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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Weight of the World
Neil Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On my back
I never trusted my friends or my girl
Can you imagine that
I used to shuffle my feet
When I walked I hung my head down low
Kept to myself all my private thoughts
But when I met you girl.
I dropped the weight of the world
Weight of the world
I dropped the weight of the world
Weight of the world.
I knew some people used to dance all night
But not me
I never knew if it was wrong or right
To be so free
I used to close my eyes
And try to hide from the light of love
Spent all my time with the darkness inside
But when I met you girl.
I dropped the weight of the world
Weight of the world
I dropped the weight of the world
Weight of the world.
I was alone for all of my life
I was alone for all of my life
I was alone for all of my life
I was alone for all of my life
Until you came my way
I dropped the weight of the world
Weight of the world
I dropped the weight of the world
Weight of the world.
In "Weight of the World," Neil Young describes the immense emotional burden he used to carry around. He confesses that he never trusted anyone, including his friends or his girlfriend, throughout his life. He walked with his head hung low, never engaging with anyone or sharing his thoughts, even though they were weighing him down. However, when he met the "you girl" he speaks of in the song, he realized that he could trust someone, and that it was possible not to have to live with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Parts of the song almost hint at depression, as he describes spending time with the darkness inside him, but through the power of love, he was able to drop that heavy load.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to carry the weight of the world
Neil felt the burden of the world's problems solely on himself
On my back
This weight caused him to bear down physically and emotionally
I never trusted my friends or my girl
Neil's mistrust in his relationships added to his heavy load
Can you imagine that
This is Neil questioning if others can relate to his struggle
I used to shuffle my feet
Neil's demeanor was downcast and defeated
When I walked I hung my head down low
He lacked confidence and self-worth
Kept to myself all my private thoughts
Neil was guarded in expressing his innermost feelings
But when I met you girl.
Neil is referencing meeting someone special who helped him change
I dropped the weight of the world
He was able to shed the heavy burden he had been carrying
Weight of the world
This phrase is repeated to emphasize the significance of the burden Neil carried
I knew some people used to dance all night
Neil observes that other people were enjoying life while he was struggling
But not me
Neil admits he was not able to experience the same joy as others
I never knew if it was wrong or right
Neil was uncertain about the choices he was making in life
To be so free
Neil feels envious of those who are able to live without a heavy load on their shoulders
I used to close my eyes
Neil avoided facing his problems head-on
And try to hide from the light of love
Neil was hesitant to embrace love or happiness in his life
Spent all my time with the darkness inside
Neil was consumed by negative feelings and emotions
I was alone for all of my life
Neil struggled with loneliness before finding someone special
Until you came my way
Neil is acknowledging the influence that this person had on his life
I dropped the weight of the world
Neil was finally able to relinquish the heavy burden he was carrying
Weight of the world
This phrase is repeated again as a reminder of the struggle Neil experienced
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: NEIL YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind