Come On Baby Let's Go Downtown
Neil Young & Crazy Horse (Live) Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let's go, let's go, let's go downtown
Come on, baby, let's go downtown
Let's go, let's go, let's go downtown
Walk on, talk on, baby tell no lies
Don't you be caught with a tear in your eye
When the moon begins to rise
Pretty bad when you're dealin' with the man
And the light shines in your eyes, yeah
Come on, baby, let's go downtown
Let's go, let's go, let's go downtown
Come on, baby, let's go downtown
Let's go, let's go, let's go downtown
Snake eyes, French fries and I got lots of gas
Full moon and a jumpin' tune, now you don't have to ask
Sure enough, they'll be sellin' stuff
When the moon begins to rise
Pretty bad when you're dealin' with the man
And the light shines in your eyes. yeah
Come on, baby, let's go downtown
Let's go, let's go, let's go downtown
Come on, baby, let's go downtown
Let's go, let's go, let's go downtown
Walk on, talk on, baby tell no lies
Don't you be caught with a tear in your eye
Sure enough, they'll be sellin' stuff
When the moon begins to rise
Pretty bad when you're dealin' with the man
And the light shines in your eyes, yeah
Pretty bad when you're dealin' with the man
And the light shines in your eyes, come on now
Pretty bad when you're dealin' with the man
And the light shines in your eyes, yeah
Pretty bad when you're dealin' with the man
And the light shines in your eyes, yeah
Neil Young's "Downtown" is a song about the hustle and bustle of the city and the experiences that can occur late at night. The repetitious chorus, "Let's go, let's go, let's go downtown," sets the tone for a restless and spontaneous evening. The song encourages the listener to join the singer on a trip to the city, where there’s going to be a lot going on. The opening lines provide a strong invitation to the listener to explore the night. The song is repetitive, creating a ‘singalong’ feel, making the listener want to come along with the singer for the journey.
In the lyrics, Young warns the listener to be on guard against those who might take advantage, telling them not to be caught with a tear in their eye or believing the half-truths that might be told in order to sell merchandise or gain a helping hand. It is also a song about freedom, rebellion and the danger that can come with living on the edge in the city. Neil Young presents the city as a place of excitement and danger, and whether one chooses to give in to vice or turn away is up to them while acknowledging the hard reality of simply trying to survive in the city.
Aside from the lyrics, the song is notable for its guitar work that sets the tone for the song's gritty, "down and dirty" vibe. It has been covered by artists such as Janis Joplin and Pearl Jam. "Downtown" is an anthem for a generation, with its contagious melody and reiterative chorus, making it the perfect jam to blast during a night out on the town.
Interesting facts about Downtown:
Line by Line Meaning
Come on, baby, let's go downtown
Neil Young invites his companion to follow him downtown.
Let's go, let's go, let's go downtown
He emphasizes the call to leave and venture into the city.
Walk on, talk on, baby tell no lies
Young advises his partner to stay true and not to deceive anyone while walking and talking with others.
Don't you be caught with a tear in your eye
He suggests that his partner should be strong and not show weakness or sadness in front of strangers.
Sure enough, they'll be sellin' stuff
Referring to street vendors selling their goods while the city comes alive.
When the moon begins to rise
The time of day when people start coming out to have fun, especially at night.
Pretty bad when you're dealin' with the man
Negotiating with authorities or those in power can be challenging or unfair.
And the light shines in your eyes, yeah
The brightness of the light makes it difficult to see or concentrate.
Snake eyes, French fries and I got lots of gas
These lines are likely just word-play to carry on the fun mood of the song.
Full moon and a jumpin' tune, now you don't have to ask
The atmosphere and good music in the air should speak for themselves.
Pretty bad when you're dealin' with the man
Similar to a previous line, but repeated for emphasis.
And the light shines in your eyes, yeah
Repeated line emphasizing the difficulty of dealing with those in power or authority.
Come on, baby, let's go downtown
Another call to go back downtown and enjoy the vibrant city atmosphere.
Walk on, talk on, baby tell no lies
Repeated line emphasizing staying true to oneself and not deceiving others.
Don't you be caught with a tear in your eye
Another reminder to stay strong and not show vulnerability or sadness.
Pretty bad when you're dealin' with the man
Repeated line emphasizing the challenge of dealing with authorities or those in power.
And the light shines in your eyes, yeah
Final line reiterating the difficulty of dealing with those in power or authority.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: DANNY WHITTEN, NEIL YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind