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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 don't envy you.
Look at my life...
Nope, you're not the only one.
Kudos to you, steve2....and I'm happy you tried, and maybe that willingness will serve you well in other ventures in life....I for one LOVE this song (more so than other Neil tunes) b/c the theme and sentiment are wonderful. It's a 9 for me...and Long Live RP!!
The banjo is the icing on the cake. Don't say that very often...
I also love that Neil Young has never sold out, never produced that dribble that most musicians fall into - true artist and one of our finest lyricists.


"I'm a lot like you were."
I've always enjoyed the subtle banjo licks in this tune.
I think Taylor and Linda Rodstandt (sp) are doing backing vocals...
I've always enjoyed the subtle banjo licks in this tune.
Hard to know if I love the songwriting/lyrics/performance - or the production and tone that reminds me fondly of some good times when this was released.
and, does it matter?
only in the way it effects you, how you remember and deal with those memories
to me it's like what a touchstone should be - surfacing feelings long forgotten and for me - bringing a smile to me face.
Thanks mr. young for being here at the right time

The soundtrack of my life! 9.

That was surprisingly good. Fallon does have talent though at times he acts like a complete and utter fangirl.
I just finished reading Neil Young's book "Waging Heavy Peace" and I have to say it was really interesting.
That was surprisingly good. Fallon does have talent though at times he acts like a complete and utter fangirl.
RH
Yes.
1972 and this still just does it for me.
Hard to know if I love the songwriting/lyrics/performance - or the production and tone that reminds me fondly of some good times when this was released.
and, does it matter?
To quote Neil:
"About that time when I wrote "Heart Of Gold", and I was touring, I had also -- just, you know, being a rich hippie for the first time -- I had purchased a ranch, and I still live there today. And there was a couple living on it that were the caretakers, an old gentleman named Louis Avila and his wife Clara. And there was this old blue Jeep there, and Louis took me for a ride in this blue Jeep. He gets me up there on the top side of the place, and there's this lake up there that fed all the pastures, and he says, "Well, tell me, how does a young man like yourself have enough money to buy a place like this?" And I said, "Well, just lucky, Louie, just real lucky." And he said, "Well, that's the darndest thing I ever heard." And I wrote this song for him."
gigikent wrote:
Wow... your list of 1s is a compendium of classic material from great, time tested, artists.
You must be from bizzarro world where up is down, left is right, good is bad, and sense is senseless.
Does this mean that gigikent prefers to dine at Reggie's over eating at Monk's?


Yes, both good and bad!



True, I gotta admit this song is pretty damn good. Gonna bump to 10

No need to worry, the rest of us will be sure to place it where it should be - 8, 9 or 10.
Wow... your list of 1s is a compendium of classic material from great, time tested, artists.
You must be from bizzarro world where up is down, left is right, good is bad, and sense is senseless.
Not sure about Linda Ronstadt, but James Taylor is playing the banjo on this one.
Not being a banjo player, but being one hell of a guitar fingerpicker, he tuned the banjo the same as a guitar and played it like a guitar.
Really, the song wouldn't be the same without it.
According to wikipedia it is indeed Linda Ronstadt singing backup.
... he's lending his voice up here in the new year in support of the First Nations and their opposition to the oilsands development with 4 concerts and proceeds going to help the Aboriginals fight thereof. Sing it Neil.
Oh buggery bollocks, I wish you had not said that, it's now true for me too.
Sigh. . .
Imagine how Neil feels these days...
Hey oldsaxon...elsewhere here on RP you have praised the North Korean government and claimed that life there is great...Would u mind commenting on the fact that not one person from that country can listen to this station? Or that millions die in death camps there? Is that your version of social justice?
Yes.
1972 and this still just does it for me.
Sure enough.
As a compensation, let me bump this up to 10 from 9, it's the least I can do besides buy the album.
I am happy for you. In 1979, right after I left home for college I got turned on to this album. I still recall, vividly, the first weekend I listened all day long. What I remember is bong hits at sun rise. Still, when I listen to Neil I feel like getting high.

Also, don't use a word unless you know how to spell it correctly, i.e., 'pretentious'. It makes you look ignorant.
The first million is always the hardest. That's why I am skipping that and working on the second million.
As a compensation, let me bump this up to 10 from 9, it's the least I can do besides buy the album.
It's not his guitar playing or his vocal limitations that set Neil Young apart from everyone else. He has vision, empathy and great passion for the songs that he writes and performs. All together an incredible talent and a major Play(er) to be sure, and one has endured for forty years and will continue as long as there is air in his lungs and skin on his fingers.
That and being a bit bonkers.
What dew34 said!



