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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Roger and Out
Neil Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got to thinkin' 'bout you again
Wonderin' how it really was for you
And how it happened in the end
But I guess I'll never know the truth
If you were really all alone
We were just a couple of kids then
When we both went down to register
We were laughin' all the way
That's when we named it the Hippie Highway
I still call it that today
Roger and out good buddy
I still call it that today
Two Cameros racin' down the road
Feels just like yesterday
Roger and out good buddy
I feel you in the air today
I know you gave for your country
I feel you in the air today
Roger and out good buddy
These lyrics from Neil Young's song Roger and Out are a reflection on the past and a reminiscence of a lost friendship, possibly due to death. The singer is tripping down the old Hippie Highway, which is a metaphor for taking a nostalgic trip down memory lane. The singer is wondering about their old friend and how their life ended. The singer regrets not knowing the truth and whether their friend was really all alone when they passed away. The song captures the sadness and loss of a friend who had served in the Vietnam War and never returned.
The song reflects the cultural and political tumult of the late 1960s and early 1970s. It showcases the social movements and counterculture at the time. The reference to the Hippie Highway is a nod to the great migration of hippies from the East Coast to San Francisco, mostly on Route 66. The reference to the Cameros racing down the road is also a characteristic of this counterculture's free-spirited nature.
This song is a beautiful tribute to fallen comrades, and it strikes a chord with those who have lost loved ones in war. Neil Young's artistry in Roger and Out is how it captures the complexities of the time with a simple melody.
Line by Line Meaning
Trippin' down that old Hippie Highway
Remembering old times and revisiting past experiences
Got to thinkin' 'bout you again
Reflecting on someone from the past
Wonderin' how it really was for you
Thinking about what someone went through and how they experienced it
And how it happened in the end
Reflecting on the final outcome of past events
But I guess I'll never know the truth
Accepting that the past cannot be fully understood or known
If you were really all alone
Questioning if someone was by themselves during a particular event
We were just a couple of kids then
Reflecting on a time when they were young
Livin' each and every day
Living life day-by-day
When we both went down to register
Going to register for something together
We were laughin' all the way
Having a good time while doing something
That's when we named it the Hippie Highway
Naming a particular road or route after something that is significant to them
I still call it that today
Continuing to use the same name for something as they did in the past
Roger and out good buddy
Saying goodbye, potentially for the final time, to a close friend or companion
Two Cameros racin' down the road
Recollecting memories of fast cars and exciting moments
Feels just like yesterday
Feeling like the memory is still fresh and vivid
I feel you in the air today
Feeling someone's presence around them
I know you gave for your country
Honoring someone's service and sacrifice to their country
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: NEIL YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind