Fontainebleau
Neil Young & Stephen Stills Lyrics
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Who put all the tar on the morning sand?
Who took everything from where it once was
And put it where it last was seen?
Fontainebleau, they painted it green
Fontainebleau, for the well-to-do
At the Fontainebleau
There's a palace in the gravy
That's holding on and on and on
Even after all the blue-haired ladies
And the wheelchairs are gone
I guess the reason I'm so scared of it
Is I stayed there once and I almost fit
I left before I got out of it
People were drownin' in their own
Fontainebleau, was that me?
Fontainebleau, well, I guess I'll see
Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau, where the surfer works
Fontainebleau, 'til the break of day
Fontainebleau, 'cause it takes a shark
Fontainebleau, to catch a wave at the Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau
In "Fontainebleau," Neil Young and Stephen Stills question the superficiality of the American dream and how it manifests itself in the luxurious Fontainebleau hotel in Miami Beach, Florida. The song begins with the mysterious question, "Who put the palm over my blond?" implying a sense of loss or displacement. The next line, "Who put all the tar on the morning sand?" suggests a contrast between beauty and ugliness. The following lines, "Who took everything from where it once was and put it where it last was seen?" criticize society's tendency to take things for granted.
The song describes the Fontainebleau as an exclusive and privileged destination for the wealthy, portrayed as a palace in the gravy holding on for people who come to it long after the blue-haired ladies and the wheelchairs are gone. The singer admits to having stayed there once and feeling scared of it because they almost fit in but left before they got out of it. The final section shifts the perspective to the surfer who works until the break of day, catching waves with the help of sharks. Overall, the song reflects on the loss of identity and authenticity in a society that values material success and represents a reflection of the disillusionment and political turbulence of the late '60s.
Line by Line Meaning
Who put the palm over my blond?
Someone has obscured or hidden Neil Young's blond hair.
Who put all the tar on the morning sand?
The beach has been spoiled by a lot of tar on the morning sand.
Who took everything from where it once was
And put it where it last was seen?
Everything has been misplaced, taken and shifted.
Fontainebleau, they painted it green
Fontainebleau, for the well-to-do
At the Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau, a luxurious hotel, has been painted green and is meant for wealthy people.
There's a palace in the gravy
That's holding on and on and on
Even after all the blue-haired ladies
And the wheelchairs are gone
There is a luxurious hotel that still stands tall and survives despite being abandoned by its usual clientele.
I guess the reason I'm so scared of it
Is I stayed there once and I almost fit
I left before I got out of it
People were drownin' in their own
Neil Young is scared of Fontainebleau because he felt like he almost became a part of its opulent lifestyle and saw people self-destruct there.
Fontainebleau, was that me?
Fontainebleau, well, I guess I'll see
Fontainebleau
Neil Young questions his own association with the luxurious Fontainebleau hotel.
Fontainebleau, where the surfer works
Fontainebleau, 'til the break of day
Fontainebleau, 'cause it takes a shark
Fontainebleau, to catch a wave at the Fontainebleau
Surfers work at Fontainebleau until dawn because it requires skill and courage like a shark's to ride the waves.
Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau
Repetition of the name of the hotel, which symbolizes something beautiful, empty, and somewhat sinister that he finds himself drawn to.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Neil Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind