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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When Worlds Collide
Neil Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gonna meet a lot of people along the way
From far and Wide
Floating along on the Rio Grande
Coca Cola in my hand
In the promise Land
Living my days in the old jail cell
Somehow life just goes to hell
Love is love
Hate is hate
Now is now
And late it late
Truth is fiction
Truth is lies
Strange things happen
When worlds collide
Strange things happen
When worlds collide
Cruising down Route 66
Where the guys and gals
Used to get their kicks
In the old days
Running low on the people's fuel
Riding in something that's really cool
On the proud highway
Living my days in an old jail cell
Somehow things just go to hell
When worlds collide
Black is black
White is white
Wrong is wrong
And wrong is right
Truth is fiction
Truth is lies
Strange things happen
When worlds collide
Strange things happen
When worlds collide
Love is Love
Hate is hate
Truth is fiction
And late is late
Truth is fiction
Truth is lies
Strange things happen
When worlds collide
Strange things happen
When worlds collide
Strange things happen
Strange things happen
Strange things happen
Neil Young's When Worlds Collide is a powerful song that speaks about the confusion and chaos that arises when different worlds and perspectives come together. The opening lines speak of a journey across the USA where the singer meets a lot of people from different walks of lives. The imagery of the Rio Grande and Coca-Cola in hand speaks of a carefree life, but things quickly turn bleak as the singer ends up in an old jail cell. The song speaks of how life falls apart with one bad hand, and things go to hell when different worlds collide.
The second verse speaks of cruising down Route 66, where people used to get their kicks. The singer seems to be riding on something cool, but once again, the bleakness returns with the realization that they are running low on people's fuel. The repetition of the phrase "Living my days in an old jail cell, Somehow things just go to hell when worlds collide" in both verses emphasizes the feeling of despair and hopelessness that arises when the different worlds come together.
The chorus of the song highlights the stark differences that exist in the world. Love is love, hate is hate, and wrong is wrong. However, in the current world, truth is fiction and lies are truth. The final lines speak of the strange things happening when worlds collide, emphasizing the chaos and confusion that rise when different perspectives confront each other.
Line by Line Meaning
Taking a trip across the USA
Embarking on a journey throughout the United States
Gonna meet a lot of people along the way
Expecting to meet many individuals throughout the journey
From far and Wide
Meeting people from various distances and locations
Floating along on the Rio Grande
Traveling along the Rio Grande river
Coca Cola in my hand
Holding a drink of Coca Cola
In the promise Land
In the hopeful land of opportunity
Living my days in the old jail cell
Having to stay in an old jail cell and pass time
Somehow life just goes to hell
Life is worsening
With one bad hand
Faced with a disadvantage or setback
Love is love
The concept of love is universal
Hate is hate
The concept of hate is destructive
Now is now
Present moments cannot be changed or altered
And late is late
Missed opportunities cannot be retrieved
Truth is fiction
The ideas of truth can be easily deceived or manipulated
Truth is lies
The definition of facts can be obscured
Strange things happen
Unexpected events occur
When worlds collide
When different cultures, values, or backgrounds come into contact
Strange things happen
Unexpected events occur
When worlds collide
When different cultures, values, or backgrounds come into contact
Cruising down Route 66
Driving down Route 66
Where the guys and gals
Where men and women
Used to get their kicks
Previously found entertainment or enjoyment
In the old days
In the past, specifically referring to the 50s and 60s era of American culture
Running low on the people's fuel
Tired or lacking energy from dealing with society
Riding in something that's really cool
Driving or traveling in something fashionable, trendy, or impressive
On the proud highway
On a significant or history-filled road
Black is black
Black is a color that is inherently black, there is no ambiguity or uncertainty
White is white
White is a color that is inherently white, there is no ambiguity or uncertainty
Wrong is wrong
Actions that are considered wrong are not considered acceptable based on social values
And wrong is right
In an inverted world, actions that are considered wrong are considered acceptable based on distorted social values
Strange things happen
Unexpected events occur
When worlds collide
When different cultures, values, or backgrounds come into contact
Strange things happen
Unexpected events occur
When worlds collide
When different cultures, values, or backgrounds come into contact
Love is love
The concept of love is universal
Hate is hate
The concept of hate is destructive
Truth is fiction
The ideas of truth can be easily deceived or manipulated
And late is late
Missed opportunities cannot be retrieved
Truth is fiction
The ideas of truth can be easily deceived or manipulated
Truth is lies
The definition of facts can be obscured
Strange things happen
Unexpected events occur
When worlds collide
When different cultures, values, or backgrounds come into contact
Strange things happen
Unexpected events occur
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NEIL YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind