FIRST TIME REACTING TO | NEIL YOUNG "OLD MAN"

[@Jacks-tj9mb]

I’m the young man now. 22. I realize one day I’ll be the old man listening to this song, reflecting, and thinking of these moments. It’s very bittersweet, and I know I will miss seeing young hands when I look down. It’s all a cycle. Thanks everyone for sharing. 🙏

[@josephschlageter8666]

I'm 72 son. I fell in love with this song when I was 19. He's a master!

[@EL_Duderino68]

I think it's about Neil being in a beautiful place but alone. He sees himself in the old man who is also alone.

[@ThomasMcGauley-m7z]

You wont believe how fast the next 20 years go by.

[@robertmiller669]

When this came out and I first hearrit, was 20. Now I'm 71. Listening from both sides. 😔

[@steddie4514]

Same 👍🇬🇧

[@deborahcornell171]

@robertmiller669 I'm only a couple of years younger than you. Loved it then, love it now. It's one of those songs you carry with you through the years. So many songs from that era we can say that about.💙🌿

[@mercedesvan-doors34]

Me too friend just not quite 70. now I am that old man.

[@jameshannagan4256]

Now I'm 59 and this song hits a little different we all have to deal with loneliness and heartache old or young.

[@fcassmann]

Same here in Amsterdam,the Netherlands.

[@Yowza78]

I also think it's important to remember when this song was written, 1972. So many older people in America were aghast at the younger generation back then: long hair, free love, anti-Vietnam, racial protests. Neil Young is just saying we're really not all that different. I will be you someday. That resonates with me, because I grew up listening to older people complain about young folks: their music, fashion, morals. Now I hear people I went to high school with saying the exact same things about kids today, with no sense of irony at all.

[@terri2494]

The term “generation gap” applied to that time more than it has since then because society was changing so quickly and dramatically. I was only ten (and the daughter of an Air Force officer) but I think part of the tension was that young people felt betrayed by their elders because of the draft. So many young men were being shipped off to Vietnam, where so many died or were wounded or taken prisoner, or they just disappeared. Young people reacted by protesting or dodging the draft. (Brit, if you read this, many young men fled to Canada when their draft number came up.) Basically many people didn’t think it was right to force someone to go fight in a war that they didn’t see as our war. It’s always seemed to me that most parents then were almost on autopilot and almost oblivious to the details of their kids’ lives. They really had no clue what was happening or how to guide their kids through childhood and adolescence in that era. On the nightly news we saw images of war and reports on protests, rioting, bra burning, assassinations, Watergate, and drug overdoses. My parents didn’t really talk to me about all the chaos. I do remember one time when my dad said it wasn’t normally like that and it wouldn’t always be that crazy. I didn’t understand why he thought that but I’m glad he was right. To me the second half of the seventies was like a denouement, a time to relax and breathe after all the drama. I live in the Central Valley of California, which has a lot of agriculture and is more conservative than LA, the Bay Area, or Sacramento. I can only imagine a ranch foreman from that time, who’s worked incredibly hard all his life, suddenly finding himself working for a twenty something, long haired folk singer who knows nothing about ranching. To me it sounds like Neil expected more positive social interaction with the foreman and ranch hands but he got an icy reception instead. He probably thought the solitude would be great but didn’t anticipate the loneliness.

[@marcfleischmann9911]

A man a voice and a guitar What else do you need?

[@JeanPaillard-to1hx]

@@marcfleischmann9911 The talent to perform. Neil had that talent not just to perform but to write the lyrics and the song.

[@Carln0130]

Agree Yowza78. You have to frame it in the time it was written.

[@barry7920]

LOL yes... the stereotype of the old person is someone who is rigid, doesn't understand or appreciate what is new and different and criticizes them. Not all are like that, but this stereotype is not there for nothing. It's like with music - my Dad used to criticize the music me and my brother listened to as kids, and now we're in our 60s and my brother and my cousin still listen to the music of their teens, 20s and 30s and reject today's music. For whatever reason, I seem to be able to appreciate music that goes across the years, which I am thankful for.

[@user-ud7ko4cq1n]

One of the things that makes Neil Young's music SO rich sounding even when he's alone with his guitar, is that there's always 4 things happening at once: #1- his lyrics are always really powerful and deep, #2- his voice is fragile and vulnerable, #3- his guitar isn't just hitting a chord or two, it's meandering doing all sorts of intricate little melody patterns to complement his voice, and #4- his guitar style is ALSO really percussive, so there's a sense of rhythm always occurring. It's nice to know that even in 2024 with a million production tools and tricks and software and AI and everything else, a person can still just sit down with a guitar, and blow people's minds.

[@terri2494]

This was a great comment. 👍🏻

[@TheDivayenta]

Well said!

[@barry7920]

Agreed, Neil Young is a real craftsman with his acoustic guitar work

[@Chapps1941]

I reckon Young comes only second to Dylan.

[@TheSulross]

and some of his songs throw in some harmonica playing while still playing his guitar

[@mikewilliams1559]

“The needle and the damage done” is a must. Still very relevant today.

[@stevedavis5704]

Make sure you get the acoustic version of this song also.

[@docsavage8640]

Is the the one where Neil supports open borders so drugs and children can be smuggled easier?

[@mmorrison9176]

Even more relevant here 🇨🇦 Sadly

[@fastecp1]

That is a song that many of us can relate to one way or another.

[@nobodyspecial9035]

💯

[@jcpc0824]

Neil Young ... One of Canada's finest!

[@johnpbh]

I remember listening to this on British television when it was first broadcast. Yes, i'm another 71 year old and loving your reactions... As a previous commenter said... we have seen both sides of this song in our lives now... And to me it's basically Neil knowing that he's going to become that old man one day... AND that that old man was young once with all the dreams and aspirations that Neil had when he wrote the song. Keep on Rocking.

[@andygrenn680]

Neil Young is an icon. His like may never be seen or heard again. Grateful to hear the original. The Heart of Gold standard of singer songwriter.

[@danrobertson258]

Neil Young's song means a lot to me because of my dad. We didn't get along early in my life, but as I got older I discovered I was a lot like him in some ways. I played "Old Man" at my dad's celebration of life after he passed to honor him 🎉❤

[@NeloLifeElevationGroup]

Amen brother!

[@buckchile614]

And I tried to sell ' A Man Needs a Maid' to my Mom

[@armadillotoe]

A man, his guitar, and a huge amount of talent.

[@JohnWilson-cs7iq]

Yep, just like Chris Cornell.

[@brithaddenhadden8383]

cornell has a terrible voice but music is subjective !@@JohnWilson-cs7iq

[@milomedvin938]

@@brithaddenhadden8383Cornell is one of the greatest rock vocalists ever!

[@Jessedog11]

To me this is Folk Rock music. "Heart of Gold" is another classic by Neil Young.

[@JoshHorning]

Hi version from the same live recording is my favorite. IMO he was one of the last great Singer/Songwriters/true musicians

[@artvallejos1460]

Bob Dylan is mad at Neil for writing this song, Dylan said it should have been him that wrote it.

[@JoshHorning]

@@artvallejos1460 as in Dylan tried to say it was his idea, or he was legit mad about someone else writing a hit song?

[@artvallejos1460]

@@JoshHorning Dylan was joking, he liked the song Heart Of Gold, he wanted to write it first.

[@swimlaps1]

Agree. This was so popular in 1972-74 era!

[@jimdavidson7639]

It's Neil Young, Neil freaking Young - Buffalo Springfield, CSNY and his complete music anthology from the 60's to the 2000's. For me, he's on the Mount Rushmore of my musical life.

[@MidwestFarmToys]

He was for me until the whole Joe rogan Spotify thing. Sometimes you can know too much about one of your heroes

[@irmaoksanen6830]

Another great Canadian singer songwriter with a special voice is Joni Mitchell.

[@GraciesMom]

Oh yes!!! She is probably the best female songwriter in the 20th century. Very influential and very bright. Anything off the Court and Spark album, like Raised on Robbery and Free Man in Paris. Then there’s always Paved Paradise and Put Up a Parking Lot. Also the Hissing of Summer Lawn off the album of the same name. Chefs kiss 💋

[@jaceeaster2246]

" A case of u" would be a good song for britt to react to!

[@TheKatoffen]

She wrote and performed the very first song about climate change in all the world and it's still a wonderful song.

[@marcsz7179]

And Gordon Lightfoot

[@TT-fq7pl]

@@marcsz7179 Gordon Lightfoot is the greatest of Canadian singer-songwriters. My older brothers turned me on to him many decades ago, and now I have my 20 year old son hooked. He can't believe how many great songs there are in the Lightfoot catalogue.

[@marcelopfellows]

Hi from Brasil. Very happy to find that kind of young people listening Neil Young!

[@AhronLong]

Neil Young performing ‘helpless’ with The Band for the last waltz is one of the most beautiful songs you’ll ever hear. Gotta do it!

[@charlesmclaughlin3578]

One of my all time favourites

[@KennyRansom-l5k]

With Joni Mitchell secretly sitting in 🙂

[@peterframptoni8934]

going to check it out now

[@baTonkaTruck]

They got it now, Robbie.

[@jimsinger2521]

Was so happy when Spotify brought him back.

