After the Goldrush
Neil Young & Crazy Horse Lyrics


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Well, I dreamed I saw the knights in armor coming
Sayin' something about a queen
There were peasants singin' and drummers drumming
And the archer split the tree
There was a fanfare blowin' to the sun
That floated on the breeze
Look at mother nature on the run in the nineteen seventies
Look at mother nature on the run in the nineteen seventies

I was lyin' in a burned out basement
With a full moon in my eyes
I was hopin' for a replacement
When the sun burst through the skies
There was a band playin' in my head
And I felt like getting high
Thinkin' about what a friend had said,
I was hopin' it was a lie
Thinkin' about what a friend had said,
I was hopin' it was a lie

Well, I dreamed I saw the silver spaceships flying
In the yellow haze of the sun
There were children crying and colors flying
All around the chosen ones
All in a dream, all in a dream
The loading had begun
Flyin' mother nature's silver seed
To a new home in the sun




Flyin' mother nature's silver seed
To a new home in the sun

Overall Meaning

The first verse of "After the Goldrush" by Neil Young & Crazy Horse describes a dream the singer had where they see knights in armor who are heading toward a queen. As they approach, peasants were singing, and drumming while an archer split a tree. The sun is shining, and there was a fanfare blowing to the sun that float on the breeze. This depicts a medieval theme where the knights are serving their queen, and there is merriment among the people. However, in the last line, the singer observes that mother nature is on the run in the nineteen seventies. The singer is referring to the adverse effect humans have on nature. The writer is pointing out the environmental degradation that is ongoing due to humans' actions during the decade the song was written.


In the second verse, the singer is in a burned-out basement with a full moon in their eyes. They are hoping for a replacement, and when the sun burst through the skies, they imagine a band playing in their head, and they feel like getting high. The singer is clearly dealing with problems because they are looking for a replacement but do not find the solution they were hoping for. They are thinking about a friend's statement basing on probably seeking reassurance. The singer is hoping that their friend's words are not true. This verse seems to suggest a kind of escapism from a situation, probably seeking solace in drugs to help them deal with the situation.


Line by Line Meaning

Well, I dreamed I saw the knights in armor coming
The singer had a dream in which he saw knights in armor approaching him


Sayin' something about a queen
These knights were speaking about a queen or related to one


There were peasants singin' and drummers drumming
In addition to the knights, the singer also saw peasants singing and drumming


And the archer split the tree
An archer split a tree, possibly as a display of skill


There was a fanfare blowin' to the sun
A fanfare was being played, directed towards the sun


That floated on the breeze
The sound of the fanfare traveled on the breeze


Look at mother nature on the run in the nineteen seventies
The singer reflects on the state of the natural world during the 1970s, which he sees as endangered or under threat


I was lyin' in a burned out basement
The artist finds himself in a ruined basement


With a full moon in my eyes
He looks up at the full moon


I was hopin' for a replacement
He was hoping for something to substitute what was lost in the burned out basement


When the sun burst through the skies
The singer was surprised by the sudden appearance of the sun


There was a band playin' in my head
The artist hears music playing in his mind


And I felt like getting high
The music puts him in a heightened, possibly euphoric state


Thinkin' about what a friend had said,
The singer is considering some advice or comment from a friend


I was hopin' it was a lie
He hopes that the comment from his friend was untrue


Well, I dreamed I saw the silver spaceships flying
The artist has another dream, this time seeing silver spaceships in flight


In the yellow haze of the sun
The ships fly amidst a yellow haze, perhaps due to the position of the sun


There were children crying and colors flying
People, particularly children, were upset and colorful objects were seen


All around the chosen ones
The chosen ones are surrounded by this scene


All in a dream, all in a dream
The entire sequence is a dream


The loading had begun
A loading process had started in the dream sequence


Flyin' mother nature's silver seed
The spaceships are carrying something related to, or from, nature


To a new home in the sun
The ships are bound for a new place, possibly beyond Earth


Flyin' mother nature's silver seed
The ships continue to fly, with the same cargo or mission as before


To a new home in the sun
They are headed towards a new place, possibly one of warmth or light




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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Beth


on We Never Danced

i desperately want to know who painted aunt lisa's paintings in the movie

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