Crazy Horse is best known for its long association with Young, despite having released five albums of its own over a 19-year span. It has been co-credited with Young as Neil Young and Crazy Horse on 15 albums, "Americana" and "Psychedelic Pill" from 2012 being the latest.
The band recorded a concept album entitled "Greendale" (2003) that told the story using metaphors of murder and crime to represent the destruction of a small town community. The final song "Be The Rain" is one of Neil's classic epics, pleading for the world to be like the rain -- recycle and conserve to save our planet.
Discography: the studio albums "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" (1969), "Zuma" (1975), "Rust Never Sleeps" (1979), "Re-ac-tor" (1981), "Life" (1987), "Ragged Glory" (1990), "Sleeps With Angels" (1994), "Broken Arrow" (1996), Greendale (2003), "Americana" (2012), Psychedelic Pill (2012) and live albums "Live Rust" (1979), "Weld" (1991), "Year of the Horse" (1997), "Live at the Fillmore East" (2006)
Mr. Soul
Neil Young & Crazy Horse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For the thought that I caught that my head is the event of the season
Why in crowds just a trace of my face could seem so pleasin'
I'll cop out to the change, but a stranger is putting the tease on.
I was down on a frown when the messenger brought me a letter
I was raised by the praise of a fan who said I upset her
Any girl in the world could have easily known me better
In a while will the smile on my face turn to plaster?
Stick around while the clown who is sick does the trick of disaster
For the race of my head and my face is moving much faster
Is it strange I should change? I don't know, why don't you ask her?
In "Mr. Soul," Neil Young is speaking directly to himself, addressing his public persona and his place in society as a rock star. In the first verse, he drops by to pick up a reason for the thoughts in his head that have made him the event of the season. He asks why, even though he may just be a trace in a crowd, his face is still so pleasing to so many people. He admits that he'll cop out to the change that fame brings, but that it's still a stranger putting the tease on.
The second verse brings in a messenger who delivered a letter from a fan who praised him but also said that he was strange. In this particular case, Neil chooses not to change, but he's asking himself if he should, given the strange and isolating circumstances he finds himself in. The final verse brings everything together as Neil wonders if his smile will turn to plaster and if he's just a clown doing tricks for his audience's amusement. He ponders if it's strange that he should change and turns the question over to the girl who knew him better than anyone else.
Overall, "Mr. Soul" speaks to the complicated nature of fame and the pressure it puts on those who achieve it. Even though Neil is addressing himself and his own feelings, the song speaks to anyone who has ever felt like their public persona was at odds with who they really are.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, hello Mr. Soul, I dropped by to pick up a reason
I am talking to my own soul and seeking a reason for my thoughts
For the thought that I caught that my head is the event of the season
I am experiencing significant thoughts that are pertinent to the current times
Why in crowds just a trace of my face could seem so pleasin'
I am perplexed as to why even a small glimpse of my face is pleasing to people
I'll cop out to the change, but a stranger is putting the tease on
I will admit to changing, but this stranger is mocking me in the process
I was down on a frown when the messenger brought me a letter
I was in a bad mood when a messenger delivered a letter to me
I was raised by the praise of a fan who said I upset her
I was previously praised by a fan who later revealed I had upset her
Any girl in the world could have easily known me better
Any girl in the world could have easily gotten to know me better
She said, You're strange, but don't change, and I let her
She called me strange but advised me not to change, and I took her advice
In a while will the smile on my face turn to plaster?
Will my happy demeanor turn fake after a while?
Stick around while the clown who is sick does the trick of disaster
Stay here and watch the foolish person who is unwell do something disastrous
For the race of my head and my face is moving much faster
My thoughts and my facial expressions are speeding up
Is it strange I should change? I don't know, why don't you ask her?
Is it odd that I am changing? Ask the person who advised me not to change.
Lyrics © O/B/O 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