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/
Tell Me Why
Neil Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Out on the waves in the night
Still the searcher must ride the dark horse
Racing alone in his fright
Tell me why
Tell me why
Is it hard to make arrangements with yourself
Tell me lies later, come and see me
I'll be around for a while
I am lonely but you can free me
All in the way that you smile
Tell me why
Tell me why
Is it hard to make arrangements with yourself
When you're old enough to repay but young enough to sell?
Tell me why
Tell me why
Is it hard to make arrangements with yourself
When you're old enough to repay but young enough to sell?
In "Tell Me Why," Neil Young reflects on the complexity of the human condition, and how we often find ourselves battling inner demons and searching for answers to seemingly unanswerable questions. The metaphor of sailing through broken harbors and riding a dark horse in the midst of the night captures the feeling of being lost and alone in the world. However, Young also acknowledges that finding meaning and connection with others is possible through honesty and vulnerability.
One of the central themes of the song is the struggle to make sense of our emotions and life experiences as we transition from youth to adulthood. The lines "Is it hard to make arrangements with yourself / When you're old enough to repay but young enough to sell?" suggest that it's difficult to know who we are and what we want when we're caught between the desire for independence and the need for security.
The repetition of "Tell me why" throughout the song emphasizes the urgency and importance of finding answers and connections. When Young sings "Tell me lies later, come and see me," he's acknowledging that we often seek comfort in falsehoods, but he's also implying that genuine human connection is possible if we're willing to be truthful with ourselves and each other.
Overall, "Tell Me Why" is a powerful meditation on the human condition and the search for meaning and connection in the midst of life's challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Sailing hardships through broken harbors
Traveling difficulties despite unfavorable circumstances
Out on the waves in the night
Navigating through challenges in uncertain times
Still the searcher must ride the dark horse
The explorer must continue on the difficult path
Racing alone in his fright
Struggling through fear and uncertainty alone
Tell me why
The singer seeks answers to life's mysteries
Is it hard to make arrangements with yourself
Finding it difficult to make plans and decisions for oneself
When you're old enough to repay but young enough to sell?
When you have the resources to pay your debts, but still have the temptation to make quick sales for profit
Tell me lies later, come and see me
The singer requests temporary relief from painful truths
I'll be around for a while
The singer is open to company and companionship
I am lonely but you can free me
The singer is seeking comfort and support from someone else
All in the way that you smile
The singer is comforted by the positive energy of those around them
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Neil Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marty Heller
great recording...Massey Hall must be a great place to see a show...
Vanderfleet Martin
Yes I’ve seen many shows there. For Toronto it didn’t get better
antoine rocher
Thank you a lot ocelot529 for putting this live on the internet, to me it's one of the best thing Neil Young has done. greetings from France.
degas5000
such an impressive live performer
Tom Taylor
To the 10 people who pushed thumbs down here, did you ever find your soul?
The Real Coach Ryan
Three of them have since
Brendan Lake
I’m convinced it’s just YouTube robots. No human being with a soul could dislike this song
Mostafa FA
Love you Neil Young..no one wrote poet like this..real talented Artist..
Mostafa FA
@toast feratu Ohh you are right,but Dylan lyrics is kind of complicated ,not easy as what Young..no doubt Dylan the Nobel prize owner is the best kind .
toast feratu
umm bob dylan???