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)
ys that used to be
Neil Young & Crazy Horse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ideas that once seem so right, now have gotten hard to say
I wish that I could talk to you and you could talk to me
'Cause there very few of us left my friend
From the days that used to be
Seem like such a simple thing to follow one's own dream
But possessions and concession are not often what they seem
But we never had to make those deals
In the days that used to be
Talk to me, my long lost friend, tell me how you are
Are you happy with your circumstance, are you driving a new car
Does it get you where you want to go, with a seven year warranty
Or just another hundred thousand miles away
From the days that used to be
The lyrics of Neil Young's song Days That Used To Be encapsulate the nostalgia and longing for a bygone era, filled with simpler times, ideals, and dreams. The singer muses on how certain ideas that once seemed so right may now be difficult to express. The desire to reconnect with old friends and reminisce about the past is palpable throughout the song. The lyrics imply that there are fewer and fewer people left who share the singer's memories and values from the days gone by.
The second stanza seems to suggest that the ideals and dreams of our youth are often compromised as we grow older and take on responsibilities. Possessions and concessions, disguised as security, can become heavy burdens that drag us down. However, the singer points out that "we never had to make those deals in the days that used to be." This line is a nod to the simplicity of life in the past, where people perhaps were not as materially wealthy but had less to worry about.
The final stanza is a direct plea to the singer's long lost friend. Through a series of questions, the singer tries to gauge his friend's happiness with their current circumstances. The mention of a seven-year warranty and a hundred thousand miles away reinforces the idea that the modern world is heavily influenced by materialism, and the values of the past are becoming more and more difficult to hold onto.
Overall, Neil Young's lyrics convey a sense of loss and yearning, balanced with an unshakeable belief in the virtues of a simpler life, free from the trappings of the modern world.
Line by Line Meaning
People say don't rock the boat, let things go their own way
People advise you to not interfere and let things happen naturally.
Ideas that once seem so right, now have gotten hard to say
The ideas which were once seen as correct are now difficult to express.
I wish that I could talk to you and you could talk to me
The singer desires to communicate with a former friend.
'Cause there very few of us left my friend
There are only a few individuals left who remember and understand the past.
From the days that used to be
Referring to a previous period in time.
Seem like such a simple thing to follow one's own dream
Pursuing one's own aspirations appears to be an easy task.
But possessions and concession are not often what they seem
Material items and compromises are not always genuine or beneficial.
They drag you down and load you down in disguise of security
They prevent you from progressing and deceive you into thinking they provide safety.
But we never had to make those deals
During a previous era, deals like that were unnecessary.
In the days that used to be
Referring to a previous period in time.
Talk to me, my long lost friend, tell me how you are
The singer wants to know how their former friend is doing.
Are you happy with your circumstance, are you driving a new car
The artist queries if the person is content with their situation and possessions.
Does it get you where you want to go, with a seven year warranty
Do the things you possess assist you in reaching your goals and are they reliable?
Or just another hundred thousand miles away
Or are you still far away from achieving your objectives?
From the days that used to be
Referring to a previous period in time.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Wilson Young 403
People say don't rock the boat,
let things go their own way
Ideas that once seem so right,
now have gotten hard to say
I wish I could talk to you,
you could talk to me
'Cause there's very few of us left
my friend
From the days that used to be.
Seem like such a simple thing
to follow one's own dream
But possessions and concession
are not often what they seem
They drag you down
and load you down
in disguise of security.
But we never had
to make those deals
In the days that used to be.
Talk to me, my long lost friend,
tell me how you are
Are you happy with
your circumstance,
are you driving a new car
Does it get you where you wanna go,
with a seven year warranty
Or just another
hundred thousand miles away
From days that used to be.
Nelg Stuart
Neil Young, if David Crosby dies, will you be sorry you didn't forgive him?
If he dies, it will be too late, and he is soon 80 years old. You and Nash
and Stills don't have much time. This is none of my business, but seeing
as how I'm a 64 year old life long fan of C.S.N.Y, maybe I have somewhat
to say. Consider the pure words of the purest man who ever lived:
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin
against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy
times seven. ~ Jesus Christ (Matthew 18: 21, 22)
LeftHandBlack
There are no skips on this album.. every song is flawless.
DX A
y aca esta amigos mios. el padre del grunge. el padre de la tristesa y la locura hecha cancion. Eterno, gracias por influir tantas generaciones, aunque muchas nunca lo sabrán.
john seabrook
I wish I had written this...the lyrical simplicity of it is simply breathtaking. When he`s on form nobody does it better than Neil Young. "or just another hundred thousand miles away from the days that used to be"....that`s a metaphor for life - right there....brilliant.
Nelson Fragoso
Mais um clássico de Neil Young......
Gary Unold
Neil the all time best love his music.crazy horse no one sounds like them
Izzet Mustafa
totally agree with you my friend 👍 Neil and the horse excellent
Balaji V
Now I'm 24 and this song seems awesome to me.😍😍😍🥰💫💜🤗
Donna Reidt
Hi Neil Young
I think this song continues to be at the top of my favorites. I like it all I find that right at the beginning you say “I wish you could talk to me I could talk to you” it’s not like it used to be I’ve thought that so much in my life because I held my spirit close inside and didn’t share it with so many people , it could be turned so quickly against you . I never planned or thought that I’d be sending my writings or thoughts to you Didn’t think I’d be so not any fear in posting them to you and even if others saw them which was why I didn’t want to post much of anything. Now if I don’t do it when I know to as a result of your words that triggers a story I’ve had silent in me it’s like something pushes in my back to let go and write. Like your T-Bone song I loved that it made me feel such joy. I smiled thru the whole song. I don’t think I’m really a fan I know I love your music and your light that you express with words wisdom by that way “Things aren’t like they used to be” I never get why aren’t they? Take Care and
Many Blessings Donna ❣️
Johnny BushHogg
Open up your heart and share it with the ones you love. Who cares what anyone else thinks. Peace aand love to you...
Arcane
Heard this one live once in Lokeren, Belgium, and was blown away