Neil Young: Heart of Gold (2006) - full transcript
A film shot over during a two-night performance by Neil Young at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium.
(engine starts)
(piano plays)
* In the morning,
when I wake up *
* and listen to the sound
* of the birds outside
on the roof *
* I try to ignore
what the paper says *
* and I try not
to read all the news *
* and I'll hold you
if you had a bad dream *
* and I hope
it never comes true *
* 'cause you and I been through
so many things together *
* and the sun
starts climbing the roof *
* it's a dream
* only a dream
* and it's fading now
* fading away
* only a dream
* just a memory
without any... *
You come here
to make a record,
and you've got
great musicians,
you know,
and I always gather
my own friends around that
I pick, you know, to play.
I don't really go for
the studio musician guys
that much, you know.
I don't come in
and say,
"Get me this
and get me that."
But I have my own band
and I like to play
on the road
with the same band
I use in the studio.
I've been working with Neil
for 35...
since '70,
and we cut Harvest
here in Nashville.
He was doing
the Johnny Cash Show
and, uh, he showed up
at that studio,
quadraphonic, down on
Grand Avenue, I think,
and, um, he wanted to, uh,
do some music that
he had written recently.
And this was in
the seventies.
and, uh, he stopped--
one of the engineers
stopped a bass player who
was walking down the street
and said, "You wanna come in
and do some, some music
with Neil Young?"
and he said, "Sure."
So he came in.
It was Tim Drummon
was the bass player's name.
And they asked him if Neil
wanted a steel guitar player.
and I lived about two blocks
down the street,
and, uh, so he called me up
and I came down.
And they were already
recording at the time
and, uh, I set up my steel
and kinda snuck in there
and, uh, started playing
and we did 5 songs
before we ever stopped
and introduced ourselves.
My family used to drive up
from, from Birmingham,
Alabama area,
and we would go, uh,
try to make it up
at least once a month
and a lot of times
we made it up twice a month
to, uh, come to the Ryman
to see the Grand Ole Opry
and to have breakfast
with the stars,
as they said down on
Broadway back then.
There was a little...
a little radio show
that people that was gonna go
down to the Ryman that night
could go down and eat breakfast
with all the people
that... that were sober
enough the next morning
to... to have breakfast.
I performed at the Ryman
one time
with my songwriting
friend, Dan Penn,
and we were invited
to play with, um,
they called it "The legendary
songwriters series"
or something, and that
was a lot of fun, you know.
And that place
has great acoustics,
I think, you know.
It's just,
you can crank it out
without trying too hard.
A lot of, you know,
the volume
carries real well there,
seemed like.
The Ryman auditorium is...
There's such a vibe in there
it's-- there's a sound
in there
that is unlike
any other place,
and, uh, that's really nice
because, uh, some places
you come in,
and they sound like
a big tin can
and, uh, there's
something about it.
Obviously, there's a lot
of stories in this building,
and I'm sure glad
they didn't tear it down.
They were apparently
going to tear it down.
But now they're building
a high-rise on the side
where those beautiful
stained glass windows are.
It's going to block out
the light.
And I don't know how
anybody could...
that... that should be
illegal, you know.
Like the artistic police or
the aesthetic police should...
if there was such a thing,
should come and arrest them.
Well, this last project,
I mean,
he made a statement to me
and I didn't believe it.
He said, um,
"It's been two years
since I, um, wrote
for something," right?
And we got to the hotel
around his old buddies again,
we couldn't get him
from writing.
Couldn't stop him
from writing.
That's just how it comes.
I had no idea
that it was--
but there was a little...
there was a little...
to be honest, there was
a little bit of...
kind of we just picked up on
a little bit of,
like, something's going on.
We don't know
what's going on exactly.
When he made this record,
it was right after he found
out he had the aneurysm,
and I think of it as like,
his life flashing
before his eyes
and just remembering
all these things
and wanting to say
these things.
'Cause, you know,
we didn't really know
what was going to happen.
He said, "I got...
I got this brain aneurysm."
and, I mean,
the world stopped to me.
It was just like, "You what?"
He was like, "Yeah,
I got this brain aneurysm,
"and I'm gonna go to New York
next Tuesday
and they're gonna, you know,
they're gonna do this thing."
He goes, "And it's really wild
what they're gonna do."
And I said, "What are they
going to do?"
and he said, "Well,
they're gonna go in there
"and they're gonna...
they're gonna put
"these little bitty
springs in there,
"and they're biodegradable.
"and what that does
is that makes the body
produce this scar tissue, which
then negates the aneurysm."
And I'm sitting there
going, "What?" you know?
"and why are you sitting here
right now?
how is that?" you know?
"How can it be that you're
going there next Tuesday
and we're sitting here
recording?"
I'm just going, what the--
* That prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* That prairie wind
blowing through my head *
We don't use
a tenor saxophone.
We use two baritone parts
instead
so that the part of the tenor
has a lot of bite to it.
* Tryin' to remember
what daddy said *
d-45.
Heart of Gold
written and recorded.
Old man.
Check 1, 2.
You wanna come out?
Check 1, 2.
Check 1,2.
All right. Just keep this
with you all night.
Every time you come outside,
you need it to get back in.
Thanks.
I just wanna play well,
and I wanna, you know,
share the stage
with my friends.
Give the best I can.
We're gonna get in there
and let the muse
have us.
Take a shot.
Send it out.
(audience applauds)
Good evening,
ladies and gentlemen,
and welcome to the Ryman
and the world premiere of
Neil Young's Prairie Wind.
(cheers and applause)
(music begins)
* The painter stood
* before her work
* She looked around
everywhere *
* She saw the pictures
and she painted them *
* Pickin' colors from the air
* Green to green
* Red to red
* Yellow to yellow
in the light *
* Black to black
when the evening comes *
* Blue to blue
through the night *
* It's a long road
* behind me
* It's a long road
* ahead
* If you follow every dream
* you might get lost
* If you follow every dream
* you might get lost
* She towed the line
* She held her end up
* She did the work of two men
* but in the end
she fell down *
* before she got up again
* I have my friends
eternally *
* We leave our tracks
in the sound *
* Some of them
are with me now *
* Some of them can't be found
* It's a long road
* behind me
* And I miss you now
* If you follow every dream
* you might get lost
* If you follow every dream
* you might get lost
* Green to green
* Red to red
* Yellow to yellow
in the light *
* Black to black
when the evening comes *
* Blue to blue
through the night *
* See the bluebird fly
* easy as a dream
* Dipping and bobbing
in the sun *
* Could she be the one
* I saw so long ago?
* Could she be the one
to take me home? *
* This pasture is green
* I'm walking in the sun
* It's turning brown,
I'm standing in the rain *
* My overcoat is worn,
the pockets are all torn *
* I'm moving away
from the pain *
* Tick-tock
* the clock on the wall
* No wonder
we're losing time *
* Ring, ring
* the old church bell
* The bride and her love
* seeking guidance from above
* Amber waves of grain
* bow in the prairie wind
* I'm hearing Willie
singing on the radio again *
* That song from 9/11
keeps ringing in my head *
* I'll always remember
something Chris Rock said *
* Don't send no more candles
* no matter what you do
* Then Willie stopped singing
* and the prairie wind blew
* The green kept rolling on
for miles and miles *
* fields of fuel rolling on
for miles *
* Tick-tock
* the clock on the wall
* No wonder we're losing time
* Toll, toll
* the fallen soldier bell
* The old church on the hill
* still standing
when so many fell *
* Back when I was young
* the birds
blocked out the sun *
* before the great
migration south *
* We only shot a few
* They last
the winter through *
* Mother cooked them good
and served 'em up *
* Somewhere a senator
sits in a leather chair *
* behind a big wooden desk
* The caribou we killed
mean nothing to him *
* He took his money
just like all the rest *
* Tick-tock
* the clock on the wall
* No wonder we're losing time
* Ring, ring
* ring the wedding bells
* The bride takes the ring
* and the happy people sing
* I just want to thank you
* for all the things
you've done *
* I been thinking about you
* I just want to send my love
* I send my best to you
* That's my message of love
* for all the things you did
* I can never thank you enough
* Feel like I'm falling
* falling off the face
of the earth *
* falling off the face
of the earth *
* falling
* falling off the face
of the earth *
* falling off the face
of the earth *
* Oh, oh, oh, oh
* I just want to tell you
* you sure mean a lot to me
* It may sound simple
* but you are the world to me
* It's such a precious thing
* the time we shared together
* I must apologize
* for the trouble times
* Feel like I'm falling
* falling off the face
of the earth *
* falling off the face
of the earth *
* falling
* falling off the face
of the earth *
* falling off the face
of the earth *
* Oh, oh, oh, oh
* Feel like I'm falling
* falling off the face
of the earth *
* falling off the face
of the earth *
* falling
* falling off the face
of the earth *
* falling off the face
of the earth *
* falling
* falling off the face
of the earth *
* Feel like I'm falling
* falling off the face
of the earth *
* falling
This is a song here, uh...
when I first started
playing guitar,
I was a chicken farmer
at the time.
I was about 7 or 8
years old or something.
Maybe a little older
than that.
But, uh, my daddy
brought me
an Arthur Godfrey ukulele,
a little plastic one.
And I didn't know what to do
with it or anything.
He said,
"You might need this."
and then he sang me
a song...
which I never heard him
sing before.
Then he got this
funny grin on his face
and was looking at me,
and I was watching him...
and I had to go
feed the chickens.
(audience laughs)
1, 2, 3...
* When I was a growing boy
* rocking on my daddy's knee
* Daddy took an old guitar
and sang *
* bury me on the lone prairie
* Uncle Bob sat at the piano
* My girl cousins sang harmony
* Those were the good old
family times *
* that left a big mark on me
* Bury me out on the prairie
* where the buffalo
used to roam *
* where the Canada geese
once filled the sky *
* and then I won't be
far from home *
* Yeah, bury me out
on the prairie *
* where the buffalo
used to roam *
* You won't have to shed
a tear for me *
* 'cause then I won't be
far from home *
* Out on the trans-Canada
highway *
* I was talking to a firefly
* trying to make my way
to Nashville, Tennessee *
* when another car
passed me by *
* Someday I'm gonna make
big money *
* and buy myself a big old car
* Make my way on down
to the promised land *
* and then I'm gonna
really go far *
* Bury me out on the prairie
* where the buffalo
used to roam *
* Where the Canada geese
once filled the sky *
* and then I won't be
far from home *
* Just bury me out on
the prairie *
* where the buffalo
used to roam *
* You won't have to shed
a tear for me *
* 'cause then I won't be
far from home *
You know, I look around
Nashville today,
there's a lot more cars.
There's a lot more
new buildings.
I often wonder what Hank
Williams would've thought
if he stepped out
of that stage door
on his way to Tootsie's
and looked up
and saw the Gaylord
Entertainment Center
sitting there.
(audience laughs)
(chuckles)
So things have changed,
but, uh,
the spirit's still here
and that's,
that's a beautiful thing.
(audience applauds)
* In the morning when I wake up
and listen to the sound *
* of the birds outside
on the roof *
* I try to ignore
what the paper says *
* and I try not to read
all the news *
* And I'll hold you
if you've had a bad dream *
* and I hope that
it never comes true *
* 'cause you and I been through
so many things together *
* And the sun starts
climbing the roof *
* It's a dream
* It's only a dream
* Just a memory
* fading away
* It's only a dream
* Just a memory
* without anywhere
* to stay
* Red River still flows
through my home town *
* rollin' and tumblin'
on its way *
* Swirling around
the old bridge pylons *
* where a boy fishes
the morning away *
* A bicycle leans on
an oak tree *
* while the cars rumble
over his head *
* An airplane leaves a trail
in an empty blue sky *
* and the young birds
call out to be fed *
* It's a dream
* It's only a dream
* and it's fading now
* Fading away
* It's only a dream
* Just a memory
* without anywhere
* to stay
* An old man walks along
on the sidewalk *
* with sunglasses
and an old stetson hat *
* The fall winds blow
the back of his overcoat away *
* as he stops with the policeman
to chat *
* And a train rolls out
of the station *
* that was really somethin'
in its day *
* Picking up speed
on the straight prairie rails *
* as it carries
its passengers away *
* It's gone
* It's only a dream
* and it's fading now
* Fading away
* It's only a dream
* Just a memory
* without anywhere
* to stay
* It's a dream
* It's only a dream
* and it's fading now
* Fading away
* It's only a dream
* Just a memory
* without anywhere
* to stay
* It's a dream
* It's only a dream
* and it's fading now
* Fading away
Thank you, Nashville.
(chuckles)
It sure is great
to be here tonight
with all of you.
(cheers and applause)
You know, it's getting to be
about that time,
some of us are starting to
lose our parents and stuff.
My daddy passed away
a couple of months ago,
and, uh...
in the last part of his life
he had, uh, dementia.
And that's, uh...
I know some of you know
what that's like,
and, uh...
and it's, uh, it's something
else to see your loved ones
living in the moment.
But, uh...
when he passed, we had
a nice service for him.
and my little cousin,
or niece,
she was about this high
and she came up and said,
"Daddy was ok.
he knew what was going on."
Once a police car
pulled up behind him.
right behind him
there was this police car.
He said, "Cop."
so I know he was ok.
(audience laughs)
* Trying to remember
what my daddy said *
* before too much time
took away his head *
* He said we're gonna go back
* and I'll show you
what I'm talking about *
* Back to Cypress river,
back to the old farmhouse *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Trying to remember
what daddy said *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Well, I tried
to tell the people *
* but they never heard
a word I said *
* They say there's
nothing out there *
* but wheat fields anyway
* Just a farmer's wife
* hanging laundry
in her back yard *
* out on the prairie
* where the wind blows
long and hard *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Trying to remember
what daddy said *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Late at night
* lights dancing
in the northern sky *
* Just the Indian spirit
* trying to show me
how to fly *
* You can see into the future
but it may be a mirage *
* like a new car sitting there
in your old garage *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* There's a place on the prairie
where evil and goodness play *
* Daddy told me all about it
* but I don't remember
what he said *
* Well, it may be afternoon
* and it may be
the dead of night *
* but you'll know
when you see it *
* 'cause it sure is
a hell of a sight *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Trying to remember
what my daddy said *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* before too much time
took away his head *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* He said we're gonna go back
* and I'll show you
what I'm talking about *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Going back to Cypress river,
back to the old farmhouse *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
Thank you.
You know, I got
a beautiful young girl.
she's, uh, just turned 21.
She's going back for her last
year of college pretty soon.
She'd probably be embarrassed if
I said anything more about her.
You know how that is.
Can't say much.
Anyway, there was a time
I used to write
these kind of songs
for girls my own age.
Pegi: You still got
a few left in you.
Neil: Yeah, I got a few
left in me.
(audience laughs)
So this is what
you might call
a kind of
an empty nester song.
It's a new genre.
They might even have a new kind
of radio station for 'em.
* When your summer days
come tumbling down *
* and you find yourself alone
* Then you can come back
* and be with me
* Just close your eyes
and I'll be there *
* Listen to the sound
* of this old heart
* beating for you
* Yes, I miss you
* but I never wanted
to hold you down *
* You might say
* I'm here for you
* When the winter comes
to your new home *
* and snowflakes
are falling down *
* Then you can come back
* and be with me
* Just close your eyes
and I'll be there *
* Listen to the sound
* of this old heart
* beating for you
* Yes, I miss you
* But I never want
to hold you down *
* You might say
* I'm here for you
* In the spring
* Protective arms
surrounded you *
* In the fall,
we let you go your way *
* Happiness
* I know will always find you
* and when it does
* I hope that it will stay
* Yes, I miss you
* but I never want
to hold you down *
* You might say
* I'm here for you
* Yes, I miss you
* but I never want
to hold you down *
* You might say
* I'm here for you
* I'll always be
* here for you
Thank you.
You know, uh...
one of my favorite guitars
in the world
is, uh, is Willie Nelson's
guitar
and the way it looks.
And, uh, this guitar here,
my friend Grant,
Grant Boatwright,
found this guitar for me
about 30 years ago
and I bought it
from Tuck Taylor.
And, uh...
this is Hank's old guitar.
(audience applauds)
He was here in 1951,
I think,
and, uh, that was Hank's
last show here.
Maybe. I think it was.
Maybe he got back.
He got fired, I know that.
But maybe he came back
one more time.
I'm not sure,
but I don't think so.
So I'm glad to see it
back here
and I'm glad...
(audience applauds)
Anyway,
here's a tune for you.
* This old guitar
ain't mine to keep *
* I'm taking care of it now
* It's been around
for years and years *
* just waiting
in its old case *
* It's been up and down
the country roads *
* It's brought a tear
and a smile *
* It's had its share
of dreams and hopes *
* and never went out of style
* The more I play it,
the better it sounds *
* It cries
when I leave it alone *
* Silently it waits for me
* or someone else,
I suppose *
* This old guitar
* This old guitar
* This old guitar
* This old guitar
has caught some breaks *
* but it never searched
for gold *
* It can't be blamed
for my mistakes *
* It only does what it's told
* It's been a messenger
in times of trouble *
* in times of hope and fear
* When I get drunk
and seeing double *
* it jumps behind the wheel
and steers *
* This old guitar
ain't mine to keep *
* It's mine to play
for a while *
* This old guitar
ain't mine to keep *
* It's only mine for a while
* This old guitar
* This old guitar
* This old guitar
* This old guitar
* This old guitar
* Was he thinkin'
about my country *
* or the color of my skin?
* Was he thinkin' 'bout
my religion *
* and the way
I worshipped him? *
* Did he create just me
in his image *
* or every living thing?
* When God made me
* When God made me
* was he planning
only for believers *
* or for those
who just have faith? *
* Did he envision all the wars
* that were fought
in his name? *
* Did he think
there was only one way *
* to be close to him?
* When God made me
* When God made me
* Did he give us
the gift of love *
* to say
who we could choose? *
* When God made me
* When God made me
* When God made me
* When God made me
* Did he give me the gift
of voice *
* so some could silence me?
* Did he give me the gift
of vision *
* not knowing
what I might see? *
* Did he give us the gift
of compassion *
* to help our fellow man?
* When God made me
* When God made me
* When God made me
* When God made me
* I am a child
* I last a while
* You can't conceive of
the pleasure in my smile *
* You hold my hand
* rough up my hair
* It's lots of fun
to have you there *
* I gave to you
* now you give to me
* I'd like to know
what you've learned *
* The sky is blue
* and so is the sea
* What is the color
when black is burned? *
* What is the color?
* You are a man
* you understand
* You pick me up,
then you lay me down again *
* You make the rules
* You say what's fair
* It's lots of fun
to have you there *
* I gave to you
* Now you give to me
* I'd like to know
what you've learned *
* The sky is blue
* and so is the sea
* What is the color
when black is burned? *
* What is the color?
* Come a little bit closer
* Hear what I have to say
* Just like children sleeping
* We could dream
this night away *
* but there's
a full moon rising *
* Let's go dancing
in the light *
* We know where
the music's playing *
* Let's go out
and feel the night *
* because I'm still in love
with you *
* I want to see you
dance again *
* because I'm still in love
with you *
* On this harvest moon
* when we were strangers
* I watched you from afar
* When we were lovers
* I loved you
with all my heart *
* But now it's getting late
* and the moon
is climbing high *
* I want to celebrate
* See it shining
in your eye *
* because I'm still in love
with you *
* I want to see you
dance again *
* because I'm still in love
with you *
* On this harvest moon
* because I'm still in love
with you *
* I want to see you
dance again *
* because I'm still in love
with you *
* On this harvest moon
* Harvest moon
* I want to live
* I want to give
* I've been a miner
for a heart of gold *
* It's these expressions
* I never give
* that keep me searching
for a heart of gold *
* And I'm getting old
* Keeping me searching
for a heart of gold *
* and I'm getting old
* I've been to hollywood
* I went to Redwood
* I crossed the ocean
for a heart of gold *
* I've been in my mind
* It's such a fine line
* That keeps me searching
for a heart of gold *
* and I'm getting old
* keeps me searching
for a heart of gold *
* and I'm getting old
* Keep me searching
for a heart of gold *
* Keep me searching,
I'm growing old *
* Keep me searching
for a heart of gold *
* I've been a miner
for a heart of gold *
* Oh
Thank you.
About that time
when I wrote that song
and I was touring,
I had also, uh,
just, you know, being a rich
hippie for the first time,
I had purchased a ranch,
and, uh...
and I still live there today.
And, uh, there was a couple
living on it
that were the caretakers
and an old gentleman named
Luis Avila and his wife Clara.
And there was this
old blue jeep there
and, uh,
Luis took me for a, uh,
took me for a ride
in this blue jeep
and he, he gets me up there
on the topside of the place
and there was 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,
I'm just lucky, Louie.
Just real lucky."
And he said, "Well, that's the
darnedest thing I ever heard."
Then I wrote this song for him.
* 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 *
* 24 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
* Oh, one look in my eyes
* and you can tell that's true
* Lullabies,
look in your eyes *
* Run around
in 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
* Oh, 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 caught you knocking
at my cellar door *
* I love you, baby,
can I have some more? *
* Oh, the damage done
* I hit the city
and I lost my band *
* I watched the needle
take another man *
* Gone, gone
* The damage done
* I sing the song
because I loved the man *
* I know that some of you
don't understand *
* Milk blood
to keep from running out *
* I've seen the needle
and the damage done *
* A little part of it
in everyone *
* but every junkie's
like a setting sun *
* King went a-running
after deer *
* wasn't scared of jumpin' off
the truck in high gear *
* King went a-sniffin'
and he would go *
* Was the best old hound dog
I ever did know *
* I had a dog,
and his name was King *
* I told the dog
about everything *
* There in my truck,
the dog and I *
* Then one day the king
up and died *
* Then I thought about
the times we had *
* once when I kicked him
when he was bad *
* Old King sure meant
a lot to me *
* But that hound dog
is history *
* King went a-howlin'
after deer *
* Wasn't scared of jumpin' off
the truck in high gear *
* King went a sniffin'
and he would go *
* Was the best old hound dog
I ever did know *
(Neil sniffing)
(howls)
* That old King
was a friend of mine *
* Never knew a dog
that was half as fine *
* I may find one,
you never do know *
* 'Cause I still got
a long way to go *
* I had a dog
and his name was King *
* I told the dog
about everything *
* Old King sure meant
a lot to me *
* but that hound dog
is history *
* King went a howlin'
after deer *
* Wasn't scared of jumpin off
the truck in high gear *
* King went a-sniffin'
and he would go *
* Was the best old hound dog
I ever did know *
Is there a guitar player
in the house?
This song here, uh,
I recorded
here in Nashville,
and Nicolette Larson
sang the song with me,
so we'd like
to do this one for her.
* Comes a time
* when you're driftin'
* Comes a time
* when you settle down
* Comes a light
* feeling's liftin'
* Lift that baby
right up off the ground *
* Oh
* This old world
keeps spinning round *
* It's a wonder tall trees
ain't layin' down *
* There comes a time
* You and I
* We were captured
* We took our souls
* and we flew away
* We were right
* We were giving
* That's how we kept
what we gave away *
* Oh
* This old world
keeps spinnin' round *
* It's a wonder tall trees
ain't layin' down *
* There comes a time
* Oh
* This old world
keeps spinnin' round *
* It's a wonder tall trees
ain't layin' down *
* There comes a time
* Comes a time
* Comes a time
* Comes a time
* Comes a time
* Comes a time
* Comes a time
Thank you.
This song here
was written by Ian Tyson,
who's a Canadian.
He's living out in Calgary
on his ranch right now.
But when I was just a kid,
16 years or 17 years old,
I went to this place near
Winnipeg where I grew up,
and it's called Falcon Lake.
And it's just
one of those first times
when you really got away
from home and were on your own.
I was just kind of feeling it
for the first time.
and there was this little
kind of a restaurant place
with a jukebox in it
that was there
and, uh, I used to go there.
And I think I spent all my money
playing this next song
over and over again.
It was the most beautiful record
that I've ever heard in my life
and I just could not
get enough of it.
And so, uh, I don't have
the record with me here,
but I'm going to sing it
with my friends
and we'll see
what we can do.
* Think I'll go out
to Alberta *
* Weather's good there
in the fall *
* I got some friends that
I could go to working for *
* Still I wish
you'd change your mind *
* If I ask you one more time
* but we've been through that
a hundred times or more *
* Four strong winds
that blow lonely *
* Seven seas that run high
* All those things that
don't change come what may *
* If the good times
are all gone *
* Then I'm bound
for moving on *
* I'll look for you
if I'm ever back this way *
* If I get there
before the snow flies *
* And if things
are looking good *
* You could meet me
if I send you down the fare *
* but by then
it would be winter *
* Not too much for you to do
* And those winds sure can blow
cold way out there *
* Four strong winds
that blow lonely *
* Seven seas that run high
* All those things that
don't change come what may *
* If the good times
are all gone *
* Then I'm bound
for moving on *
* I'll look for you
if I'm ever back this way *
* Still I wish
you'd change your mind *
* if I ask you one more time
* But we've been through that
a hundred times or more *
* Four strong winds
that blow lonely *
* Seven seas that run high
* All those things that
don't change come what may *
* If the good times
are all gone *
* Then I'm bound
for moving on *
* I'll look for you
if I'm ever back this way *
* I'll look for you
if I'm ever back this way *
* One of these days
* I'm going to sit down
and write a long letter *
* to all the good friends
I've known *
* And I'm going to try
* to thank them all for
the good times together *
* though so apart we've grown
* One of these days
* I'm going to sit down
and write a long letter *
* to all the good friends
I've known *
* One of these days
* One of these days
* One of these days
* And it won't be long
* Won't be long
* It won't be long
* Won't be long
* And I'm gonna thank
* that old country fiddler
* and all those rough boys
* who played
that rock and roll *
* But I never tried
* to burn any bridges
* but I know I let
some good things go *
* One of these days
* I'm going to sit down
and write a long letter *
* to all the good friends
I've known *
* One of these days
* One of these days
* One of these days
* And it won't be long
* Won't be long
* It won't be long
* Won't be long
* From down in L.A.
* All the way to Nashville
* New York city
* to my Canadian prairie home
* My friends are scattered
* like leaves
from an old maple *
* Some are weak
* Some are strong
* One of these days
* I'm going to sit down
and write a long letter *
* to all the good friends
I've known *
* One of these days
* One of these days
* One of these days
* And it won't be long
* Won't be long
* It won't be long
* Won't be long
* One of these days
* One of these days
* One of these days
* And it won't be long
* Won't be long
* It won't be long
* Won't be long
* One of these days
* One of these days
* One of these days
* And it won't be long
* Won't be long
* It won't be long
* Won't be long
* Don't call pretty Peggy
* She can't hear you no more
* Don't leave no message
* round her back door
* They say
the old laughing lady *
* been here before
* She don't keep time
* She don't count score
* Well, you can't have
a cupboard *
* if there ain't no wall
* You've got to move
* There's no time
for you to stall *
* They say
the old laughing lady *
* dropped by to call
* And when she leaves
* she leaves nothing at all
* See the drunkard
of the village *
* falling on the street
* Can't tell his ankles
* from the rest of his feet
* He loves
his old laughing lady *
* 'cause her taste is so sweet
* But the laughing lady's
loving *
* ain't the kind he can keep
* There's a fever
on the freeway *
* Blacks out the night
* There's a slipping
on the stairway *
* Just don't feel right
* And there's a rumbling
in the bedroom *
* And a flashing of light
* There's
the old laughing lady *
* Everything is all right
* There's
the old laughing lady *
* Everything is all right
* There's
the old laughing lady *
(piano plays)
* In the morning,
when I wake up *
* and listen to the sound
* of the birds outside
on the roof *
* I try to ignore
what the paper says *
* and I try not
to read all the news *
* and I'll hold you
if you had a bad dream *
* and I hope
it never comes true *
* 'cause you and I been through
so many things together *
* and the sun
starts climbing the roof *
* it's a dream
* only a dream
* and it's fading now
* fading away
* only a dream
* just a memory
without any... *
You come here
to make a record,
and you've got
great musicians,
you know,
and I always gather
my own friends around that
I pick, you know, to play.
I don't really go for
the studio musician guys
that much, you know.
I don't come in
and say,
"Get me this
and get me that."
But I have my own band
and I like to play
on the road
with the same band
I use in the studio.
I've been working with Neil
for 35...
since '70,
and we cut Harvest
here in Nashville.
He was doing
the Johnny Cash Show
and, uh, he showed up
at that studio,
quadraphonic, down on
Grand Avenue, I think,
and, um, he wanted to, uh,
do some music that
he had written recently.
And this was in
the seventies.
and, uh, he stopped--
one of the engineers
stopped a bass player who
was walking down the street
and said, "You wanna come in
and do some, some music
with Neil Young?"
and he said, "Sure."
So he came in.
It was Tim Drummon
was the bass player's name.
And they asked him if Neil
wanted a steel guitar player.
and I lived about two blocks
down the street,
and, uh, so he called me up
and I came down.
And they were already
recording at the time
and, uh, I set up my steel
and kinda snuck in there
and, uh, started playing
and we did 5 songs
before we ever stopped
and introduced ourselves.
My family used to drive up
from, from Birmingham,
Alabama area,
and we would go, uh,
try to make it up
at least once a month
and a lot of times
we made it up twice a month
to, uh, come to the Ryman
to see the Grand Ole Opry
and to have breakfast
with the stars,
as they said down on
Broadway back then.
There was a little...
a little radio show
that people that was gonna go
down to the Ryman that night
could go down and eat breakfast
with all the people
that... that were sober
enough the next morning
to... to have breakfast.
I performed at the Ryman
one time
with my songwriting
friend, Dan Penn,
and we were invited
to play with, um,
they called it "The legendary
songwriters series"
or something, and that
was a lot of fun, you know.
And that place
has great acoustics,
I think, you know.
It's just,
you can crank it out
without trying too hard.
A lot of, you know,
the volume
carries real well there,
seemed like.
The Ryman auditorium is...
There's such a vibe in there
it's-- there's a sound
in there
that is unlike
any other place,
and, uh, that's really nice
because, uh, some places
you come in,
and they sound like
a big tin can
and, uh, there's
something about it.
Obviously, there's a lot
of stories in this building,
and I'm sure glad
they didn't tear it down.
They were apparently
going to tear it down.
But now they're building
a high-rise on the side
where those beautiful
stained glass windows are.
It's going to block out
the light.
And I don't know how
anybody could...
that... that should be
illegal, you know.
Like the artistic police or
the aesthetic police should...
if there was such a thing,
should come and arrest them.
Well, this last project,
I mean,
he made a statement to me
and I didn't believe it.
He said, um,
"It's been two years
since I, um, wrote
for something," right?
And we got to the hotel
around his old buddies again,
we couldn't get him
from writing.
Couldn't stop him
from writing.
That's just how it comes.
I had no idea
that it was--
but there was a little...
there was a little...
to be honest, there was
a little bit of...
kind of we just picked up on
a little bit of,
like, something's going on.
We don't know
what's going on exactly.
When he made this record,
it was right after he found
out he had the aneurysm,
and I think of it as like,
his life flashing
before his eyes
and just remembering
all these things
and wanting to say
these things.
'Cause, you know,
we didn't really know
what was going to happen.
He said, "I got...
I got this brain aneurysm."
and, I mean,
the world stopped to me.
It was just like, "You what?"
He was like, "Yeah,
I got this brain aneurysm,
"and I'm gonna go to New York
next Tuesday
and they're gonna, you know,
they're gonna do this thing."
He goes, "And it's really wild
what they're gonna do."
And I said, "What are they
going to do?"
and he said, "Well,
they're gonna go in there
"and they're gonna...
they're gonna put
"these little bitty
springs in there,
"and they're biodegradable.
"and what that does
is that makes the body
produce this scar tissue, which
then negates the aneurysm."
And I'm sitting there
going, "What?" you know?
"and why are you sitting here
right now?
how is that?" you know?
"How can it be that you're
going there next Tuesday
and we're sitting here
recording?"
I'm just going, what the--
* That prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* That prairie wind
blowing through my head *
We don't use
a tenor saxophone.
We use two baritone parts
instead
so that the part of the tenor
has a lot of bite to it.
* Tryin' to remember
what daddy said *
d-45.
Heart of Gold
written and recorded.
Old man.
Check 1, 2.
You wanna come out?
Check 1, 2.
Check 1,2.
All right. Just keep this
with you all night.
Every time you come outside,
you need it to get back in.
Thanks.
I just wanna play well,
and I wanna, you know,
share the stage
with my friends.
Give the best I can.
We're gonna get in there
and let the muse
have us.
Take a shot.
Send it out.
(audience applauds)
Good evening,
ladies and gentlemen,
and welcome to the Ryman
and the world premiere of
Neil Young's Prairie Wind.
(cheers and applause)
(music begins)
* The painter stood
* before her work
* She looked around
everywhere *
* She saw the pictures
and she painted them *
* Pickin' colors from the air
* Green to green
* Red to red
* Yellow to yellow
in the light *
* Black to black
when the evening comes *
* Blue to blue
through the night *
* It's a long road
* behind me
* It's a long road
* ahead
* If you follow every dream
* you might get lost
* If you follow every dream
* you might get lost
* She towed the line
* She held her end up
* She did the work of two men
* but in the end
she fell down *
* before she got up again
* I have my friends
eternally *
* We leave our tracks
in the sound *
* Some of them
are with me now *
* Some of them can't be found
* It's a long road
* behind me
* And I miss you now
* If you follow every dream
* you might get lost
* If you follow every dream
* you might get lost
* Green to green
* Red to red
* Yellow to yellow
in the light *
* Black to black
when the evening comes *
* Blue to blue
through the night *
* See the bluebird fly
* easy as a dream
* Dipping and bobbing
in the sun *
* Could she be the one
* I saw so long ago?
