Just one of the best Neil ever wrote. He has the uncanny ability to make a guitar sound like an angry human protest, not just an inanimate musical instrument. Pure genius.
Neil Young one of the greatest Songwriter's singers, father of grunge guitar, not afraid to tell it like it is. A Canadian hero loved throughout the world. One of his best angry songs. He still lays it on the line politically. Such a unique voice he can play all kinds of genres. This was a cutting through song, The 70;s were big Vietnam war protests, Neil wrote Ohio, and many other protest songs for over 50 years now. Listen to more Neil Young
I am a white British Jew. I thought I knew about racism until I started going out with a black woman. It's amazing how some some white people will do racist shit in front of me when I am with my wife, children or grandchildren (all black) that they wouldn't do when I appear to be just a lone white man. But equally, in the black community, some people will say some really antisemitic rubbish to me, not knowing I am Jewish. It's easy to think one isn't racist; but in this society everyone is a work in progress (unless they are content with being prejudiced).
White guy from Texas here. I love this song, and the message. I love that it was unapologetically confrontational. I appreciate a band using their platform to speak out on important issues in this way.
They are actually banning books, now. Decades ago Nazis first burned books, then they burned people. History repeats when society doesn’t learn from the past.
Neil Young can rock and do a ballad, like Heart of Gold. I'm a white southerner and I always like this song...Neil Young too. IMO, Neil Young is a top 10 singer / songwriter.
We were in the middle of the civil rights movement and I think Neil felt it was necessary to acknowledge the inhumanity of the past. Awareness being step one in the healing process. You handled this topic with real class, Bro! Great reactions too! ☺✌💛, PJ
Crank it up! PS. When Young dropped this in 1970 it was only seven years earlier that the cops in Alabama sicced dogs and water cannons on children, 15 years after Emmett Till was murdered. So if the song made people in the South uncomfortable it was mostly because they were in denial about the truth of Jim Crow. Their complaints fall on deaf ears with me, to be honest.
Biz, I’m white and have zero problem with you speaking about race stuff. Don’t feel like you gotta hold back man, you’re a thoughtful dude and we’d all appreciate your perspective, no matter what it is. Great song choice, peace brotha
Well said, John. I watch to learn from you, Biz, just as you learn from our experiences as expressed in the music that shaped out lives in the '60s and '70s. Music and culture will bring the world together some day. You are part of that.
I’m an older white Canadian fellow who has watched a number of your videos, hadn’t subscribed ‘cause I was following so many sites but always liked your take on music. Last night my wife and I watched this reaction to the end and were quite taken by your comments, not surprised, as forms of racism are everywhere. Your take on the quiet form as opposed to the more open form of racism is right on. In any case that discussion goes on, for myself I try to be open to other cultures and people and have met lots of great folks. I’ve subscribed to your site, I like what you have said and I don’t mind learning more and having my eyes opened.😎🍺
You can tell that Neil Young, aka THE MAN, was really pissed off when he wrote and recorded this song in 1972. When Ronnie Van Zant sings "When will Neil Young remember that a Southern Man don't need him around anyhow.", he signaled that he and his friends were not too happy having to hear the sad truth about some members of Southern society. Eventually, Neil and Lynyrd Skynyrd became friends and wore each others T Shirts when performing concerts. But he still sang this song, and took some heat for it, but he survived okay. Neil is THE MAN.
I'm an old white woman and I admire Neil for this song. I agree with him so very much. You should listen to four dead in ohio..by csny and I think Neil wrote it. About Natl guard gunning down four students at Kent St in ohio not far from where I live. They were protesting Vietnam War.
dark day in ohio history as well as the country. over a war we never should have been in. looks like history repeating itself again. off of the csn&y so far Lp. played it so much back in the day. had to replace it when the harmonies didn't sound right. lol
I remember getting this album when it dropped. The whole thing is fire. The sound of everything is so genuine. Real music on real instruments. Naked, raw, vocals, it’s everything I love about music. Plus it’s Neil Young at the pinnacle of his career. As far as America during slavery and the difficulties of Reconstruction, it happened don’t erase history. Don’t ban books. The Nazis burnt books, then they burnt people. History is vital to a truly free society.
