White Line

Or the center line on the road?

Or both?

I forgot the real reason I was going to post is simply because I love this song and the feeling I get from it.

This song, one of my favorites of Young's, alludes to the tension between his significant-other relationship and his career, which given that he's a touring musician means that he spends a lot of time on the road. Sounds like it comes from a time when the love was flowing but he was aware of being away so much that he was neglecting his wife or girlfriend back home. Also, the lines "Right now I'm rolling down the open road where the daylight will soon be breaking" remind me of his song "Thrasher," where it goes "And I was just getting up Hit the road before it's light Trying to catch an hour on the sun." Of course the term white line can also refer to drugs and he used plenty but the song stands on some sturdy legs/wheels without the double entendre.

White Line can obviously be a reference to cocaine or speed, but I can also take the lyrics as a straight-away song about betrayed love. I wouldn't put it past Neil to write it earnestly just about lost love but intentionally making it a double-meaning to throw people in a tizzy. But I've never met the man, so maybe I. way off.

During those days, Cocaine was his “true love”, a “friend of mine”, enjoying the good times he was having with the stuff. It gave confidence and strength (though perhaps misperceived)—so much so he felt could “pull the whole load behind” him.

Coke?

Damn what a good song. The whole album is really. Makes you feel like going out for a drive with no destination. Even if the song really is about coke or speed, which I think it is. "Daylight will soon be breaking" obviously implies he's been up all night. "River of pride" probably referring to the almost manic state you're in when loaded "I've been down but I'm coming back up again" the dreaded roller coaster of addiction