* Could she be the one
to take me home? *
* This pasture is green
* I'm walking in the sun
* It's turning brown,
I'm standing in the rain *
* My overcoat is worn,
the pockets are all torn *
* I'm moving away
from the pain *
* Tick-tock
* the clock on the wall
* No wonder
we're losing time *
* Ring, ring
* the old church bell
* The bride and her love
* seeking guidance from above
* Amber waves of grain
* bow in the prairie wind
* I'm hearing Willie
singing on the radio again *
* That song from 9/11
keeps ringing in my head *
* I'll always remember
something Chris Rock said *
* Don't send no more candles
* no matter what you do
* Then Willie stopped singing
* and the prairie wind blew
* The green kept rolling on
for miles and miles *
* fields of fuel rolling on
for miles *
* Tick-tock
* the clock on the wall
* No wonder we're losing time
* Toll, toll
* the fallen soldier bell
* The old church on the hill
* still standing
when so many fell *
* Back when I was young
* the birds
blocked out the sun *
* before the great
migration south *
* We only shot a few
* They last
the winter through *
* Mother cooked them good
and served 'em up *
* Somewhere a senator
sits in a leather chair *
* behind a big wooden desk
* The caribou we killed
mean nothing to him *
* He took his money
just like all the rest *
* Tick-tock
* the clock on the wall
* No wonder we're losing time
* Ring, ring
* ring the wedding bells
* The bride takes the ring
* and the happy people sing
* I just want to thank you
* for all the things
you've done *
* I been thinking about you
* I just want to send my love
* I send my best to you
* That's my message of love
* for all the things you did
* I can never thank you enough
* Feel like I'm falling
* falling off the face
of the earth *
* falling off the face
of the earth *
* falling
* falling off the face
of the earth *
* falling off the face
of the earth *
* Oh, oh, oh, oh
* I just want to tell you
* you sure mean a lot to me
* It may sound simple
* but you are the world to me
* It's such a precious thing
* the time we shared together
* I must apologize
* for the trouble times
* Feel like I'm falling
* falling off the face
of the earth *
* falling off the face
of the earth *
* falling
* falling off the face
of the earth *
* falling off the face
of the earth *
* Oh, oh, oh, oh
* Feel like I'm falling
* falling off the face
of the earth *
* falling off the face
of the earth *
* falling
* falling off the face
of the earth *
* falling off the face
of the earth *
* falling
* falling off the face
of the earth *
* Feel like I'm falling
* falling off the face
of the earth *
* falling
This is a song here, uh...
when I first started
playing guitar,
I was a chicken farmer
at the time.
I was about 7 or 8
years old or something.
Maybe a little older
than that.
But, uh, my daddy
brought me
an Arthur Godfrey ukulele,
a little plastic one.
And I didn't know what to do
with it or anything.
He said,
"You might need this."
and then he sang me
a song...
which I never heard him
sing before.
Then he got this
funny grin on his face
and was looking at me,
and I was watching him...
and I had to go
feed the chickens.
(audience laughs)
1, 2, 3...
* When I was a growing boy
* rocking on my daddy's knee
* Daddy took an old guitar
and sang *
* bury me on the lone prairie
* Uncle Bob sat at the piano
* My girl cousins sang harmony
* Those were the good old
family times *
* that left a big mark on me
* Bury me out on the prairie
* where the buffalo
used to roam *
* where the Canada geese
once filled the sky *
* and then I won't be
far from home *
* Yeah, bury me out
on the prairie *
* where the buffalo
used to roam *
* You won't have to shed
a tear for me *
* 'cause then I won't be
far from home *
* Out on the trans-Canada
highway *
* I was talking to a firefly
* trying to make my way
to Nashville, Tennessee *
* when another car
passed me by *
* Someday I'm gonna make
big money *
* and buy myself a big old car
* Make my way on down
to the promised land *
* and then I'm gonna
really go far *
* Bury me out on the prairie
* where the buffalo
used to roam *
* Where the Canada geese
once filled the sky *
* and then I won't be
far from home *
* Just bury me out on
the prairie *
* where the buffalo
used to roam *
* You won't have to shed
a tear for me *
* 'cause then I won't be
far from home *
You know, I look around
Nashville today,
there's a lot more cars.
There's a lot more
new buildings.
I often wonder what Hank
Williams would've thought
if he stepped out
of that stage door
on his way to Tootsie's
and looked up
and saw the Gaylord
Entertainment Center
sitting there.
(audience laughs)
(chuckles)
So things have changed,
but, uh,
the spirit's still here
and that's,
that's a beautiful thing.
(audience applauds)
* In the morning when I wake up
and listen to the sound *
* of the birds outside
on the roof *
* I try to ignore
what the paper says *
* and I try not to read
all the news *
* And I'll hold you
if you've had a bad dream *
* and I hope that
it never comes true *
* 'cause you and I been through
so many things together *
* And the sun starts
climbing the roof *
* It's a dream
* It's only a dream
* Just a memory
* fading away
* It's only a dream
* Just a memory
* without anywhere
* to stay
* Red River still flows
through my home town *
* rollin' and tumblin'
on its way *
* Swirling around
the old bridge pylons *
* where a boy fishes
the morning away *
* A bicycle leans on
an oak tree *
* while the cars rumble
over his head *
* An airplane leaves a trail
in an empty blue sky *
* and the young birds
call out to be fed *
* It's a dream
* It's only a dream
* and it's fading now
* Fading away
* It's only a dream
* Just a memory
* without anywhere
* to stay
* An old man walks along
on the sidewalk *
* with sunglasses
and an old stetson hat *
* The fall winds blow
the back of his overcoat away *
* as he stops with the policeman
to chat *
* And a train rolls out
of the station *
* that was really somethin'
in its day *
* Picking up speed
on the straight prairie rails *
* as it carries
its passengers away *
* It's gone
* It's only a dream
* and it's fading now
* Fading away
* It's only a dream
* Just a memory
* without anywhere
* to stay
* It's a dream
* It's only a dream
* and it's fading now
* Fading away
* It's only a dream
* Just a memory
* without anywhere
* to stay
* It's a dream
* It's only a dream
* and it's fading now
* Fading away
Thank you, Nashville.
(chuckles)
It sure is great
to be here tonight
with all of you.
(cheers and applause)
You know, it's getting to be
about that time,
some of us are starting to
lose our parents and stuff.
My daddy passed away
a couple of months ago,
and, uh...
in the last part of his life
he had, uh, dementia.
And that's, uh...
I know some of you know
what that's like,
and, uh...
and it's, uh, it's something
else to see your loved ones
living in the moment.
But, uh...
when he passed, we had
a nice service for him.
and my little cousin,
or niece,
she was about this high
and she came up and said,
"Daddy was ok.
he knew what was going on."
Once a police car
pulled up behind him.
right behind him
there was this police car.
He said, "Cop."
so I know he was ok.
(audience laughs)
* Trying to remember
what my daddy said *
* before too much time
took away his head *
* He said we're gonna go back
* and I'll show you
what I'm talking about *
* Back to Cypress river,
back to the old farmhouse *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Trying to remember
what daddy said *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Well, I tried
to tell the people *
* but they never heard
a word I said *
* They say there's
nothing out there *
* but wheat fields anyway
* Just a farmer's wife
* hanging laundry
in her back yard *
* out on the prairie
* where the wind blows
long and hard *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Trying to remember
what daddy said *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Late at night
* lights dancing
in the northern sky *
* Just the Indian spirit
* trying to show me
how to fly *
* You can see into the future
but it may be a mirage *
* like a new car sitting there
in your old garage *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* There's a place on the prairie
where evil and goodness play *
* Daddy told me all about it
* but I don't remember
what he said *
* Well, it may be afternoon
* and it may be
the dead of night *
* but you'll know
when you see it *
* 'cause it sure is
a hell of a sight *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Trying to remember
what my daddy said *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* before too much time
took away his head *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* He said we're gonna go back
* and I'll show you
what I'm talking about *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Going back to Cypress river,
back to the old farmhouse *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
* Prairie wind
blowing through my head *
Thank you.
You know, I got
a beautiful young girl.
she's, uh, just turned 21.
She's going back for her last
year of college pretty soon.
She'd probably be embarrassed if
I said anything more about her.
You know how that is.
Can't say much.
Anyway, there was a time
I used to write
these kind of songs
for girls my own age.
Pegi: You still got
a few left in you.
Neil: Yeah, I got a few
left in me.
(audience laughs)
So this is what
you might call
a kind of
an empty nester song.
It's a new genre.
They might even have a new kind
of radio station for 'em.
* When your summer days
come tumbling down *
* and you find yourself alone
* Then you can come back
* and be with me
* Just close your eyes
and I'll be there *
* Listen to the sound
* of this old heart
* beating for you
* Yes, I miss you
* but I never wanted
to hold you down *
* You might say
* I'm here for you
* When the winter comes
to your new home *
* and snowflakes
are falling down *
* Then you can come back
* and be with me
* Just close your eyes
and I'll be there *
* Listen to the sound
* of this old heart
* beating for you
* Yes, I miss you
* But I never want
to hold you down *
* You might say
* I'm here for you
* In the spring
* Protective arms
surrounded you *
* In the fall,
we let you go your way *
* Happiness
* I know will always find you
* and when it does
* I hope that it will stay
* Yes, I miss you
* but I never want
to hold you down *
* You might say
* I'm here for you
* Yes, I miss you
* but I never want
to hold you down *
* You might say
* I'm here for you
* I'll always be
* here for you
Thank you.
You know, uh...
one of my favorite guitars
in the world
is, uh, is Willie Nelson's
guitar
and the way it looks.
And, uh, this guitar here,
my friend Grant,
Grant Boatwright,
found this guitar for me
about 30 years ago
and I bought it
from Tuck Taylor.
And, uh...
this is Hank's old guitar.
(audience applauds)
He was here in 1951,
I think,
and, uh, that was Hank's
last show here.
Maybe. I think it was.
Maybe he got back.
He got fired, I know that.
But maybe he came back
one more time.
I'm not sure,
but I don't think so.
So I'm glad to see it
back here
and I'm glad...
(audience applauds)
Anyway,
here's a tune for you.
* This old guitar
ain't mine to keep *
* I'm taking care of it now
* It's been around
for years and years *
* just waiting
in its old case *
* It's been up and down
the country roads *
* It's brought a tear
and a smile *
* It's had its share
of dreams and hopes *
* and never went out of style
* The more I play it,
the better it sounds *
* It cries
when I leave it alone *
* Silently it waits for me
* or someone else,
I suppose *
* This old guitar
* This old guitar
* This old guitar
* This old guitar
has caught some breaks *
* but it never searched
for gold *
* It can't be blamed
for my mistakes *
* It only does what it's told
* It's been a messenger
in times of trouble *
* in times of hope and fear
* When I get drunk
and seeing double *
* it jumps behind the wheel
and steers *
* This old guitar
ain't mine to keep *
* It's mine to play
for a while *
* This old guitar
ain't mine to keep *
* It's only mine for a while
* This old guitar
* This old guitar
* This old guitar
* This old guitar
* This old guitar
* Was he thinkin'
about my country *
* or the color of my skin?
* Was he thinkin' 'bout
my religion *
* and the way
I worshipped him? *
* Did he create just me
in his image *
* or every living thing?
* When God made me
* When God made me
* was he planning
only for believers *
* or for those
who just have faith? *
* Did he envision all the wars
* that were fought
in his name? *
* Did he think
there was only one way *
* to be close to him?
* When God made me
* When God made me
* Did he give us
the gift of love *
* to say
who we could choose? *
* When God made me
* When God made me
* When God made me
* When God made me
* Did he give me the gift
of voice *
* so some could silence me?
* Did he give me the gift
of vision *
* not knowing
what I might see? *
* Did he give us the gift
of compassion *
* to help our fellow man?
* When God made me
* When God made me
* When God made me
* When God made me
* I am a child
* I last a while
* You can't conceive of
the pleasure in my smile *
* You hold my hand
* rough up my hair
* It's lots of fun
to have you there *
* I gave to you
* now you give to me
* I'd like to know
what you've learned *
* The sky is blue
* and so is the sea
* What is the color
when black is burned? *
* What is the color?
* You are a man
* you understand
* You pick me up,
then you lay me down again *
* You make the rules
* You say what's fair
* It's lots of fun
to have you there *
* I gave to you
* Now you give to me
* I'd like to know
what you've learned *
* The sky is blue
* and so is the sea
* What is the color
when black is burned? *
* What is the color?
* Come a little bit closer
* Hear what I have to say
* Just like children sleeping
* We could dream
this night away *
* but there's
a full moon rising *
* Let's go dancing
in the light *
* We know where
the music's playing *
* Let's go out
and feel the night *
* because I'm still in love
with you *
* I want to see you
dance again *
* because I'm still in love
with you *
* On this harvest moon
* when we were strangers
* I watched you from afar
* When we were lovers
* I loved you
with all my heart *
* But now it's getting late
* and the moon
is climbing high *
* I want to celebrate
* See it shining
in your eye *
* because I'm still in love
with you *
* I want to see you
dance again *
* because I'm still in love
with you *
* On this harvest moon
* because I'm still in love
with you *
* I want to see you
dance again *
* because I'm still in love
with you *
* On this harvest moon
* Harvest moon
* I want to live
* I want to give
* I've been a miner
for a heart of gold *
* It's these expressions
* I never give
* that keep me searching
for a heart of gold *
* And I'm getting old
* Keeping me searching
for a heart of gold *
* and I'm getting old
* I've been to hollywood
* I went to Redwood
* I crossed the ocean
for a heart of gold *
* I've been in my mind
* It's such a fine line
* That keeps me searching
for a heart of gold *
* and I'm getting old
* keeps me searching
for a heart of gold *
* and I'm getting old
* Keep me searching
for a heart of gold *
* Keep me searching,
I'm growing old *
* Keep me searching
for a heart of gold *
* I've been a miner
for a heart of gold *
* Oh
Thank you.
About that time
when I wrote that song
and I was touring,
I had also, uh,
just, you know, being a rich
hippie for the first time,
I had purchased a ranch,
and, uh...
and I still live there today.
And, uh, there was a couple
living on it
that were the caretakers
and an old gentleman named
Luis Avila and his wife Clara.
And there was this
old blue jeep there
and, uh,
Luis took me for a, uh,
took me for a ride
in this blue jeep
and he, he gets me up there
on the topside of the place
and there was 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,
I'm just lucky, Louie.
