Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black) Lyrics

Lyric discussion by SemperSolitasEst 

Cover art for Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black) lyrics by Neil Young

According to the journalist/novelist Michael Connely \"Out of the Blue Into the Black\" is a saying the tunnel rats of vietnam had... the rest of the song supports the idea of being a soldier \"When you\'re gone you never come back\", as well \"They give you this, but you pay for that\" - sounds like Vietnam to me.

Can anybody confirm this? Young wasn\'t a plastic hippy. Is he singing a tribute to soldiers/musicians?