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)
Old Man
Neil Young & Crazy Horse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a lot like you were
Old man, look at my life
I'm a lot like you were
Old man, look at my life
Twenty-four and there's so much more
Live alone in a paradise
Love lost, such a cost
Give me things that don't get lost
Like a coin that won't get tossed
Rolling home to you
Old man, take a look at my life. I'm a lot like you
I need someone to love me the whole day through
Ah, one look in my eyes and you can tell that's true
Lullabies, look in your eyes
Run around the same old town
Doesn't mean that much to me
To mean that much to you
I've been first and last
Look at how the time goes past
But I'm all alone at last
Rolling home to you
Old man, take a look at my life. I'm a lot like you
I need someone to love me the whole day through
Ah, one look in my eyes and you can tell that's true
Old man, look at my life
I'm a lot like you were
Old man look at my life
I'm a lot like you were
The lyrics of Neil Young and Crazy Horse's song Old Man are written from the perspective of a young man who is looking at his own life and reflecting on the similarities between his life and that of an older man he is addressing as "old man". The song follows a narrative that addresses the youthful desire for independence, love and the need for the older generation's guidance and wisdom. The song is contemplative, yet melancholic and the refrain "old man, look at my life, I'm a lot like you were" highlights the cyclical nature of life and the similarities between different generations.
The line "Live alone in a paradise that makes me think of two" suggests a bittersweetness for the singer's surroundings as he acknowledges that while he is living in a beautiful place, he is not able to share it with anyone special. Similarly, the line "Love lost, such a cost" acknowledges the cost of a failed relationship and the singer's desire for emotional security. The lines, "Give me things that don't get lost, like a coin that won't get tossed, rolling home to you" suggest a longing for stability and an acknowledgment of the importance of the durability of relationships.
The song's message is one of introspection and reflection on the nature of life and relationships. It reminds us of the importance of relationships and the cyclical nature of life. Through this song, Young captures the sense of melancholy that often accompanies self-reflection while acknowledging the wisdom that comes with age.
Line by Line Meaning
Old man, look at my life
The singer is calling upon an elder man to take a look at his life
I'm a lot like you were
The singer is suggesting that he can relate to the old man
Twenty-four and there's so much more
Despite being young, the singer feels like he has a lot of experience and life ahead of him
Live alone in a paradise
The artist is living in a beautiful place, but without companionship
That makes me think of two
The artist longs for a partner to share his paradise with
Love lost, such a cost
The singer is reflecting on a past relationship that ended in heartache
Give me things that don't get lost
The singer is seeking stability and permanence in his life
Like a coin that won't get tossed
The artist wants something that won't be subject to the whims of fate
Rolling home to you
The artist is returning to someone he cares about
I need someone to love me the whole day through
The artist is expressing his need for unconditional love and support
Ah, one look in my eyes and you can tell that's true
The singer believes that his feelings are evident just by looking at him
Lullabies, look in your eyes
The artist is reminded of comforting childhood songs when he looks in the eyes of a loved one
Run around the same old town
The singer finds the routine of his hometown unfulfilling
Doesn't mean that much to me
The singer is looking for something more meaningful than the small town life
To mean that much to you
The singer is acknowledging that his loved one may feel differently about their hometown
I've been first and last
The artist has experienced both success and failure
Look at how the time goes past
The artist reflects on how quickly time seems to pass
But I'm all alone at last
The singer is alone despite his experiences and accomplishments
Rolling home to you
The singer is seeking comfort and companionship from someone he cares about
I'm a lot like you were
The artist continues to compare himself to the old man, suggesting that they have shared experiences
Contributed by Nathan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@trustinjesuschrist6933
YeahNo101 ? hey i wanted to share with you what Jesus Christ said, He said in matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” wow! and Jesus Christ loves YOU so much, i’m going to bring up these 3 scriptures
john 3:16-21:
“for God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”
romans 5:6-8:
“you see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
and romans 10:9-13:
“if you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
so God wants to redeem and restore you! He wants to give you true love and joy and peace not only on earth but in His eternal kingdom! but our sins have separated us from God, and the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is in those scriptures, His grace! so if you would turn away from your sins to follow God and put your faith and trust in Him and what He did for you He would gift you His grace which is eternal life in His kingdom where there will be no more death, or sorrow, or crying. there will be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. because He loves and cares for you so much! but if we deny and reject Him, He is just and holy and righteous and will have to deny and reject us of His kingdom. and there will be weeping and gnashing and fire when we’re separated from God, because in God is everything good but without Him is the opposite. there is also a channel here on youtube i appeal to you to watch it’s called “Christ forgiveness ministries” hear what they have to say! God bless you my friend accept Jesus Christ and He will give you true life here and in heaven and give it to you abundantly you His grace. amen 🙌
@jeffpierce9296
The sound is incredible. Neil doesn't even need a backup band. Hands down, this is the best version of this song.
@tarachanntellehill1009
100. ❤
@jefferybragg3148
this is 1971, his best.
@jford9603
I saw this as a young man on BBC television early 1970s... I'm now an old man ...watching on a mobile phone
Funny old world
@ericj810
J Ford Strange isnt it. I to am getting old. How things have changed. Time goes fast.
@gustavobarragan2443
@@ericj810 thing change we don't and never will we are good
@jford9603
@CazMatazz get stuffed
@rustypatterson1339
And surrounded by Islamists
@Kurnelius1252
Thank you for sharing sir.
@clarkjohnston8052
for one person on stage playing just a acoustic guitar, this song sounds amazing... probably One of the best sounding one-man with a acoustic guitar performances I've ever heard👏