@@blindriv3r I saw a documentary on Neil gives a tour of that house and describes exactly how the record was made. But, I can’t remember if it was CBS 60 Minutes or somewhere else. Do you know.
What a time to be alive. Maybe I lived a past life in the 60s I connect so much with Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Buffy St Marie, the Band. It would have been an interesting time to be alive
@@atherwitch it sounds like you have a bit of a hippy soul. I suggest Judy Collins, “Who knows Where the Time Goes” and her hit version of Joni’s “Both Sides Now”. And, Laura Nyro, “Stone Soul Picnic”.
Neil said a lot with very few words. The music always sounded like a mix of anger and anguish. If, that makes sense. It's very sad to me that I'm 2023 we still have racist, backward thinking people but I guess they'll never completely go away as much as the majority wish they would! Keep doing what your doing Biz!! I love your reactions! Your honesty and humor are refreshing. 🖤 🤍🖤🤍🖤
As a white person who lived through the racial and social upheavels of the 60's & 70's, I am not at all offended to have discussions on our history of racism and the battles taking place back then. I am proud to be part of the "hippie" generation who actually cared about our fellow man and were idealistic about making change. Lots of good protest songs around and Neil contributed quite a few. Please continue with Neil and also CSNY. "Harvest" and "Harvest Moon" are not socially significant, just lovely. BTW - since you like Humble Pie, Steve wrote an excellent song about American racism from their first album - Not well known but worth a listen - "Alabama '69". Also shown on another Beat Club video.
Yes but now the left is ushering in a racial ranking system just like the actual NAZIs they are. Let's debate. By the way, NAZI = "National Socialist Workers Party." The NAZIs were socialists. The idea that Hitler was right wing is just plain stupid and ignorant.
Neil Young - the Master of the One-Note Guitar Solo! Neil is a deep music hole, and if you are into social issue songs, you will cross Neil Young's path many times. I love everything he does - almost. :)
Neil Young is a legendary artist. But he’s one of the most divisive guitar players in rock n’ roll history. No one sounds like Neil. Great song and great lyrics. I'm a White Man in my 70's, from the South. My Grandmother was a Native American and felt the sting of racism. She told me, "To never let your inner spirit become lost enough to hate any man of any tribe, race, or religion!" She had never been to school, but she had wisdom. Thanks, Biz for your wisdom and thoughts, They help bring us all together with a smile and good music.;
This song was written by a White man and millions of White people, including me, have listened to it for decades. And his message came across loud and clear.
'Heavy' is an appropriate sum up, and you're right, he's not talking about all southern peeps, it's not called Sothern Men. It hit hard with a lot of people, truth can be hard, and wow how you can almost see and feel the screams and whips lashing thru his delivery and in the solo. Respect from Ireland for what it's worth. Peace.
I'm a 69 year old white dude that sometimes not to happy with that. I've lived and seen a lot of horrible things that haven't change much to me any way. Played this song in a few bands back in the 60's and 70's with some enjoyment and some flack. Keep up the good work man. Jim
Neil is indeed Canadian, but a US citizen. But above all, he is a thinking and feeling man, who puts his world into wonderful songs. He is a real treasure for humanity!
Yeah Neil is from Canada, but his Mom's side of the family was from the southern US. The family would take yearly road trips driving down to FLA from Ontario when he was a small kid, it made an impression.
When it comes to Neil Young, until you've listened to "Cowgirl in the Sand" you simply have not experienced the full power and vision of what Young has been up to. The album recording of that song is one of the great moments in all of rock music ever.
They forgave him though...the singer (can't think of name right now) was often seen wearing a 'Tonight's the Night' t-shirt. They sure did spank him in Sweet Home though, didn't they.
I think Ronnie Van Zant was buried in that tee shirt. The Drive By Truckers song Ronnie and Neil is pretty interesting. The song is a jam, I don't mind Neil taking his shot and I respect Skynyrd for pushing back. It was all good in the end. Randy Newman called out northern racism in his song Rednecks.