[@cheryla7480]

Neil said not too long ago that he felt embarrassed now when people requested “ Old Man “ because he is the old man now.Neil was born in Toronto but grew up in my home town…Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada 🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@ronaldbolton7338]

Many of these old ranch hands work literally all day and their entire life is devoted to their work, often sacrificing a love life. In the same way Young is equating his devotion to music in the same way. His wife left him at some point which is probably a trigger to writing this song, meeting this man who had given up any love life for his love of ranching. Eventually Neil and his wife got back together which prompted his song "Harvest Moon." If you haven't reacted to it it's lovely because he's playing and singing the song at a country bar but is also dancing with his wife. It's quite beautiful. Keep up the good work!

[@jurgenschmidt2759]

Neil has just a bunch of different persona in him, a grunge rocker, a mellow folkie, a country singer, a band member and a solo artist. He even made an album of electronic music, more than 50 years career. One of the most iconic artist ever. And his concerts felt like no others I've been too, not so much about technical perfection but all about mood and emotion. All special

[@richardfeldkamp1707]

Back in the day, acoustic guitars didn't have internal microphones like many do now. The guitars had to be miked on stage. Gives a much more natural sound but not as consistent. Geeks can argue the pros and cons. Neil's unique tunings give the songs a unique texture.

[@G_Demolished]

External mic is still best on acoustic guitars. Pickups have improved a lot since then but if the player can sit still in front of a microphone it will sound better.

[@WillFlyTheLightingGuy]

@@G_Demolished It's just a matter of if they can sit still enough or not. players who aren't used to their guitar being mic'ed will move around, changing the tonal quality of the sound

[@k2thepeak]

Unique tunings? Not on this one, std tuning. I have to tune down a full step to sing it. NY’s a true tenor range vocally.

[@mitzifrancis9843]

I'm adding my vote to The Needle and the Damage Done from this same concert. And during his time with the group Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, please check out Ohio. Neil wrote it immmediately after the May 4, 1970 shooting by members of the National Guard at a crowd of students protesting the expansion of the Vietnam War into Cambodia at Kent State University. Four students died and nine were injured. There's a good video that uses the studio version (which I recommend for this song) and accompanies it with photos from that day. It hits hard.

[@cmiles97x38]

I agree but have to react to the version where discusses why he wrote it.

[@gonefishing3528]

The song is about the fact that Niel was only 24 and had everything only he was alone . His story was a comperison to the old man because at that moment they both had a place in paradise but yet they where both alone . Niel saw himself ending up like the old man . In paradise and alone .

[@EL_Duderino68]

That is a great, insightful, concise description of the song. Kudos.

[@papamac2590]

This is a demonstration of talent and musicality. No lip sync. No computers. No autotune. No piped in music. No multimillion $ marketing campaign. No mindless dance choreography. What people consider talent and music today is a lie. Let’s put in perspective. If “insert pop star name here” had to survive in music back then they’d be homeless and starving.

[@richardfoley3091]

Doesnt your comment kinda sum up the song?

[@johnniekight1879]

The "mean that much" line was because his caretaker had no idea who Neil was and couldn't figure out how someone so young could to afford to buy such a huge ranch.

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

No, that's not correct. Neil told biographer, Jimmy McDonough, that the line is directed to the audience.

[@jayarr961]

Nice. After fifty years of listening to this song, that is the first time I heard that, about that line. I always liked the line but I never quite understood what it was doing in this song. Thanks. Now I can tell someone else and seem smart :)

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

@@jayarr961 You had better read my reply above yours first, lest you'll sound anything but smart. ;)

[@allengray5748]

Ahhh 50 years later never knew that! Guess I could have Googled a couple years ago! ☮️

[@mikewatts867]

On a simplistic level, this song is very much about bridging the gap between generations, between different ways of living and making a living. But over the years I have found so many other subtexts in these lyrics, beyond whatever Neil’s intentions were when he wrote them. Off the top of my head I can probably think of 10 different contexts that apply here, but in the end, it is what you want it to be and mean. That’s what music is here for.

[@Miguel_2112]

Of more then 300+ live concerts ive experienced, Mr. Neil Young holds #4 spot since 1982. I was fortunate to have experienced him 3x in Colorado USA. Always delivered. My all time favorite NY song is his cover of MR. SOUL.

[@knnygry]

Its not a cover...he wrote it

[@Miguel_2112]

@knnygry not sure but I think some Black Man came out with it in the 40s. I appreciate you comments and your Amigoism.

[@robertbobcat-xi1lm]

One of the greatest singer song writers of any generation!

[@josephschlageter8666]

Definitely

[@Minister1Little]

Brittreacts facial routine must be outstanding her skin is glowing. such a beautiful young lady. Neil Young is national treasure I used to listen to his music in the 1970`s in high school, I'm from Harlem New York went to an all black school our music teacher turned us on to all genres of music thank God for her.

[@matdow4470]

Old Man I am a lot like you were. Neil Young is saying that the old man was like Neil (Old Man in his prime) Here is an example of that is the 2nd verse; ''Lullabies look in you eyes. Run around the same old town. Doesn't mean that much to me to mean that much to you.'' Neil is refering to have never travelled and it doesn't bother him at all. Much like the Old Man when he was Neil's age. Hense, ''I am a lot like you were''.

[@SnacksR]

You know every time I see someone react to this song I have to check it out , you see my big brother Nick would play this song so much ,this and heart of gold by Neil Young I mean he had it on repeat I was tired of it and we'll my brother passed away in 2016 and we played both songs at his funeral, I miss him Thank you for this reaction Check out heart of gold

[@jhonellsworth932]

Is this joey from Hollywood Florida this is jc

[@SaverioP]

I'm not the biggest Neil Young fan, but this is one helluva performance.

[@jameshannagan4256]

This whole session is the type of performance that will create a lot of fans it's an old BBC mini-concert and you should watch the whole thing it's amazing.

[@juliagrant3299]

I absolutely agree with you. I've seen him with CSNY and solo. Total talent, just didn't like his attitude with a lot of people and situations

[@UMPeeps1348]

Neil is a true pioneer, incredible writer!! Def check out DOnt Be Denied, Cortez The Killer, Walk on, Journey Through the Past and Vampire Blues

[@jordan390a]

Now do Heart of Gold from that very same concert...!!!

[@paulrodden6058]

I love playing Neil Young when on a country drive

[@TonyFreeman-LocoTonyF]

Neil Young "On Sugar Mountain" is one of my favorites.

[@Safe-Cracker]

Neil has a unique way to play the guitar it sounds so good with all those pull-off and hammer-on...

[@k2thepeak]

Exactly right! Very signature fingerstyle NY. And setting the stage with a Dm9 to a D Major ornamented with the Dsus2 & Dsus4 is just simplistic genius. Similar to JT’s styling. Such an acoustic classic and so fun to play.

[@briansnider1235]

This song was recorded in the 1960's..... great audio.... the BBC engineer that recorded this gave an unspeakable gift to us all.

[@hannejeppesen1809]

Love Neil Young, he is of my generation. Check out Cinnamon Girl, Ohio (a protest song, Neil wrote after 4 students were killed by the National Guard at Kent State) and also "Helpless" with The Band from The Last Waltz. Neil is Canadian so was 4 of the members of The Band. If you like Neil Young and CCR you will love The Band.

[@dcw3483]

Harvest moon, heart of gold!! A bunch of other great songs from Neil

[@PolferiferusII]

"Thrasher" "Ride My Llama" "Pocahantas" is my favorite 3 song sequence of Neil Young, each beautifully suited to follow the next, like one song in three parts. But I'll be dead before anyone reacts to them, together or all of them individually. With luck there'll be a few reactors who'll give one a try some day :)

[@tommyau2006]

Neil Young..................beyond brilliant. All I have to say

[@Iroxit]

i cry everytime. my aunt died from cancer and we bonded over his music, I'd probably cry no matter what thought this is beautifully sad

[@NeloLifeElevationGroup]

YEssss, true art.

[@mikecoughlin4128]

This is my favorite style of Neil’s. He has many and I like most of them but this is my favorite. Simple, poetic, and deep. As others have said, Heart of Gold, etc are other greats.

[@stevedahlberg8680]

Lovely. I've seen him three times back in the day but there was one show where he kind of went into some detail about the story a lot more than this. And it really was touching, and you can see why he's drawing this metaphor.

[@JC-tq8gm]

Some of Neil's stuff is just golden and some I can really do without. Another great one is Harvest Moon.

[@thespokenword6456]

Micing up instruments is standard parcatice for the very reasons you mentioned. Any acoustic instrument will have that at a live show larger than a small room, even drums.

[@happymethehappyone8300]

Neil Young "Heart Of Gold" from the same performance,, He also speaks with the audience before the song as well. ❤

[@scotthanson5365]

He is an Icon for those of us who grew up listening and living through his songs, for he sang for us, for our future, hope you young lady get to listen to more of his music

[@NeloLifeElevationGroup]

Memories like this song are invaluable treasures from out past.

[@-R.Gray-]

He's the same guy who sang "Southern Man". Jimmy Fallon does a good Neil Young impression, and has had him come on the Tonight Show to sing with him. See "Two Neil Youngs on a Tree Stump".

[@tjtampa214]

Ohhh, that was an awesome trick that Jimmy played on us, on Jimmy Kimmel show that time! It was outstanding and unbelievable that Jimmy could do that.

[@-R.Gray-]

@@tjtampa214 It's Jimmy Fallon, who also used to do Young on SNL and other places. Better than the "Tree Stump" version was the original one of them doing "Old Man" together, but it's only on Daily Motion now.

[@99sheepy]

Yeah, Jimmy Fallon impersonating him on the song Old Man, then having Neil come out and join him, was awesome. The juxtaposition of Neil, who is now the "old man", was crazy.

