The Loner
Neil Young & Crazy Horse Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

He's a perfect stranger
Like a cross of himself and a fox
He's a feeling arranger
And a changer of the ways he talks
He's the unforeseen danger
The keeper of the key to the locks
Know when you see him
Nothing can free him
Step aside, open wide
It's the loner

If you see him in the subway
He'll be down at the end of the car
Watching you move
Until he knows, he knows who you are
When you get off at your station alone
He'll know that you are
Know when you see him
Nothing can free him
Step aside, open wide
It's the loner

There was a woman he knew
About a year or so ago
She had something that he needed
And he pleaded with her not to go
On the day that she left
He died, but it did not show
Know when you see him
Nothing can free him




Step aside, open wide
It's the loner

Overall Meaning

Neil Young's 'The Loner' is a mesmerizing and enigmatic song that tells the story of a man who lives a solitary life on the outskirts of society. The lyrics are poetic and mysterious, giving the listener little insight into the main subject's background or motivations. The verses are full of striking imagery, with the titular 'loner' compared to both a cross of himself and a fox and an 'unforeseen danger.'


The chorus of the song repeats the phrase 'know when you see him, nothing can free him, step aside, open wide, it's the loner.' This creates a sense of foreboding, as if the subject is a force of nature that can't be escaped or reckoned with. The third verse introduces a woman from the loner's past, who had 'something that he needed' and ultimately left him. The song suggests that this event had a significant impact on the loner, causing him to 'die' inwardly while still appearing alive outwardly.


Overall, 'The Loner' is a haunting song that captures the essence of loneliness and isolation. It's unclear whether the loner chooses this life or if it's forced on him by circumstance, but the lyrics suggest that he's both feared and pitied by those who encounter him.


Line by Line Meaning

He's a perfect stranger
He's like no one you've ever met before


Like a cross of himself and a fox
He's got traits of both himself and a fox, sly and cunning


He's a feeling arranger
He's skilled at manipulating emotions


And a changer of the ways he talks
He can change his communication style to fit the situation


He's the unforeseen danger
He's a risky and unpredictable presence


The keeper of the key to the locks
He knows how to get into places others can't


Know when you see him
Be wary of him when he comes into view


Nothing can free him
He's trapped by his own personality traits


Step aside, open wide
Get out of his way and let him pass


It's the loner
This describes the person everyone is talking about


If you see him in the subway
He could be anywhere, even in a crowded place


He'll be down at the end of the car
He'll be watching from a secluded spot


Watching you move
He's analyzing your behavior


Until he knows, he knows who you are
He's trying to learn all about you


When you get off at your station alone
He's interested in knowing where you're going and if you're by yourself


He'll know that you are
He'll figure out your situation


There was a woman he knew
He had a connection with someone in the past


About a year or so ago
It was recent enough for him to remember


She had something that he needed
He was dependent on her


And he pleaded with her not to go
He didn't want to lose her


On the day that she left
The day she went away


He died, but it did not show
He was heartbroken, but it didn't show on the surface




Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Neil Young

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

Beth


on We Never Danced

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

More Versions