Vampire Blues
Neil Young Lyrics

, but the singer in "Vampire Blues" is not feeling it. Instead, he paints a picture of himself as a vampire, sucking blood from the earth and selling it for profit. He also identifies himself as a black bat, still in search of his high octane to keep him going.

The song can be interpreted as a commentary on the environmental damage caused by the oil industry. The metaphor of a vampire sucking blood from the earth is a direct reference to the drilling for oil, which is essentially draining the earth of its natural resources. The greed-driven vampire also serves as a commentary on the corrupt practices of many oil companies.

The repeated refrain of "good times are comin'" adds an element of sarcasm to the song. Despite popular belief that the economy is improving and fortunes will be made, the singer sees the damage already done and fears for what's to come.

* Neil Young wrote the song during the early '70s energy crisis.
* The song was released on the album "On the Beach" in 1974.
* Many critics consider "Vampire Blues" to be one of Neil Young's most political songs.
* The lyrics have been compared to the work of literary giants T.S. Eliot and Allen Ginsberg.
* In a 2012 interview, Neil Young said the song was about "the corruption of government and the raping of our planet"
* The song was covered by Pearl Jam in 1995.
* The use of the word "vampire" in the context of the song predates the popularity of vampire movies and TV shows by several decades.
* The album "On the Beach" was originally released in a limited run and was not widely available until the 21st century.
* Many fans consider "Vampire Blues" to be one of the standout tracks on "On the Beach."
* The song has been used in TV shows such as "Californication" and "True Blood."

Chords:
The song is played in the key of E.
Verse
E
I'm a vampire babe,
E
suckin' blood from the earth
A
I'm a vampire baby,
E
sell you twenty barrels worth
(Repeat)

Chorus
A
Good times are coming, I hear it everywhere I go
E
Good times are coming, but they sure coming slow
A
Good times are coming, I hear it everywhere I go
E
Good times are coming, but they sure coming slow
(Repeat)

Verse 2
E
I'm a black bat babe,
E
banging on your window pane
A
I'm a black bat baby,
E
I need my high octane
(Repeat)

(Chorus) x2

Verse 3
E
I'm a vampire babe,
E
suckin' blood from the earth
A
I'm a vampire baby,
E
sell you twenty barrels worth
(Repeat)

(Chorus) x2