Just real lucky."
And he said, "Well, that's the
darnedest thing I ever heard."
Then I wrote this song for him.
* 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 *
* 24 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
* Oh, one look in my eyes
* and you can tell that's true
* Lullabies,
look in your eyes *
* Run around
in 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
* Oh, 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 caught you knocking
at my cellar door *
* I love you, baby,
can I have some more? *
* Oh, the damage done
* I hit the city
and I lost my band *
* I watched the needle
take another man *
* Gone, gone
* The damage done
* I sing the song
because I loved the man *
* I know that some of you
don't understand *
* Milk blood
to keep from running out *
* I've seen the needle
and the damage done *
* A little part of it
in everyone *
* but every junkie's
like a setting sun *
* King went a-running
after deer *
* wasn't scared of jumpin' off
the truck in high gear *
* King went a-sniffin'
and he would go *
* Was the best old hound dog
I ever did know *
* I had a dog,
and his name was King *
* I told the dog
about everything *
* There in my truck,
the dog and I *
* Then one day the king
up and died *
* Then I thought about
the times we had *
* once when I kicked him
when he was bad *
* Old King sure meant
a lot to me *
* But that hound dog
is history *
* King went a-howlin'
after deer *
* Wasn't scared of jumpin' off
the truck in high gear *
* King went a sniffin'
and he would go *
* Was the best old hound dog
I ever did know *
(Neil sniffing)
(howls)
* That old King
was a friend of mine *
* Never knew a dog
that was half as fine *
* I may find one,
you never do know *
* 'Cause I still got
a long way to go *
* I had a dog
and his name was King *
* I told the dog
about everything *
* Old King sure meant
a lot to me *
* but that hound dog
is history *
* King went a howlin'
after deer *
* Wasn't scared of jumpin off
the truck in high gear *
* King went a-sniffin'
and he would go *
* Was the best old hound dog
I ever did know *
Is there a guitar player
in the house?
This song here, uh,
I recorded
here in Nashville,
and Nicolette Larson
sang the song with me,
so we'd like
to do this one for her.
* Comes a time
* when you're driftin'
* Comes a time
* when you settle down
* Comes a light
* feeling's liftin'
* Lift that baby
right up off the ground *
* Oh
* This old world
keeps spinning round *
* It's a wonder tall trees
ain't layin' down *
* There comes a time
* You and I
* We were captured
* We took our souls
* and we flew away
* We were right
* We were giving
* That's how we kept
what we gave away *
* Oh
* This old world
keeps spinnin' round *
* It's a wonder tall trees
ain't layin' down *
* There comes a time
* Oh
* This old world
keeps spinnin' round *
* It's a wonder tall trees
ain't layin' down *
* There comes a time
* Comes a time
* Comes a time
* Comes a time
* Comes a time
* Comes a time
* Comes a time
Thank you.
This song here
was written by Ian Tyson,
who's a Canadian.
He's living out in Calgary
on his ranch right now.
But when I was just a kid,
16 years or 17 years old,
I went to this place near
Winnipeg where I grew up,
and it's called Falcon Lake.
And it's just
one of those first times
when you really got away
from home and were on your own.
I was just kind of feeling it
for the first time.
and there was this little
kind of a restaurant place
with a jukebox in it
that was there
and, uh, I used to go there.
And I think I spent all my money
playing this next song
over and over again.
It was the most beautiful record
that I've ever heard in my life
and I just could not
get enough of it.
And so, uh, I don't have
the record with me here,
but I'm going to sing it
with my friends
and we'll see
what we can do.
* Think I'll go out
to Alberta *
* Weather's good there
in the fall *
* I got some friends that
I could go to working for *
* Still I wish
you'd change your mind *
* If I ask you one more time
* but we've been through that
a hundred times or more *
* Four strong winds
that blow lonely *
* Seven seas that run high
* All those things that
don't change come what may *
* If the good times
are all gone *
* Then I'm bound
for moving on *
* I'll look for you
if I'm ever back this way *
* If I get there
before the snow flies *
* And if things
are looking good *
* You could meet me
if I send you down the fare *
* but by then
it would be winter *
* Not too much for you to do
* And those winds sure can blow
cold way out there *
* Four strong winds
that blow lonely *
* Seven seas that run high
* All those things that
don't change come what may *
* If the good times
are all gone *
* Then I'm bound
for moving on *
* I'll look for you
if I'm ever back this way *
* Still I wish
you'd change your mind *
* if I ask you one more time
* But we've been through that
a hundred times or more *
* Four strong winds
that blow lonely *
* Seven seas that run high
* All those things that
don't change come what may *
* If the good times
are all gone *
* Then I'm bound
for moving on *
* I'll look for you
if I'm ever back this way *
* I'll look for you
if I'm ever back this way *
* One of these days
* I'm going to sit down
and write a long letter *
* to all the good friends
I've known *
* And I'm going to try
* to thank them all for
the good times together *
* though so apart we've grown
* One of these days
* I'm going to sit down
and write a long letter *
* to all the good friends
I've known *
* One of these days
* One of these days
* One of these days
* And it won't be long
* Won't be long
* It won't be long
* Won't be long
* And I'm gonna thank
* that old country fiddler
* and all those rough boys
* who played
that rock and roll *
* But I never tried
* to burn any bridges
* but I know I let
some good things go *
* One of these days
* I'm going to sit down
and write a long letter *
* to all the good friends
I've known *
* One of these days
* One of these days
* One of these days
* And it won't be long
* Won't be long
* It won't be long
* Won't be long
* From down in L.A.
* All the way to Nashville
* New York city
* to my Canadian prairie home
* My friends are scattered
* like leaves
from an old maple *
* Some are weak
* Some are strong
* One of these days
* I'm going to sit down
and write a long letter *
* to all the good friends
I've known *
* One of these days
* One of these days
* One of these days
* And it won't be long
* Won't be long
* It won't be long
* Won't be long
* One of these days
* One of these days
* One of these days
* And it won't be long
* Won't be long
* It won't be long
* Won't be long
* One of these days
* One of these days
* One of these days
* And it won't be long
* Won't be long
* It won't be long
* Won't be long
* Don't call pretty Peggy
* She can't hear you no more
* Don't leave no message
* round her back door
* They say
the old laughing lady *
* been here before
* She don't keep time
* She don't count score
* Well, you can't have
a cupboard *
* if there ain't no wall
* You've got to move
* There's no time
for you to stall *
* They say
the old laughing lady *
* dropped by to call
* And when she leaves
* she leaves nothing at all
* See the drunkard
of the village *
* falling on the street
* Can't tell his ankles
* from the rest of his feet
* He loves
his old laughing lady *
* 'cause her taste is so sweet
* But the laughing lady's
loving *
* ain't the kind he can keep
* There's a fever
on the freeway *
* Blacks out the night
* There's a slipping
on the stairway *
* Just don't feel right
* And there's a rumbling
in the bedroom *
* And a flashing of light
* There's
the old laughing lady *
* Everything is all right
* There's
the old laughing lady *
* Everything is all right
* There's
the old laughing lady *