3 of the Best Opening Lines From Neil Young Songs

Neil Young was a hybrid of a lot of artists and styles. Part Bob Dylan, part punk rock, the Canadian-born Young was a central figure in the prominence and centrality of songwriting in the 1970s and beyond. There’s a reason why he’s still a popular figure in today’s culture—arguments with Spotify notwithstanding.

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Here below, we wanted to explore three of Young’s best songs. Specifically, we wanted to take a look at the opens to a trio of his tracks. Tunes that have stood the test of time but also opened with a bang, grabbing our ears. Indeed, these are three of the best opening lines from Neil Young songs.

[RELATED: 3 Songs for People Who Say They Don’t Like Neil Young]

“Old Man” from Harvest (1972)

A song about age, about generations, about the circle of life. On the tune, Neil Young sings over an acoustic guitar, sweetly, mournfully. A younger character is speaking to an older one. And they are realizing their similarities but also how they are different because of the age gap between them. Indeed, sings Young on the sublime offering,

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

“Rockin’ in the Free World,” from Freedom (1989)

For Young, who was known for thoughtful and poetic songs like the one above, this track from him freaking rips. It’s as enlivening and inspiring as any. It’s big and bold with its giant electric guitars. It’s not a sonnet put to music. It’s a muscle flex speaking about the power of music during times that are especially tough. Sings Young,

There’s colors on the street
Red, white and blue
People shufflin’ their feet
People sleepin’ in their shoes
But there’s a warnin’ sign
on the road ahead

“Cowgirl in the Sand” from Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (1969)

A fantasy, a fairy tale, on this 1969 single, Young dreams of a woman in the sand. But everyone loves this woman. She is like that Platonic ideal of perfection. And so Young wrote this ode to her as he tries to catch her eye and ear. To open the tune, Young greets the gal and asks if he can spend a little time. He sings,

Hello cowgirl in the sand
Is this place at your command
Can I stay here for a while
Can I see your sweet sweet smile

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