Barstool Blues
Neil Young & Crazy Horse Lyrics


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If I could hold on to just one thought
For long enough to know
Why my mind is moving so fast
And the conversation is slow.
Burn off all the fog
And let the sun through to the snow
Let me see your face again
Before I have to go.

I have seen you in the movies
And in those magazines at night
I saw you on the bar stool when
You held that glass so tight.
And I saw you in my nightmares
But I'll see you in my dreams
And I might live a thousand years
Before I know what that means.

Once there was a friend of mine
Who died a thousand deaths
His life was filled with parasites
And countless idle threats.
He trusted in a woman
And on her he made his bets




Once there was a friend of mine
Who died a thousand deaths.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Neil Young & Crazy Horse's song Barstool Blues are reflective of someone with a racing mind who struggles to find meaningful communication. The singer longs to hold onto a single thought for long enough to understand why their mind is moving so fast, while the conversation around them is slow. They are searching for clarity and a means of breaking through the mental fog that obscures their view of reality. The singer reaches out to someone they miss, asking to see their face one more time before they have to leave. This is likely a person who represents clarity or understanding to them, making their departure difficult.


The second verse describes a moment when the singer saw this person in a bar holding a glass tightly (likely a metaphor for their own desire for clarity). They also saw this person in movies and magazines, but only in their nightmares did they truly see them. The line "And I might live a thousand years before I know what that means" shows the singer's frustration with their mental state and desire for clear answers. The final verse tells a tale about a friend who trusted a woman and lost his life as a result. The friend's death was slow and painful, marked by countless "idle threats" from harmful people.


Line by Line Meaning

If I could hold on to just one thought
I wish I could focus on a single idea for long enough to understand why my mind is racing and the conversation around me is slow.


For long enough to know
If only my thoughts weren't so fleeting, I could actually gain some clarity.


Why my mind is moving so fast
I'm struggling to keep up with my own thoughts, my mind is racing with seemingly no reason or end in sight.


And the conversation is slow.
I'm getting frustrated that I'm not able to keep up with the conversation around me.


Burn off all the fog
I need a clear view of what's going on, without any ambiguity or confusion.


And let the sun through to the snow
I want to clear away the clouds of my mind and let the light shine on the cold, hard truth that I need to face.


Let me see your face again
I want to make sure that the people around me are genuine and trustworthy.


Before I have to go.
I don't want to waste any more time on relationships that aren't worth it, I don't know when I'll be leaving.


I have seen you in the movies
I recognize you from your fame and success.


And in those magazines at night
I've seen you in print, as an idealistic image that's been created for the public to consume.


I saw you on the bar stool when
I watched you, with a drink in hand, as you indulged yourself in the pleasures of the night life.


You held that glass so tight.
You were holding on to your drink so tightly, it seemed like you were letting it be your only comfort.


And I saw you in my nightmares
I've thought of you in my most restless nights where I was unable to let go of the worries of the day.


But I'll see you in my dreams
I'll still be thinking about you even when I'm unconscious, it's difficult to forget an image that's been so powerfully ingrained in my mind.


And I might live a thousand years
Despite how long I live, there probably won't be another person that will have the same kind of impact or importance as you.


Before I know what that means.
It's hard to say what it really means to have someone in my life that I can't forget or erase from my memory.


Once there was a friend of mine
There was a person I used to be close with and spend time with.


Who died a thousand deaths
He went through countless struggles and hardships that brought him close to losing everything multiple times.


His life was filled with parasites
There were people who leached off of him, living off his success and wealth without any real interest in him as a person.


And countless idle threats.
There were many people who made empty promises and big dreams that were never actually fulfilled.


He trusted in a woman
He put his faith in a woman who he thought would stay true to him.


And on her he made his bets
He poured his heart and soul into his love for her, hoping that she would reciprocate and stand by him through good and bad times.


Once there was a friend of mine
There was a person I used to be close with and spend time with, but it all fell apart in the end.


Who died a thousand deaths.
The numerous betrayals and letdowns he experienced felt like a thousand deaths, each one more painful than the last.




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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