[@artvallejos1460]

I think Fallon did a performance live of Like A Hurricane

[@gamba915]

the old man is him. the song is from the perspective of his young self. “Doesn’t mean that much to me to mean that much to you” conveys that the young singer has not yet captured the beautiful quality of simple moments in life as they play out but as the years go by and one becomes an old man you recall with nostalgic fondness and can understand with more clarity the impact and importance of those moments.

[@markdettra1794]

Please hear Neil Young's song - Only Love Can Break Your Heart ---- from his album 'After The Gold Rush'. It's gorgeous , very moving.

[@reinerspecht8782]

One needs to wonder whether any of todays music will be listened to and appreciated in 50 years? I seriously doubt it.

[@lisannebaumholz5028]

Neil Young was so young when he wrote and first performed this (maybe 24?). Like his fellow Canadian musical artist of the same generation, Joni Mitchell, he did and still does continue to write and sing music from his heart into his 70s. From the 1978 film "The Last Waltz" (The Band's final concert, filmed by Martin Scorsese), Neil's "Helpless" with Joni and The Band on backup vocals: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gGPdaH-OpaaLabMsi=jGoGQTtgowHkdFZF RIP Robbie Robertson, an amazing Canadian musical artist we lost this year.

[@tjrivers]

His ingenious song-writing has touch my generation for life…happy seeing a reaction of appreciation!

[@Robbyrool]

Neil Young is such a unique talent. He’s sort of the Neil Young of our generation, if you will.

[@ceougin20]

For years I’ve always interpreted this song as a story about a young man relating to an old man. Almost as if it could be performed as a duet. Certain lines give me the impression that it’s from the old man’s perspective we’re hearing the story from.

[@stevedotwood]

All these chords that Neil plays are very interesting, not the usual suspects like minor or major. I love that first one a lot, very very bluesy. As you already know, Neil Young has two sides: the intimate loner side and the extrovert rocking side

[@k2thepeak]

Dm9 - you’re right, it lays a really great foundation for what follows. Crazy smart.

[@mightyblues7]

While Neil himself has related the meaning of the lyrics specifically to the old man who took care of Broken Arrow Ranch, many have found that this song helps them navigate their relationships with their own fathers. It’s true that the song speaks to a generational difference that would exist within a father-child relationship. As we grow older, we often notice similarities between ourselves and our fathers, and realize that now matter how different we grow to be, there will always be a thread that connects us. With “Old Man”, Young sings from both the perspective of the young man and the old man, as they each reflect upon their lives in comparison to the other. The opening lyrics present the song’s overarching theme. A young man addresses an old man, telling him to look at his life and realize they have a lot in common, despite the difference in age. This is perhaps following a misunderstanding between the two. Next up, the first verse introduces the young man: Here, Neil Young presents himself as twenty-four years old, with his whole life ahead of him. He lives by himself at a paradise called Broken Arrow Ranch, and while he recognizes the beauty of it, he truly finds that it would be much more suited for two people. This suggests a feeling of loneliness, despite the success that he had found at such a young age. He continues to expand upon his, and his ultimate desires, in the second verse: Neil reflects on the cost of lost love, which is quite high. He suggests that he not satisfied with material things, nor is he satisfied with shallow love that gets tossed aside. He’s looking for a lucky coin that you’d never think to toss away, always coming back home to you. This is, of course, a deep and pure kind of love, as he shares in the chorus: It’s clear the old man thinks he’s seen it all. He’s hearing the young man’s words as lullabies, which means he does not find life so exciting or romantic as the young man seems to. He sees the young man running around the same town that he used to, which doesn’t seem like it’s changed a bit. What more is he doesn’t care one way or the other what the young man thinks of him. It seems that this is the natural course of getting older, as the things that once excited you or bothered you as a younger person don’t have quite the impact when you’ve seen them before. The fourth verse gives further insight into the old man’s perspective: He’s been the winner and he’s been the loser, and either way the time goes by, and he ends up alone. When he says he’s rolling home here, he may be referring to rolling home that comes in death.

[@polarpablo]

thank-you

[@o_krush67]

Harvest is one of my all time favs

[@mckayuk]

Wow does it touch my heart (still) When I heard Neil singing this song in 1971 I was at secondary School and on a sleepover at my Grandparents with Mum & Dad and my two sisters. I have to try and set the scene because my Grandparents house was just two bedrooms with my Sisters getting one and my Grandmother and Father vacating theirs for my Parents and so my Granny & Grandad would pull out the bed-sofa in the small lounge where the Television was and in the corner was a small fold away Bed for me but for this T.V. show I was sat on the edge of my Grandparents bed allowed to listen to it although late and everyone sleeping. Here we are in 2024 and now I am myself an old age pensioner and my Parents and both older sisters past away but here I am now listening to this song in your company dear Britt. Happy you enjoyed and as you might imagine, aged 13yr as I was back then, I would be looking to hear and see someone that appealed to me and I just loved his style of clothing, how laid back and interesting he appeared and soon after I started to let my hair grow and asked mum to sow patches in my Jeans and save up my weekly Pocket money for a deposit on an acoustic guitar to hopefully one day be able to play this and many other Neil Young songs, if only for myself, and although it took many many years I got there and every now and again at an open mic or when friends come round I play some Neil Young songs including this one. You know many Album reviewers in the 70s were very critical of Albums that he released such as the 1974 On The Beach album that they complained depressing but by then aged 16yrs I loved that album and played it over and over and found it uplifting. I know the Rolling Stone reviewer, some 40 yrs later, apologised for it taking him that long to realise what a beautiful uplifting album it was if you really listened. Anyway you take care and wishing your channel and yourself a long happy lifetime.

[@dagmar.6954]

I love this intimate performance with just Neil & his guitar (harmonica). He was only 27 when he recorded this song as a young man. Now he is an older man at 78 years old. Neil is a very talented musician, singer & songwriter. He was with the groups Buffalo Springfield & Crosby, Stills & Nash in the later 60's. Also had his own group with Crazy Horse for a few years. Neil went solo & has had so many great songs over the years. The albums "After The Gold Rush" & "Harvest" from the 70's are considered 2 of his best.

[@Lawrence-z3y]

Oh, this is good. We listened to Neil Young a lot when we were young in the late 60s, early 70s. Neil is a Winnipeg, Manitoba, native, like a few other Canadians, including Robbie Robertson (The Band)- which is amazing when you think of it, as Robertson left Winnipeg at 16, quitting school to play guitar in Arkansas and throughout the American South with Ronnie Hawkins, who was playing in Winnipeg when Robertson was a teenager. Roberston saw a show, then stayed up all night, forgoing homework to write three songs for the visiting Hawkins before he and his hand, The Hawks, left for another town to play on their tour. Hawkins recorded all three of Robertson's songs (two were Hey Baba Lou and Someone Like You) after inviting Robertson to join the band. Robertson told his mother this was his chance and he had to quit school and follow his heart. Off he went to the United States. Hawkins old his new guitar player, 16-year-old Robertson, to "stay in the back" when playing in bars as he was underage. What's amazing from Robertson's background are two songs, Somewhere Down the Lazy River, written as memory as all this Southern USA stuff was all new and as foreign to him as if he were on another planet- look that music video up, it's AWESOME, and his song The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, written in Big Pink, my God, woman look Music From Big Pink up. That's musical history right there. To go on with more musicians from Winnipeg: Randy Bachman (Bachman Turner Overdrive- is also from Winnipeg. He had a fantastic radio show looking back at music. Google that as a podcast- it was on CBC, the show was called Vinyl Tap, very enjoyable.) Burton Cummnings- American Woman, remember that song? These Eyes, another great song. Great voice. He and the band he was with, the Guess Who are from Winnipeg. Many others are from that Manitoba city that has so much Canadian history, especially if your family worked for the Hudson Bay Company as mine did since the 1700s.Who else? A lot of musicians. Bif Naked, Garret Neiles and a lot of others are from Winnipeg. A lot of great music has come from that city. Love your show, girl. Cheers from Canada. We played this song a lot when young. We played this tune in our only coffee shop we had in our small town, in the basement of a church. It's fun to play on guitar. Cheers.

[@richardbeaton7324]

You'd love Crosby stills and nash , De ja vu , Long time gone , Carry on , Ohio , Are some beautiful tracks to start with , They're mainly acoustic 60's rock. :) Neil was in the band at one time too!

[@DavidHuston]

Correct, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

[@DanNelson-zw5ji]

Life is like that, a two sided coin , Heads you were young, Tails now you are old, two sides to your life story. I was young when this song came out, today I am 68 yrs old.

[@tjtampa214]

Thrilled I was - - that you reviewed this today! 💜 💜 Love, Love, Love this song. 🎵 I'm with you 💯 on what you had to say about it. One thing I did not know that you told us, was that by having the microphone right by the "sound-hole" of the guitar creates the feeling and the sound that you described. Because you described it exactly right! I Googled it and it's called a sound-hole. I was just going to call it an opening. Haha. I was hoping to find a slang term that might suit me better but I didn't see any.

[@Ray013]

The 'ranch' he was referring to is just up the road from me. He sold it a while ago. Old man has lived his life the young man is reflecting on his future experiences that the old man has already gone through. That is why he is a lot like you.

[@alanFconrad]

wow......Neil's finest singing

[@kennethvick9447]

Looks in a mirror and Sees his self when he was younger.

[@louisecote3542]

Neil Young is considered the"father of grunge" great legend💓

[@michaelsova7349]

I love the way you listen to the lyrics and try to interpret the meaning, like we all do. Neil, I believe, was a poet at heart. When he wrote about ‘Southern man’, Lynryd Skynyrd simply had to answer him. Reportedly they became friends.

[@bernardsalvatore1929]

BRITT, PLEASE react to the song OHIO!! If there was EVER a song that TRULY shows Neil Young's writing ability and ability to hit you like a punch with the message of his words, it would be OHIO!!❤❤

[@kevinmalone2218]

Believe it or not Neil Young is known as The Godfather of Grunge. He has several "Heavy Rock" songs. I saw him live in 1976 with "Crazy Horse" the first set was Neil playing acoustic guitar, harmonica, banjo etc. The 2nd set was with "Crazy Horse" and they blew it up!

[@Bangpath247]

there is Neal Young, and then there is Neil Young and Crazy Horse, an entirely different beast.

[@mikeymike7721]

Needle And The Damage Done [Unplugged]... hits pretty hard, and very relevant today

[@robertzimmerman2513]

Neil Young is one of those Singer songwriters, like Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell and then there’s pretty much everybody else behind them.

[@had64198]

The best! Two time hall of famer!

[@dennishinkle5010]

Look up how many albums Neil sold. On the studio version of the song he had James Taylor Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris with him. The whole album Harvest was one of the best ever recorded.

[@PlasticMacele]

In my mind it's a song about loneliness.

[@richardhoulton4016]

Neil Young touches a special place in my life. I discovered him as an 18 year old surfer/stoner, and now I’m aged 65, his music still speaks to me.

[@bryanschuler7158]

Just a suggestion…… Maybe react after the end of the song. You’re missing so much.

[@lilithstribe]

They have to interupt it per KZbin copyright infringement rules. 😢

[@drewcliff82]

Shut up

[@thechickvoice]

I saw Neil SOLO at Red Rocks the summer I turned 30. That was 35 years ago. He was spellbinding. One of best nights of my life. “Look at how the time has passed”.

[@k2thepeak]

@@thechickvoice Indeed…. I wish I had seen him at his peak at RedRocks. Must have been amazing especially at our special venue. Yes, I’m close by. JT a month+ ago was great although it took his voice a bit to altitude-adjust.

[@mrnobody9104]

Absolutely one of the top 5 all time greatest singer songwriters to ever come down the pike! Have seen Neil solo with Crazy Horse and with CSN&Y just sublime IMO.

[@jsavre1]

Hi Britt. You asked what he meant and I always heard it as a bridge song-we’re not old and young, rich and poor, left and right, black and white, Jewish and Palestinian….. we’re all just folks. Get along, accept, teach and learn, listen, understand. I loved this when I first heard it at fifteen, and listening to it with you (your first time, my two hundredth probably) as a 61 year old today, it still seems fresh, relevant, powerful, and true. Others might interpret it differently, but that’s the hallmark of an excellent song-it touches each of us differently and personally. I’m glad you’ve met Neil and hope you explore his art further. Thanks for your reaction-you’ve got a new (old) subscriber!

[@KarenAndersen-uy7vx]

I love how you say "let's see what he has to say". Then you interrupt and talk over every song. So, we never get to hear what they actually have to say.

[@blob537]

It's a reaction video, if you just want to listen to the song go find the original source? That's literally how a reaction video works🤣

[@Biomirth]

I didn't go to a lot of concerts but for some reason (I guess my friends) I went to a lot of Neil Young concerts. He got very cranky towards the end of touring but the feeling of being there with his songwriting and delivery is something I wouldn't trade for anything. I think, though I'm actually younger than 'his' generation, that he made us all feel part of something greater in the passage of time. There's something soothing about even his most angsty songs, and well, considering everything else, helped people survive the turmoil of the 70s and 80s.

[@patdonnelly9392]

When this song 1st came out, I was young. But I never realized until a few years ago the impact it had on my life . The line 'Doesn't mean that much to me to mean that much to you' must have sank deep into my brain, because it's always stuck with me! I've never tried to impress anyone or fit in. I'm old now, and I've always had great friends around me (and gotten great jobs!) because I didn't feel a need for approval, and it seems people appreciate that. Thanks Neil!

[@scottcorden2481]

The way that Martin just blew her mind. 😊 Best acoustic guitars in the world.

[@doreenradwan4790]

Britt! Another iconic singer, Mr. Neil Young. Earlier had been in the band- Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young! I love his voice, style, and he is also an amazing" guitarist!

[@TheHedgehogsDelimma]

Neil really was a stand out gem and such a swath of great work. I remember how much he meant to me in my late teens through to my mid twenties in the early 2000's. While I don't listen to him that much these days, I'll always be reminded of the beauty in his music from those days.

