She used to work in a diner
Never saw a woman look finer
I used to order just to watch her float across the floor
She grew up in a small town
Never put her roots down
Daddy always kept movin', so she did too

Somewhere on a desert highway
She rides a Harley-Davidson
Her long blonde hair flyin' in the wind
She's been runnin' half her life
The chrome and steel she rides
Collidin' with the very air she breathes
The air she breathes

You know it ain't easy
You got to hold on
She was an unknown legend in her time
Now she's dressin' two kids
Lookin' for a magic kiss
She gets the far-away look in her eyes

Somewhere on a desert highway
She rides a Harley-Davidson
Her long blonde hair flyin' in the wind
She's been runnin' half her life
The chrome and steel she rides
Collidin' with the very air she breathes
The air she breathes

Somewhere on a desert highway
She rides a Harley-Davidson
Her long blonde hair flyin' in the wind
She's been runnin' half her life
The chrome and steel she rides
Collidin' with the very air she breathes
The air she breathes


Lyrics submitted by planetearth

Unknown Legend Lyrics as written by Neil Young

Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Unknown Legend song meanings
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14 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    This song is one of the most beautiful songs around, i dont find it one bit depressing i think its very nostalgic.

    Unknown Ledgendon October 30, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Some things just should have been different....

    This song has a depressing mood about it. It makes you think about how things could have been different... or should have been different.

    sladeon April 21, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is about that drifting beauty that cant be tamed. She might seem that way occasionally, but then "she gets that far away look in her eye," and then shes gone continuing her journey to find whatever she's looking for.

    Roland Ripleyon February 22, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I agree with Roland Ripley on his idea on what this song is about and I think this is a good song

    A lot of people i know call this a pure country song, what do you guys think?

    River Wolfon April 06, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I agree this is just an incredibly beautiful song, not depressing to me at all, very uplifting actually. I believe this was written about, and for, his wife Pegi.

    danger birdon February 14, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is about his wife Pegi. She was a waitress when he met her. They were married August, 2 1978 and I believe he's still married to her.

    Rfeynmanon April 16, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The "uknown legend", like a "ruby in the dust", an undiscovered beauty.

    phisherofsoulson November 22, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Harvest Moon is Neil's greatest album, and this, along with "Dreaming Man" is one of his greatest songs. Neil is a very romantic sort of songwriter, and he stands up for what he believes in even when it isn't popular. You can see that the causes he fights for are ones he really believes in, too... not just popular causes that will increase his social position by fighting for. He's really one of the more clever songwriters alive today.

    TheThornBirdson February 04, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    An amazing lyrical genius--period. Aside from the lyrics, the music is just so soothing and fitting.

    susan39on June 13, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    To me both interpretations are right - it's about his wife and about a free spirit. To me it's a thankful song - a song that says "i know that sometimes you think about what could have been but I love the fact when you chose to settle down you did it with me". Neil Young is an amazing song writer. I am 40 years old and only just discovered this amazing song writer and to be honest it seems like I wasted 40 years almost.

    southakon July 14, 2013   Link

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