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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This Town
Neil Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm asleep when I' walkin' around
This town
This town
Some people think that it's not OK
To sleep around and kiss the hours away
This town
Neil Young's song 'This Town' from his 1990 album 'Ragged Glory' is a simple take on life from the perspective of someone who has grown jaded and bored with their surroundings. At the beginning of the song, the singer notes that he is never truly at rest even when he's lying down, but finds it easier to drift off when he's walking around the town. The town seems to represent a prison of sorts, where the singer can't escape his own thoughts or find anything worth staying awake for. The upbeat, driving rhythm of the music underscores the sense of frustration the singer feels, as if life is passing him by.
The song's chorus suggests that there are those in the town who look down on those who indulge in sleep or leisure activities. The phrase "sleep around" has sexual connotations, implying that some people in the town are promiscuous and not living up to the town's conservative values. However, the singer sees nothing wrong with sleeping the hours away or taking the time to enjoy life. He celebrates the freedom to do as he pleases, even if it means breaking with the norm.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm not asleep when I'm lyin' down
Even though I am calm and still when I lay down, I am still fully conscious of the situation around me.
I'm asleep when I' walkin' around
While moving around in this town, my brain is not fully alert and is in a subconscious state.
This town
The particular town being referred to in this song and the events that occur there.
Some people think that it's not OK
There exists a certain section of people who don't approve of the idea of indulging in random sexual encounters.
To sleep around and kiss the hours away
Some folks may consider it morally wrong to engage in sexual activities and waste time doing so endlessly.
This town
The place where such disapproved behaviors happen.
It's OK
Despite societal norms and standards, it is sometimes deemed acceptable to engage in such behavior in this particular town.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Scott Brown, Ricky Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind