[unknown]
Neil Young & Allen Toussaint Lyrics
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Never saw a woman look finer
I used to order just to watch her float across the floor
She grew up in a small town
Never put her roots down
Daddy always kept movin', so she did too
Somewhere on a desert highway
Her long blonde hair flyin' in the wind
She's been runnin' half her life
The chrome and steel she rides
Collidin' with the very air she breathes
The air she breathes
You know it ain't easy
You got to hold on
She was an unknown legend in her time
Now she's dressin' two kids
Lookin' for a magic kiss
She gets the far-away look in her eyes
Somewhere on a desert highway
She rides a Harley-Davidson
Her long blonde hair flyin' in the wind
She's been runnin' half her life
The chrome and steel she rides
Collidin' with the very air she breathes
The air she breathes
Somewhere on a desert highway
She rides a Harley-Davidson
Her long blonde hair flyin' in the wind
She's been runnin' half her life
The chrome and steel she rides
Collidin' with the very air she breathes
The air she breathes
The song "Unknown Legend" by Neil Young is a poignant reflection on the life of a woman who has gone through a lot of hardships in her life. The narrative begins with a description of a woman who used to work in a diner, catching the attention of the singer. The singer describes her beauty and grace as she went about her work. The story then delves deeper into her past, revealing that she had grown up in a small town, but her father had kept moving around. This lifestyle had made her restless too, and she had never been able to settle down.
The song then goes on to describe her present life. She is now riding a Harley-Davidson on a desert highway, her long blonde hair flying in the wind. The lyrics suggest that she has been running away from something for most of her life, and the motorcycle is her way of escape. However, she is not completely immune to the passing of time. She now has two kids and is longing for a sense of magic in her life.
The song ends with the repetition of the refrain, "Somewhere on a desert highway, she rides a Harley-Davidson." It is almost as if the song is saying that this woman is always on the move, always trying to escape something, always looking for something more. The song, therefore, presents a poignant and powerful message about the fleeting nature of our lives and the search for meaning and purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
She used to work in a diner
She had a job at a diner once.
Never saw a woman look finer
In his opinion, he'd never seen a woman look better than her.
I used to order just to watch her float across the floor
He went to that diner just to watch her move gracefully.
She grew up in a small town
Her hometown was tiny.
Never put her roots down
She never felt attached to that small town.
Daddy always kept movin', so she did too
Her father had a habit of moving around a lot and she picked up that habit too.
Somewhere on a desert highway
At an unknown location on an empty road
She rides a Harley-Davidson
She travels on a powerful motorcycle brand named Harley-Davidson.
Her long blonde hair flyin' in the wind
Her hair flows freely in the wind.
She's been runnin' half her life
For about half of her life, she has been traveling and running away from something or someone.
The chrome and steel she rides
The motorcycle is made of shiny metal.
Collidin' with the very air she breathes
Moving forward at high speeds feels like crashing into the air she breathes.
The air she breathes
The element that keeps her alive, which she feels like she's fighting against on the road.
You know it ain't easy
The situation she's in is not easy.
You got to hold on
She needs to remain steadfast to overcome the challenges she faces in her life.
She was an unknown legend in her time
At the time, she was an exceptional and remarkable person, but her achievements didn't achieve prominence within society.
Now she's dressin' two kids
She has a responsibility to raise two children.
Lookin' for a magic kiss
Like most people, she is searching for love, affection and something unique.
She gets the far-away look in her eyes
Sometimes, she looks distant and lost in thought, wondering how her life could have been different.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Neil Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind