The only time it bothered me that someone sounded like me was when I was living in Phoenix, Arizona, in about '72 and the big song at the time was "Heart of Gold". I used to hate it when it came on the radio. I always liked Neil Young, but it bothered me every time I listened to "Heart of Gold." I think it was up at number one for a long time, and I'd say, 'Shit, that's me. If it sounds like me, it should as well be me.'I too have a memory of that song but it's from '79. Having spent a month in Italy without seeing another American, I got to Pisa by train late at night with an Italian friend. Our usual routine was to sleep outside at or near the train station and then to see the city the next day before moving on - a buon mercato. I couldn't wait and went off looking for the Leaning Tower. Along the way, or on the walk back, I watched a guy singing that song, alone, under a street light. Unforgettable.
Friday, May 8, 2015
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18 comments:
James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt sang back up on that track.
I was just wandering who that was... thanks.
The song makes me feel how forlorn-sounding the pedal steel guitar is.
I should create a chirbit of me doing Bob Dylan. Hilarious.
I LUUUUV you with all the exaggerated nasal intonations.
I like Neil Young. something about him.
Don't want to take away from the glory of heart of gold...(but) remember this patch of his career?
???
@April: I did a Bob Dylan "nasal voice" chirbit: link. I think I was riffing on something that betamax3000 (aka Laslo) posted.
Well Neil Young should remember the sign for gold is the exact same sign used for California. And every dictionary does it differently but each dictionary does both the same. The sign is related to silver.
So you never do know if they mean gold or if they mean California and it makes a big difference. It's something left to sort by context but even context can mislead.
Hang on. I have to get my fig newtons.
The sign starts out at the temple (ear, cheek, brow, jaw with any of a few hand configurations and pulls out away from the head shaking into a Y for yellow for gold (instead of a G for some reason, odd, because "silver is the same thing ending is S. Such is the logic of sign.)
So gold pulls away shaking as if shining from the head to Y and so does California and now it the "heart" that is gold, or else the heart is California as with Delta Spirit "California"
And while Neil Young is doing all this remembering, which he should, he should also keep in mind since the heart is gold and not the head, why not pull away from the heart into a Y instead of pull away from the head into a Y and readers will realize the heart is either of or for gold or of or for California. Somehow you must must make clear the heart is shining of gold in one song and longing for California in the other.
I practiced both songs at length. This one years ago as a boy until I had it nailed and Delta Spirit one a few months ago until I had it nailed and this gold/California thing is a bit vexing even across the decades and even with a dozen dictionaries and Neil Young should remember that. We need him. Anyhow, that's my tumescence. I meant to say too sense. No wait, 2¢.
I loved. The Harvest album.
Needle and the Damage Done is haunting.
@Chip: "Y" and "G" confusion/equivalency is a part of Indo-European language. Examples from German and English:
Gestern/Yestern
sagen/sayen
Geller/Yeller
Pisa is my least favorite city I've visited in Italy. It's sorta a shithole.
@Spinelli: I spent less that 24 hours there. Nearby Lucca is more interesting and worth a stay.
@Spinelli: But you, not being a scientist--nor dare I say appreciative of it--would not see Pisa as important. Its gastronomia is unremarkable as far as I know.
bwaahahahaha (chikl)
A Little Known Fact: In earlier versions of "Heart of Gold," before the re-writes, it was originally about Diogenes of Sinope.
I like Neil Young. something about him.
That is a really great song and it brings back a lot of memories for me too.
However, I can't stand Neil Young's voice. He just whines his way through the songs. High pitched and nasal tones. Gah! I can't focus on the songs because I can't get past his voice.
Loved Lucca. Had a great lunch there, food being very important to me. And, it is a caricature to think someone who is not a scientist is not appreciative of it. I am secure enough to admit I don't understand much of science. But, I admire and respect science and scientists.
Regarding Neil Young. My jr. year in college I lived w/ 2 dead heads. I got sick of the dead. My sr. year I lived w/ a Neil Young nut. I got sick of him as well. But, my respect for Young, his accomplishments and overcoming some horrible life circumstances, keeping a sense of humor always, has brought me back to him. His voice is pretty bad. But, when I only listen to him occasionally, I can get past that. Listening to him daily made getting past the nasal/whine impossible.
My favorite Young song is Rockin' in the Free World. He gives it up performing that great song.
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