Don't Be Denied

I always surmised that his "friend at school" was none other than Stephen Stills. The Buffalo Springfield met up pretty much by chance, and got together jamming and enjoying it one night. Neil later said that he left Springfield due to everything getting crazy and moving too fast,not becuz he was going solo.

Such an awesome tune!

This might be one of my top 3 favorite Neil songs. This as autobiographical as it gets, Neil putting it down with great lyrics, passion and just raw emotion.

"Oh Canada, We played all night. I really hate to leave you now, But to stay here wouldn't feel right." So much passion, emotion and guilt leaving his place of birth. That says so much, and sparks up so many emotions in like three little sentences. Pure genius from a master storyteller.

Surprises me that this song only had one comment. THere must not be alot of Neil Young fans on this site, cuz this is IMO one of hismost moving song.

Basically, what i get from it, is that you should never give up on your dreams, and don't let other people, that are trying to beat you down deny you from those dreams. Don't be denied.

I learned teh meaning of this fast, i was on my back porch and my step father tol dme to listen to teh lyrics very carefully. Whne the song got to the end, he told me, "Don' tlet anyone deny you, Don't be fucking Denied, don't let anyone tell you they ar ebtte rthan you." Now when i thinkof what he said whiel this song is playing I always get teary eyed. Thats one o fteh reasons i learned it on guitar.

I heard Neil perform this song in March 1973. He had a sore throat that night, but sang at the top of his voice anyway. You could tell that singing the chorus was very painful for him. But it made for a very special, memorable performance.

It is the main piece of his whole body of work. Because it's not the root of everything that came after nor does it really stands out in anything. But it's pure Neil, so pure, you don't even question that this is one of his best songs. But it's in every sense average Neil, but par excellence.

This song is pretty simple. It just tells the story of his Dad moving him and his family from Toronto to Winnipeg. Then he talks about his aingst during school and starting his band to signing a record deal in LA. The second line is interesting to me because my grandad taught Neil Young in school and can also say that he had a rough time. Neil Young didn't even graduate.