[@SnowDogisVictorious]

🍁Yet another gift from Canada to the rest of the musical world!🍁

[@douglaswaite9574]

The old man lives alone.. gave much of his life and dedicated it to a lonely existance to tend the ranch. I think young Neil was feeling like that... a kinship... giving his life to live on the road as a musician... much lonlier than we ever give credit for

[@WSallai]

In 1972 I was 15, nine years from 24, when I first started singing this song… I am now 66. This is still my favorite Neil Young solo-artist song. I also love The Needle & the Damage Done. I also like You Are Like a Hurricane (live).

[@oldrrocr]

Since you asked for it: This came out during the Viet Nam War so there were a lot of inferences taken in this song. Our fathers were pressed into WWII and Korean War and many of my generation did not embrace the war we were being drafted into. Yeah, some were in conflict with their parents. "Look, I'm a lot like you were." Plus, we were getting high, having free uninhibited sex and many embraced alternative lifestyles... completely at odds with the former generation's rules and sense of duty and responsibility. Of course, you could say that was the point of MOST of the songs back then. Neil Young was one of many who made our music so great and meaningful to us. Thanks for reviewing it! It's good to see it again through your young fresh eyes.

[@electricgamez5415]

This was the early 60’s coming out of the 60’s. The older generation looked down on the younger generation. The younger generation protested Vietnam had long hair and were hippies. Neil Young was saying that he was no different than the old man was when he was younger. He was saying they want the same things in life.. love a person to share life with. That even though he looks different he lives a normal life coming home and not out jet-setting. He is saying don’t judge me on the outside.

[@jasonfritz7521]

I think he’s saying that we come from different backgrounds, but ultimately we want the same things. We start from different perspectives, but he thought peace of mind came from fortune and fame and the old man showed that farm living brought that without the hassle. We should strive for self-sustainable life without stress from the system. Peace of mind is possible!

[@Eskimo8888]

Neil Young produced his own films of his concerts and put them out in the 70’s at the local movie theaters. He wanted everyone to enjoy his music and performances

[@artvallejos1460]

Rust Never Sleeps

[@gerriwalsh9846]

Saw Neil Young perform a few years ago back here in Canada, and he sounded the same as he did back when that song was recorded :)

[@markwatson450]

There is an extra level of passion that you get when singer-songwriters perform their own work! Think Neil, Jim Croche, Don McClean, Billy Joel etc.! Thanks

[@scottdepledge4209]

I LOVE the way you feel the music through your face. It helps me feel the way you feel about the sounds you are feeling.

[@colinhildreth5701]

Loved Neil's rendition of this song back in the day. Unique personality and thoughtful song writing. A storyteller ... He collaborated with Crosby, Stills and Nash for several years. Great music!

[@MrSteeDoo]

uggh I can't handle it when people try to break down every last phrase of a Neil Young song. It's the imagery not a scientific handbook, people.

[@andrewmadeloni7173]

What stands out to me about your reactions to the music/songs is your passion for the sounds, lyrics, and the meanings...🙂

[@BeautifulSoothingSounds]

Old Man" by Neil Young is a poignant and introspective song that explores themes of aging, empathy, and the passage of time. The song was released in 1972 on Young's album "Harvest" and has since become one of his most beloved and enduring compositions. Here's a breakdown of some of the key themes and meanings in the song: Reflection on Aging: The lyrics of "Old Man" depict a conversation between a younger man, likely Neil Young himself, and an older man, referred to as "Old Man." Through this dialogue, Young reflects on the inevitability of aging and the changes that come with it. Empathy and Understanding: The song shows empathy towards the old man, recognizing his experiences, struggles, and the wisdom he has gained over the years. Young acknowledges that despite their differences in age and circumstances, they share common emotions and desires. Connection to Nature and Land: The lyrics make references to the land and nature, suggesting a connection between the passage of time and the natural world. This connection underscores the idea of cyclical change and the universal experience of aging. Father-Son Dynamics: While the song's lyrics can be interpreted more broadly, there's a personal dimension to it as well. Neil Young reportedly wrote "Old Man" while living on his ranch in California, where he formed a close bond with the caretaker of the property, whom he called "Old Man." This adds a layer of personal connection and intimacy to the song, suggesting a complex interplay between the roles of father and son, mentor and mentee. Yearning for Connection and Understanding: Throughout the song, there's a sense of longing for connection and understanding between the two characters. Despite their differences, they find common ground and mutual respect, suggesting that empathy and compassion transcend generational divides. Overall, "Old Man" can be seen as a meditation on the passage of time, the complexities of human relationships, and the universal experience of aging. It's a song that resonates with audiences across generations, touching on themes that are timeless and deeply human.

[@TonyFreeman-LocoTonyF]

I think the old man was just the inspiration for the song.

[@michaelbutler218]

The anthem of the times! Young Lady your listening to a song that moved America and the last of the "Free Love" Children! You would have had to been there. Much respect for your appreciative analogy! Peace ✌🏽💯