tell me why neil young after the gold rush

The song has been covered numerous times: The line 'Look at Mother Nature on the run / In the 1970s' has been amended by Young in concert over the decades and is currently sung as 'Look at Mother Nature on the run / in the 21st century.' Cover versions In the decades since the song was first released, the horn solo in the song has typically been replaced by a harmonica solo by Young in live performances. On the original recording, in addition to Young's vocals, two instruments are utilized: a piano and a French horn. 'After the Gold Rush' consists of three verses which move forward in time from the past (a medieval celebration), to the present (the singer lying in a burned out basement), and, finally, to the end of humanity's time on Earth (the ascension process in which the 'chosen ones' are evacuated from Earth in silver spaceships). When I look out the window, the first thing that comes to my mind is the way this place looked a hundred years ago. I recognize in it now this thread that goes through a lotta my songs that’s this time-travel thing. Young eventually concluded that:Īfter The Gold Rush is an environmental song. The screenplay and song's title referred to what happened in California, a place that took shape due to the Gold Rush. However, in his 2012 biography Young reportedly gave a different explanation of the song's origin and meaning, describing the inspiration provided by a screenplay of the same name (never produced), which apocalyptically described the last days of California in a catastrophic flood. I think it's about the Second Coming or the invasion of aliens, or both. He said, 'I have no idea.' I thought that was so funny.

Linda and Emmy knew Neil, so we called him and asked him. I loved the song on Neil Young's album and I loved it when Prelude had it out in 1974. Dolly Parton, recalling a conversation while in the process of recording a cover of the song, along with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt, for their 1999 album Trio II, said: Young has said that he doesn't recall what the song is about. It is ranked number 322 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In addition to After the Gold Rush, it also appears on the compilation albums Decade, and Greatest Hits, and on Live Rust.Īn a capella version of the song was a hit in many countries in 1974 for the English vocal group Prelude. 'After the Gold Rush' is a song written and performed by Neil Young and is the title song from his 1970 album of the same name. 1970 song written by Neil Young 'After the Gold Rush'

Tell me why neil young after the gold rush