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/
Only Love Can Break Your Heart
Neil Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And on your own
How did it feel to be alone?
I was always thinking of games
That I was playing
Trying to make the best of my time
But only love can break your heart
Try to be sure right from the start
Yes, only love can break your heart
What if your world should fall apart?
I have a friend I've never seen
He hides his head inside a dream
Someone should call him and see
If he can come out
Try to lose the down that he's found
But only love can break your heart
Try to be sure right from the start
Yes, only love can break your heart
What if your world should fall apart?
I have a friend I've never seen
He hides his head inside a dream
Yes, only love can break your heart
Yes, only love can break your heart
Yes, only love can break your heart
Yes, only love can break your heart
Yes, only love can break your heart
Neil Young’s “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” is a poignant reminder of the fragility of our hearts in the midst of love, especially during our younger years. In the first verse, Young sets the stage by asking the listener how it felt to be alone when they were young and on their own. He then reminisces about the games he played as a way of making the best of his time. However, the chorus serves as a warning that despite our attempts to protect ourselves, only love has the power to break our hearts. He advises us to be sure right from the start, so we can avoid the heartbreak if possible. The second verse speaks about a friend Young has never seen before who hides his head inside his dreams. Here, he implores someone to reach out to him and try to help him lose the sadness that has enveloped him. The chorus then serves as a reminder that only love can break our hearts.
While on the surface, the song might seem straightforward, it has a deeper meaning. Young uses the lyrics to comment on the human condition, showing how we all long for love and connection but understand that it comes with the possibility of heartbreak. Also, the song is a commentary on the people in our lives we care about but never see or reach out to - the ones who are silently struggling with their thoughts and emotions within themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
When you were young
When you were younger and inexperienced
And on your own
And without anyone else's company or support
How did it feel to be alone?
How did you feel being by yourself?
I was always thinking of games
I was constantly preoccupied with various activities
That I was playing
That I was actively participating in
Trying to make the best of my time
Attempting to utilize my time in the most effective manner possible
But only love can break your heart
However, solely being in love is capable of hurting you deeply
Try to be sure right from the start
Try to make certain from the beginning
Yes, only love can break your heart
Indeed, only love has the potential to shatter your heart
What if your world should fall apart?
What will happen if everything in your life crumbles into pieces?
I have a friend I've never seen
I have an acquaintance that I have never met in person
He hides his head inside a dream
He escapes from his reality inside his imagination
Someone should call him and see
Somebody should contact him and ascertain his current circumstances
If he can come out
If he is capable of emerging from his dream world
Try to lose the down that he's found
Attempt to rid himself of the depression he has discovered
Yes, only love can break your heart
Absolutely, solely being in love is capable of hurting you deeply
Yes, only love can break your heart
Indeed, only love has the potential to shatter your heart
Yes, only love can break your heart
Truly, only love can cause such emotional pain
Yes, only love can break your heart
Without a doubt, love is the only thing that can hurt you so deeply
Yes, only love can break your heart
Certainly, solely being in love has the power to break you apart
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Neil Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind