The Needle and the Damage Done
Neil Young & Crazy Horse Lyrics


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I caught you knockin' at my cellar door
I love you, baby, can I have some more?
Ooh, ooh, the damage done

I hit the city and I lost my band
I watched the needle take another man
Gone, gone, the damage done
I sing the song because I love the man
I know that some of you don't understand
Milk-blood to keep from running out

I've seen the needle and the damage done




A little part of it in everyone
But every junkie's like a settin' sun

Overall Meaning

In Neil Young's classic song "The Needle and the Damage Done," he reflects on the tragic consequences of drug use. The opening lines of the song, "I caught you knockin' at my cellar door, I love you, baby, can I have some more?" express the powerful hold that heroin can have on an individual. The song's title refers to the repetitive cycle of heroin use: the needle delivers the drug, but over time the drug takes a toll on the body and mind. Neil Young sings about how he hit the city and lost his band, due to drug use, and how he's seen the needle take another man. The lyrics express his heartbreak about the damage that drugs have caused, not just to himself but also to others.


In the second verse, Neil Young sings, "I sing the song because I love the man, I know that some of you don't understand, Milk-blood to keep from running out," referring to the use of drugs as a means of coping and escaping. This song is a warning to anyone who feels the lure of heroin, to all music lovers and to anyone who feels the lure of fame, that the cost of that lifestyle can be high. Young sings that he's seen the needle and the damage done and that every junkie is like a setting sun, implying that the lives of those who succumb to drugs will inevitably come to an end.


Overall, "The Needle and the Damage Done" is a poignant and powerful song that highlights the dangers of drug use. Neil Young sings with heartfelt emotion about the destruction that drugs wreak in the lives of musicians and people in general. The song serves as a warning to those who may be tempted by drugs and also as a tribute to those who have lost their lives to addiction.


Line by Line Meaning

I caught you knockin' at my cellar door
Someone tried to come into my private, personal space uninvited


I love you, baby, can I have some more?
Addressing heroin, a powerful addiction that numbs pain and provides a temporary sense of love and safety


Ooh, ooh, the damage done
Expressing regret and sadness for the harm caused by addiction


I hit the city and I lost my band
Going to the big city led to the end of the artist's musical career


I watched the needle take another man
Witnessing the destructive power of addiction, which ruins lives and takes them away


Gone, gone, the damage done
Repeating the sentiment expressed earlier about the damage caused by addiction


I sing the song because I love the man
The singer is expressing his love for the person he once was and is trying to help him return


I know that some of you don't understand
The artist acknowledges that not everyone will appreciate or comprehend his message


Milk-blood to keep from running out
Taking drugs to avoid the withdrawal symptoms that result from addiction


I've seen the needle and the damage done
The artist has experienced the harm caused by addiction firsthand


A little part of it in everyone
The destructive influence of addiction can be found in anyone, not just those who struggle with it firsthand


But every junkie's like a settin' sun
Comparing the trajectory of addiction and eventual decline to the inevitable setting of the sun every day




Lyrics ยฉ Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, Broken Fiddle Music
Written by: Neil Young

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@neilyoungchannel

Hi, this is Neil. Link to the NYA info-card for this song with press, documents, manuscripts, photos, videos. Look around NYA for fun and listening! ALL my music in high resolution at https://neilyoungarchives.com/info-card?track=t1993_0207_07

@user-hf9hf6hw8j

@Ronnie Sutton Ok boomer.

@lrosiererosiere3396

All of it ๐Ÿ’˜ Love it ๐Ÿ˜€

@jamesholland70

Thankyou Neil. โ™ก

@andrewp9290

Thanks Neil. True hero of song writing imo.. and youโ€™re music has helped in many occasions.

@andrewp9290

Ronnie Sutton Sounds like you want a cookie. Good for you.. youโ€™ll think about this later in life and be floored. Who cares whoโ€™s making money right now. For you to hate on anyone right now is far from necessary. Imagine you in his shoes... what does he have for income right now? What he is doing could be needed for him.

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@dannycrow1096

My Dad once sung some lyrics from this song to me when he found out i was on heroin at 17. Im 37 now and 17 months clean. My Dad died of cancer on Friday. Happy he got to see me conquer my addiction.

@yaja_nowakowski

Congratulations, Danny. No small feat that takes great courage and commitment. It's great your dad got to see this achievement. Wishing you all the very best. Stay committed and live long and well.

@dannycrow1096

@Yaja eN Thank you Yaja. Lovely comment. And the same to you. God bless.

@garydergut4741

I'm glad your clean and so sorry for your father.

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