Old Man Lyrics
This song means so much to me right now. As I am writing this, It's been about 20 hours since my dad died. I'm hurting so bad right now. He struggled with alchoholism for so long and whenever this song came on the radio we would both cry. My father's gone forever now but this song will always make me remember him. Dad, I will never forget you...
How you doing these days, TM? Cheers, man.
How you doing these days, TM? Cheers, man.
@toolmusik What a great thing to say about your father. My dad is 66 and still in perfect health, but I know that I'm sure gonna miss him when his time comes.
@toolmusik What a great thing to say about your father. My dad is 66 and still in perfect health, but I know that I'm sure gonna miss him when his time comes.
@toolmusik Dang dude that’s deep! If i was there I would shake your hand and tell you it’ll be alright!
@toolmusik Dang dude that’s deep! If i was there I would shake your hand and tell you it’ll be alright!
this song makes me think about my dad. my mom always calls me little Philip (which is my dad's name). i think it is about a man who is repeating his father's mistakes, and then is calling his dad a hypocrite when he gets pissed about it. it's also a statement of proof that they really are a lot the same, thus removing justification for his anger... hueoh, too many big words.
According to the decade book, in Neils own hand: "I wrote this for the caretaker of my ranch after I purchased it in 1970. Special thanks to James Taylor for his banjo playing."
banjo played by James Taylor...
Yeah, i read about how Young stayed at this farm one time and wrote this song inspired be the old man who owned it...don't quote me on this though...
@jehosefat true story. Young wanted a place where he wouldn't be bothered, saw a ranch for sale in Northern California and went to look at it. He told the old man he wanted to buy it, and when the old man asked him how such a young man could afford it, Young responded: "just lucky, I guess". After buying the ranch, Young allowed the old man and his wife to live there as care takers for the rest of their lives.
@jehosefat true story. Young wanted a place where he wouldn't be bothered, saw a ranch for sale in Northern California and went to look at it. He told the old man he wanted to buy it, and when the old man asked him how such a young man could afford it, Young responded: "just lucky, I guess". After buying the ranch, Young allowed the old man and his wife to live there as care takers for the rest of their lives.
@jehosefat Thanks.... I was trying to figure out who was playing banjo
@jehosefat Thanks.... I was trying to figure out who was playing banjo
This songs not about his father. He wrote it about a caretaker/owner of a rance he bought in California in 1970.
This song is indeed about an old man who lived with him on the ranch he purchased in California, however whenever I listen to this song I can't help but be reminded of my father and I, and how similar our lives have turned out to be. It can mean whatever you want it to. They don't call people like Mr. Young music ARTISTS for no reason. A picture or painting says a thousand words, a song can say millions. I'm 23 and have been fortunate enough to grow up with great music like this. Like a famous painting, this song will never grow old.
Like some here say, the song was about his ranch0hand at the ranch he bought at the time. Neil's father left when he was very young. From; Don't be Denied.
Like some here say, the song was about his ranch0hand at the ranch he bought at the time. Neil's father left when he was very young. From; Don't be Denied.
When I was a young boy My Momma said to me You're Daddy's leavin' home today I think he's gone to stay We packed up all our bags and drove out to Winnipeg.
When I was a young boy My Momma said to me You're Daddy's leavin' home today I think he's gone to stay We packed up all our bags and drove out to Winnipeg.
It's about the janitor/custodian guy on his ranch. Sad character, and a real sad, melancholic number. Haunting.
yup, i am watching "heart of gold" right now on netflix and he just said that when he first became a rich hippy and bought the ranch he still lives on that he wrote that song for the old man who lived on the property with his wife and took care of the place. Neil young is one of the guys that make me proud to be a canadian, he has so much diversity has done so much for so many young performers in the music industry it just inspiring.
yup, i am watching "heart of gold" right now on netflix and he just said that when he first became a rich hippy and bought the ranch he still lives on that he wrote that song for the old man who lived on the property with his wife and took care of the place. Neil young is one of the guys that make me proud to be a canadian, he has so much diversity has done so much for so many young performers in the music industry it just inspiring.
Absolutely correct. I recently saw an old BBC special on Youtube where he refers to this song a 'new'. (WOW!!!). Before he performs the song he says he bought a Ranch and the song was about the old ranch-hand that was running the place when he bought it.
Absolutely correct. I recently saw an old BBC special on Youtube where he refers to this song a 'new'. (WOW!!!). Before he performs the song he says he bought a Ranch and the song was about the old ranch-hand that was running the place when he bought it.
This is one awesome fucking song.. puts you in quite the melancholy mood. My own little interpretation to the song is as follows: a younger man reflecting upon his hardships, and although they may be fewer than a man twice his age, he feels as though he hurts just as much as the older man.
I think that's a brilliant interpretation.
I think that's a brilliant interpretation.
Interesting to read everyone's thoughts on this one. I hadn't heard the story about the farmer. I'd always fallen in line with the father-son story. But I think it can be more generally interpreted to just be about dealing with the disappointment of your elders, the expectations that are passed between generations, and the constant struggle to define oneself as separate from everything and everyone else.
Definitely a classic in my book.
For those poeple who commented that this song has no meaning , abviously you are not very observent. If you look into the contrast of these lyrics and know that he was kicked out of his home then you will realize that maybe he hekd a grudge for many against his father , and then when he realized that his father did the same thing that he would have in that situation maybe then he noticed that he was alot like his father was.