I always assumed the song was written for his daughter. Why?
"I got to bet that your old man"
Here he refers to himself as a father, not as a boyfriend/husband because he also sings
"Turned you loose, your mama, too. There wasn't a thing that you could do."
Children are not in a position to negotiate. He left his daughter and her mother.
They are the silhouettes at the window when he leaves them to go back on the road. But her arms welcome him back every time in spite of that. It's daddy, after all.
He feels warmth "by the little things you say" - the musings of a child are often heartwarming. At the same time, she can't stay young forever. He'll have to leave again and it hurts both of them. "It's a razor love that cuts clean through."
I always assumed the song was written for his daughter. Why?
"I got to bet that your old man" Here he refers to himself as a father, not as a boyfriend/husband because he also sings
"Turned you loose, your mama, too. There wasn't a thing that you could do." Children are not in a position to negotiate. He left his daughter and her mother.
They are the silhouettes at the window when he leaves them to go back on the road. But her arms welcome him back every time in spite of that. It's daddy, after all.
He feels warmth "by the little things you say" - the musings of a child are often heartwarming. At the same time, she can't stay young forever. He'll have to leave again and it hurts both of them. "It's a razor love that cuts clean through."
@zelifia Thanks! You nailed it. Heard it first on "Transparent." Best Neil Young ever, IMO.
@zelifia Thanks! You nailed it. Heard it first on "Transparent." Best Neil Young ever, IMO.
@zelifia That's the way I took it - although the child could be a boy.
@zelifia That's the way I took it - although the child could be a boy.