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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Say Hello To Chicago
Neil Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I caught some myself in this blind alley and rain
Close to the L with it's clattering train
Near an old ornate theater where I soon will be playing
I soon will be playing
So I said hello for you, when I saw a stylish girl
Walking by on the sidewalk with her hair in a swirl
And I wondered what would be coming my way
What would be coming my way, coming my way
You know I been to Chicago, I was here once before
And the rain kept on pounding outside the stage door
I was singing and drinking with love in my heart
I was younger and stronger while life played it's part
While life played it's part, life played it's part
Life played it's part
Let us not be strangers if we come to know
Things about each other that seem to come and go
'Cause friendship is everything if love is to last
And I have my guard down and love passes fast
Love passes fast, love passes fast
Love passes fast
Say hello to Chicago
The lyrics of Neil Young's song, Say Hello to Chicago, depict the artist reminiscing about his time spent in Chicago. The song talks about the shift that happened in the world of blues when it moved to Chicago. Neil Young describes how he caught some of the blues himself while he was sitting in a blind alley in the rain. He talks about being close to the L train with its clattering and noise. He mentions an ornate theater where he will be playing soon. Neil Young gives a nod to a stylish girl walking on the sidewalk with her hair in a swirl. He ponders what will be coming his way after that encounter.
The song continues with Neil Young stating that he has been to Chicago before. The rain was relentless and kept pounding outside the stage door where he was singing and drinking with love in his heart. Neil Young talks about how he was younger and stronger then, and he was playing his part in life. He urges people to open up and share things about each other that seem to come and go. He explains that if love is to last, friendship is everything, and that love passes fast.
Overall, the song celebrates the artist's experiences in Chicago and pays tribute to the iconic blues scene that thrived there.
Line by Line Meaning
When the blues moved north, to Chicago they came
Chicago became home to blues music after it migrated northwards
And I caught some myself in this blind alley and rain
Neil Young had his own experiences of the city's blues music scene
Close to the L with it’s clattering train
Neil Young recalls the sound of the Chicago Loop elevated train while he was in the city
Near an old ornate theater where I soon will be playing
Neil Young has plans to perform at a theatre in Chicago
So I said hello for you, when I saw a stylish girl
Neil Young acknowledges his fans while in the city
Walking by on the sidewalk with her hair in a swirl
A woman with an interesting appearance caught Neil's attention
From the wind that was growing at the end of the day
The weather in Chicago is notable for its strong winds
And I wondered what would be coming my way
Neil Young is anticipating what his experiences in the city will hold
You know I been to Chicago, I was here once before
Neil Young has visited Chicago in the past
And the rain kept on pounding outside the stage door
Neil Young has memories of performing during a storm
I was singing and drinking with love in my heart
Neil Young has fond recollections of his experience while in Chicago
I was younger and stronger while life played it’s part
Neil Young was more robust in his youth
Let us not be strangers if we come to know
Neil Young advocates getting to know other people in the city
Things about each other that seem to come and go
Neil Young believes that many experiences in life are fleeting
‘Cause friendship is everything if love is to last
Neil Young values strong bonds and relationships in life
And I have my guard down and love passes fast
Neil Young recognizes that love can be short-lived
Say hello to Chicago
Neil Young encourages listeners to embrace the Windy City.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: NEIL YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind