around the same old town
Doesn't mean that much to me
To mean that much to you
I've been first and last
Look at how the time goes past
But I'm all alone at last
Rolling home to you
Old man, take a look at my life, I'm a lot like you
I need someone to love me the whole day through
Ah, one look in my eyes and you can tell that's true
Old man, look at my life
I'm a lot like you were
Old man, look at my life
I'm a lot like you were
In Neil Young's song "Old Man," the lyrics describe a young man reflecting on his own life and how he sees himself in the older man who owns the property where the singer resides. The first verse sets the tone for the song, as the young man notes the similarities between himself and the old man, remarking that he has become like him. The second verse delves into the life of the young man, noting how he lives by himself in a wonderful place, yet he still feels incomplete. He wishes for something that cannot be lost, something genuine, like the love of another human being to complete him.
In the chorus, the young man asks the old man to take a look at his life, noting that he needs love to feel complete, just like the old man once did. He proclaims the truth in his eyes, indicating that his love is genuine and not just passing. In the third verse, the young man reflects on how he is not interested in the same things as others in his town, as he has already lived a full life. He notes the passage of time and how he is now alone. Yet in his loneliness, he has discovered the longing for unconditional love and acceptance, just like the old man.
Line by Line Meaning
Old man, look at my life
The singer is addressing an older man and asking him to observe their life.
I'm a lot like you were
The singer is acknowledging that they have similarities to the older man's past.
Twenty-four and there's so much more
The singer is young and feels there is a lot they still have to experience in life.
Live alone in a paradise
The artist enjoys living alone in a place that brings them happiness.
That makes me think of two
The artist briefly thinks about someone else who might enjoy their paradise.
Love lost, such a cost
The singer has experienced the pain of losing love and understands the consequence of it.
Give me things that don't get lost
The singer desires things that have permanent value and won't disappear like love.
Like a coin that won't get tossed
The artist uses a coin as a metaphor for a valuable and stable possession that won't be taken away.
Rolling home to you
The artist is coming back to someone who they care about deeply.
I need someone to love me the whole day through
The artist is seeking someone who will love them unconditionally.
Ah, one look in my eyes and you can tell that's true
The singer believes their desire for unconditional love is evident in their eyes.
Lullabies, look in your eyes
The artist references lullabies as something soothing and calming, and sees a similar quality in the other person's eyes.
Run around the same old town
The singer is bored with their surroundings and desires change.
Doesn't mean that much to me
The singer is not attached to the town and is willing to leave it behind.
To mean that much to you
The singer recognizes that the town may hold more significance for the other person.
I've been first and last
The artist has experienced both success and failure in life.
Look at how the time goes past
The artist reflects on how time has passed quickly throughout their life.
But I'm all alone at last
Despite their experiences, the singer is currently alone in life.
Old man, look at my life
The singer is again asking the older man to observe their life.
I'm a lot like you were
The artist is reminding the older man of their past and how it relates to their own life.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Neil Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@haydenhoopla
Old man look at my life,
I'm a lot like you were.
Old man look at my life,
I'm a lot like you were.
Old man look at my life,
Twenty four
and there's so much more
Live alone in a paradise
That makes me think of two.
Love lost, such a cost,
Give me things
that don't get lost.
Like a coin that won't get tossed
Rolling home to you.
Old man take a look at my life
I'm a lot like you
I need someone to love me
the whole day through
Ah, one look in my eyes
and you can tell that's true.
Lullabies, look in your eyes,
Run around the same old town.
Doesn't mean that much to me
To mean that much to you.
I've been first and last
Look at how the time goes past.
But I'm all alone at last.
Rolling home to you.
Old man take a look at my life
I'm a lot like you
I need someone to love me
the whole day through
Ah, one look in my eyes
and you can tell that's true.
Old man look at my life,
I'm a lot like you were.
Old man look at my life,
I'm a lot like you were.
@Aaron-lk6pl
My dad died this year. I was born and raised in Mississippi and it was once loudly singing Sweet Home Alabama with the radio..
My dad turned down the radio, Son do you know why they put that lyric in there.
No.
Do you know who Neil Young is?
No.
Well a Southern Man does need him around.
😢I get now dad.
@Xdrtoboggan
My dad passed away in 2020, I'm 32 now and I recently went thru some more of my dads things. This song was on my mind so I had to play it. I love you dad and I miss you.
@seanmeisner3190
I'm 54 and Dad's still living nearby. I'm going to go help him split and stack some firewood today. You just reminded me to tell him that I love him while I'm there. Thank you.
@sestini8
same here, my dad also passed away in 2020 and that’s one of the musics that i listen to when i want remember him (more)
@NeoGames2016
♡
@thesnipersmith3436
Rip to him, you'll meet him again when your time comes, in the mean time, enjoy your life as much as you can because he would want it too, he will watch over you from the heavens, waiting for you to join him
@D3R3LICTRECORDS
I lost Dad in '21 to suicide. I'm so sorry. You are not alone. I find a lot of comfort and closeness to him in the rich music he listened to and loved.
@diannecarey9031
My Dad passed away this year,2024. I love you Dad❤❤❤
@steveacree5827
My dad died 7 years ago at 86. The anniversary of his death was two days ago. He was the consummate father. Our mom was an alcoholic. She had demons but I loved her. He divorced her when I was 13 and took custody of me and my two younger brothers. If you were friends with his children you became family, too. Meaning he would give you hell about things as if you were his own child. But in a good way. He taught us to fish and love sports. I played 3 sports in HS and earned 9 letters. He never missed an event. Between basketball football and running track probably close to 160 events. He was there. My dad was born in 1930. The youngest of four. We never missed a family reunion. He had 64 cousins. His father had 11 siblings. Im now the old man. I was young until last year when prostate surgery knocked the hell out of me. But Im working on it. My dad was my hero and mentor and rock my whole life. I was a lucky man.
@K1DTC
2024 anyone?
@sbusutton2209
My father passed away just this week. I’m 18. I’m lost without him, but wearing his old leather jacket and hearing this brings me just a bit of comfort.