It's not his guitar playing or his vocal limitations that set Neil Young apart from everyone else. He has vision, empathy and great passion for the songs that he writes and performs. All together an incredible talent and a major Play(er) to be sure, and one has endured for forty years and will continue as long as there is air in his lungs and skin on his fingers.
Massey Hall in 71 live recording is a great album.
Neil's voice is so young (no pun intended) in that recording.
It was recorded right when Harvest was being released, so no one clapped for all the hits on it.
Yes -- especially Cowgirl in the Sand. Even better acoustic. Believe it or don't.
Thanks a bunch! Hmm ... an odd question. I was, actually.
westslope wrote:
michaelgmitchell: Thanks for sharing! Your daughter has a fine voice. Tell me: You were never a sports journalist, right? ;-)
Not sure about Linda Ronstadt, but James Taylor is playing the banjo on this one.
Not being a banjo player, but being one hell of a guitar fingerpicker, he tuned the banjo the same as a guitar and played it like a guitar.
Really, the song wouldn't be the same without it.
michaelgmitchell: Thanks for sharing!
Your daughter has a fine voice.
Tell me: You were never a sports journalist, right? ;-)
I recall that even as a kid, 10 or 11 when it came out and was all over the airwaves, the rhymes and progressions were simple enough, and yet essential and instantly timelessly CLASSIC.
I still feel the same!
Headed to see Neil and Crazy Horse THIS SUNDAY AT RED ROCKS AND CAN HARDLY WAIT!
/M.
unclehud wrote: When I first heard this, Neil was singing to some old man. Today, he's singing to me. Oh buggery bollocks, I wish you had not said that, it's now true for me too. Sigh. . . |
Imagine how Neil feels these days...
Absolutely. That is flawless layered guitar in that clip. Going to youtube now to watch
When I first heard this, Neil was singing to some old man. Today, he's singing to me.
Oh buggery bollocks, I wish you had not said that, it's now true for me too.
Sigh. . .
When I first heard this, Neil was singing to some old man. Today, he's singing to me.
You and me both, brother.
When I listen to this today, I hear my 24 year old self talking to me from my past. We both love this song.
When I first heard this, Neil was singing to some old man. Today, he's singing to me.
yeah okay...
this guy makes Bob Dylan seem like Pavarotti...

One of the most beautiful songs ever written.

Neil Young - Old Man
Neil Young plays Old Man live in Coburg, August 2008. Featuring Larry on banjo.
"Doesn't mean that much to me to mean that much do you..." Genius jwhardin740
Quite sure that's the late great Ben Keith on peddle steel here. Fabulous. MarshallBennett64
pure greatness! wow, neil sounds like it is 71 again here- nice guitar work- oh and the banjo dude is very good- jabb69
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.
in album Harvest (1972) and Decade (Compilation) (1977)
special participation Mr. James Taylor played six-string banjo (tuned like a guitar) and sang on the song, and Ms. Linda Ronstadt also contributed vocals.
** 10 **
Yes, that does stand out. Neutral Milk Hotel used the same in a great song.
Understatement of the year, the banjo is amazing!!

While having drinks before dinner I say to our hosts that I feel like I've seen this terrain before. They said their neighbor is Neil Young and that he invites them to a hoe down every summer. So I'm thinking of images of the farm and the barn on Harvest and Ol' Ways. It is called Broken Arrow Ranch and it I believe the same name for his recording company.
The "Live at Carnegie Hall" bootleg (1971 approx) , Young talks about this song, "Old Man" he recently wrote about this old man who works on his farm. I can't help but think that the old woman who greeted us that day was his wife.
Great story. Thanks for sharing that.
While having drinks before dinner I say to our hosts that I feel like I've seen this terrain before. They said their neighbor is Neil Young and that he invites them to a hoe down every summer. So I'm thinking of images of the farm and the barn on Harvest and Ol' Ways. It is called Broken Arrow Ranch and it I believe the same name for his recording company.
The "Live at Carnegie Hall" bootleg (1971 approx) , Young talks about this song, "Old Man" he recently wrote about this old man who works on his farm. I can't help but think that the old woman who greeted us that day was his wife.
Right on...alas
Well said; this song was poignant to me in high school (to which my heart gets unmercifully dragged within the first few chords)- even then I could grasp that we all look back, wishing we'd had more foresight in our later years... then again, I was an old kid in some ways.
Like the earlier poster said, this song will never get old for me.
Yes, so you like it?
9
ok , sappy , yeah, but think about it, Neils around 22 at the time he wrote this and he got it.
I wish my kids would have this perspective.
wish I was 22 again
Right on...alas
I only wish it were true.
Yes, so you like it?
God , how we need love !