In 1983 Young wanted to release an album called Old Ways with Geffen Records. They refused to release it, telling Young it was "too country". He had also recorded some rockabilly songs, which Geffen did like, so they asked him to explore that genre a bit more. Hence the album Everybody's Rockin' by Neil Young & The Shocking Pinks.
The International Harvesters are basically The Shocking Pinks, but with the addition of Rufus Thibodeaux and a few other country-style artists. The International Harvesters tour was actually more succesful than Young had maybe hoped for, but it didn't stop Geffen Records from suing Young for making "uncommercial and uncharacteristic albums".
In 1985 he released a reworked version of Old Ways with the International Harvesters. The album again leaned a lot towards country and even though it wasn't a bad album, it did manage to alienate Young from his audience even further at the time.
The (original) International Harvesters consisted of Neil Young (piano, guitar, harmonica, banjo, mandolin), Anthony Crawford (guitars, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, vocals), Spooner Oldham (piano, organ), Ben Keith (pedal steel), Karl 'Junkyard' Himmel (drums), Tim Drummond (bass) and Rufus Thibodeaux (fiddle).
Nothing Is Perfect
Neil Young & The International Harvesters Lyrics
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Lots of love in the house
The children all do what they're able to do
We got so much to be happy about.
I got a woman standing beside me
She really knows how to stand by her man
She's strong and she's soft and she's honest to me
But nothing is perfect in god's perfect plan
Look in the shadows to see
He only gave us the good things so we'd understand
What life without them would be.
And there's plenty of wheat on the prairies
Lots of coal in the mines
We got soldiers so strong they can bury their dead
And still not go back shooting blind.
There's women and men on the workforce
Doing forty hours plus overtime
So the hostages held at the airport
Can come home to something worthwhile.
But nothing is perfect in god's perfect plan
Look in the shadows to see
He only gave us the good things so we'd understand
What life without them would be.
Nothing is perfect in god's perfect plan
Look in the shadows to see
He only gave us the good things so we'd understand
What life without them would be.
And there's plenty of food on our table
Lots of love in the house
The children all do what they're able to do
We got so much to be happy about.
I got a woman standing beside me
She really knows how to stand by her man
She's strong and she's soft and she's honest to me
It really helps me to be a good man.
Well nothing is perfect in god's perfect plan
He only gave us the good things so we'd understand.
No, nothing is perfect in god's perfect plan.
The lyrics to Neil Young & The International Harvesters' song Nothing Is Perfect explore the idea that while there are many positive aspects of life to be grateful for, nothing is ever truly perfect. The opening verse highlights the abundance of food and love in the singer's life, as well as the contributions of their children. The following verse focuses on the singer's partner, praising their qualities of strength, softness, and honesty.
Despite all of these positives, the chorus reminds us that God's plan is not flawless, and we should look to the shadows to understand this. The lyrics suggest that perhaps God gave us good things so that we would appreciate them more when they are taken away. The song also touches on themes of hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance in the face of difficult situations, such as soldiers burying their dead and workers putting in overtime.
Line by Line Meaning
There's plenty of food on the table
We have enough food to eat and sustain ourselves.
Lots of love in the house
There's a lot of love and affection in the family.
The children all do what they're able to do
The children are doing their best and contributing to the household.
We got so much to be happy about.
We have many reasons to feel joyful and grateful.
I got a woman standing beside me
There's a supportive partner in my life.
She really knows how to stand by her man
She's loyal and supportive.
She's strong and she's soft and she's honest to me
She possesses a balance of qualities like strength, tenderness, and honesty.
She really helps me to be a good man.
She's a positive influence in my life that helps me become a better version of myself.
But nothing is perfect in god's perfect plan
Despite imperfections and flaws, everything happens for a reason and serves a larger purpose in the grand scheme of things.
Look in the shadows to see
Sometimes, negative experiences or challenges can reveal important lessons.
He only gave us the good things so we'd understand
Appreciating the good in life helps us better understand and cope with the bad.
What life without them would be.
It's important to recognize the value of what we have before it's gone.
And there's plenty of wheat on the prairies
There's an abundance of resources available to us.
Lots of coal in the mines
We have an ample supply of energy resources.
We got soldiers so strong they can bury their dead
The army is composed of brave and resilient individuals who endure emotional and physical trauma.
And still not go back shooting blind.
Despite the trauma and tragedy that they witness, they maintain level-headedness and remain calm.
There's women and men on the workforce
People of all genders work hard to make a living.
Doing forty hours plus overtime
They're committed to working long hours to provide for themselves and their families.
So the hostages held at the airport
A group of people who were abducted and being held against their will at the airport.
Can come home to something worthwhile.
Their release will lead to a positive outcome and a happy reunion with their loved ones.
No, nothing is perfect in god's perfect plan.
Despite the presence of imperfections, everything happens for a reason and contributes to a grander design.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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