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Neil Young - Old Man
- Thread starter Andy
- Start date
K
kitronic
Guest
Great find Andy! Really good quality and Neil is so young, and he's still going strong today. :clapping
Kit
Kit
SirNapsAlot
New member
:thumbup After the Gold Rush was pivotal in shaping my musical tastes, thanks Andy
B
BillST4s
Guest
Someone told me we rode past his ranch on Stage Road when I made my pilgrimage to SBR Country in 2010. It was on the way up to the King :squid's favorite viewing/photo spot high above a beach.
Now Neil Young is the old man. Live at Farm Aid 2013.
Now Neil Young is the old man. Live at Farm Aid 2013.
looper
Active member
Old man look at my life,
I'm a lot like you were.
Old man look at my life,
I'm a lot like you were.
Old man look at my life,
Twenty four
and there's so much more
Live alone in a paradise
That makes me think of two.
Love lost, such a cost,
Give me things
that don't get lost.
Like a coin that won't get tossed
Rolling home to you.
Old man take a look at my life
I'm a lot like you
I need someone to love me
the whole day through
Ah, one look in my eyes
and you can tell that's true.
Lullabies, look in your eyes,
Run around the same old town.
Doesn't mean that much to me
To mean that much to you.
I've been first and last
Look at how the time goes past.
But I'm all alone at last.
Rolling home to you.
Old man take a look at my life
I'm a lot like you
I need someone to love me
the whole day through
Ah, one look in my eyes
and you can tell that's true.
Old man look at my life,
I'm a lot like you were.
Old man look at my life,
I'm a lot like you were.
I'm a lot like you were.
Old man look at my life,
I'm a lot like you were.
Old man look at my life,
Twenty four
and there's so much more
Live alone in a paradise
That makes me think of two.
Love lost, such a cost,
Give me things
that don't get lost.
Like a coin that won't get tossed
Rolling home to you.
Old man take a look at my life
I'm a lot like you
I need someone to love me
the whole day through
Ah, one look in my eyes
and you can tell that's true.
Lullabies, look in your eyes,
Run around the same old town.
Doesn't mean that much to me
To mean that much to you.
I've been first and last
Look at how the time goes past.
But I'm all alone at last.
Rolling home to you.
Old man take a look at my life
I'm a lot like you
I need someone to love me
the whole day through
Ah, one look in my eyes
and you can tell that's true.
Old man look at my life,
I'm a lot like you were.
Old man look at my life,
I'm a lot like you were.
Neil Young’s 1972 classic “Old Man” was inspired by his experiences with the caretaker of his Broken Arrow Ranch in Northern California. Young had purchased the 140-acre ranch in 1970 for $350,000, seeking peace and solitude in the countryside. The song is a reflection on the relationship between Young and the ranch’s caretaker, Louis Avila, who was affectionately called "Old Man" in the song.
The song’s poignant lyrics explore the shared connection between the young and the old, symbolizing life’s cyclical nature. James Taylor played banjo on the track, while Linda Ronstadt provided backup vocals. The collaboration between these legendary musicians added depth to Young's raw, emotional storytelling. As Young himself explained in the 2006 documentary Heart of Gold, the song was inspired by a ride with Louis in his blue Jeep, where they drove to a lake that fed the pastures on the ranch. During that ride, Louis, curious about how Young could afford such a property at a young age, asked him, "Well, tell me, how does a young man like yourself have enough money to buy a place like this?" To which Young responded, “Well, just lucky, Louie, just real lucky.”
The touching moment captured in the song mirrors Young’s connection to Avila, whom he would later immortalize in his music. These insights into Young’s personal life reveal the depth of his songwriting. In Heart of Gold, Young recalled how this exchange with Louis Avila influenced him to write “Old Man.”
The photos accompanying this story, taken by renowned photographer Henry Diltz in 1971, show the bond between Young and Avila. Diltz’s images from that time offer a glimpse into the period of Young's life when he was exploring themes of aging, memory, and legacy. These candid shots capture the essence of Young’s personality and his connections to the people around him.
As we celebrate Neil Young’s 79th birthday, it’s a fitting moment to reflect on his remarkable contributions to music and his ability to capture the beauty of human relationships in his work.