@@michaelkeefe8494 I live in Oregon, and yes there are hicks above the Mason Dixon line 🤦🏻. At the time we loved both of them. Neil was more loved but both were played. The rebel label was looked at a bit different too. Neil’s song was about slavery, and LS’s was about taking it personally. The funny thing is I think today we’re are more divided than in a long time.
Neil Young is one of my favorites. This song was released in 1970. I was 8 years old and heard it many times while growing up. He speaks out for humanity and against injustice. We come from different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. Still, we are all human beings. We come from the same source. We all just want to live and survive. We also want to be loved and safe and want the same for our loved ones. I pray for a time when we find unity. I'm a 60 year old white woman. I went to a community college campus starting in 2012 that was 93% Black student population. I ended up tutoring there and saw awful roadblocks for these students trying to succeed and create better lives for themselves. It was heartbreaking. The school moved their nursing program, medical assisting, and all other medical classes to a campus on the other end of the county out of reach for students that relied on city busses for transportation to school. One of the tutors I worked with was an amazing mathmatician. She lived in her car with her 2 kids. She was such an amazing woman and so much fun to be with at work. She died of a heart attack, leaving her kids behind. There is just too much wrong with this world. I wish people would stop the insanity and help each other when possible. I still hold onto hope for a better future.
Lynerd Skynerd's song Sweet Home Alabama was a response to this song. And than Neil Young and Ronnei Van Zandt became great friends to the extent where Neil Young was a pall bearer at Van Zandt's funeral.
In the 1970s, we were never uncomfortable with this song. It’s historical, and very important to remember. That’s exactly w what we thought about it. Awesome Rock and roll.
Was great groovin to the instrumental parts and sing along riding in car alone or with friends. The strong lyrics stuck with me and still are relevant today. Injustice anywhere should make everyone feel uncomfortable
Great reaction Biz. I'm a southern boy and I felt the song was more than appropriate at the time. He wasn't talking about me or any other southerner who was against all the crap being perpetrated against Blacks. I worked for good people in the 70's who wouldn't hire a Black person. I know this, these type songs never have an ill effect on the people who agree with them. It doesn't matter if the people fall into the general category because everyone who agrees with them knows it's not about them. There were white people in the original American colonies against taking land from the native people. There were white people against slavery in the 1600's, over 100 years before the Declaration of Independence. There were people in the south who were Union sympathizers and people in the north who were confederate sympathizers. White people have been against what other white people have been doing since there were white people. Same as everyone else. 😂I guess everyone could just say you humans over there who are perpetuating whatever they're talking about. Nobody cares if we all say humans suck. Everyone gets that. 😂
I'm 73 years old and I guess having gotten out of HS in 1967, Summer of Love, was when our music crashed into human rights. My friends were going off to fight in a war and dying, women were tired of being held back and treated like property, my black friends were still not being served when we went to grab a bite to eat in a resturant. We had a lot of issues as teens and we wanted answers and changes. I guess we didn't have enough worldly knowledge to know we were pissing people off with our protest and demands, but we didn't care, we wanted people to listen, we were a force that politicians hated, but in time they couldn't ignore. We were hundreds of thousands of kids finally able to afford jr college and State colleges. We had places to assemble and organize protest and we couldn't be stopped These songs came from a place of intense needs to fix the biggest problem in America, Misogyny, Racism and the drafting of our generation of young men. I'm sometimes amazed at what we managed to accomplish and I feel proud of our tenacity. The music was such a universal part of the messages and it reached across State lines and borders. It still makes me emotional when I hear the protest songs and the messages that were so powerful. From Dylan to Neil Young, there's a library of music that sent strong messages and helped change this country and end a war. Kind of sad we actually are falling back in time right now, but I look at it as a wake up call that we still have work to do and now is the time to stand up and be heard once again. Never take it for granted, there's always those looking for a time of weakness to jump in and grab what we hold most dearly, our rights. ♡
Very thoughtful comments, Biz man. You are right to block people with hateful thoughts, don't need to give them a platform. I enjoy your reactions to the music I grew up with. You are going to find that the '60s were quite turbulent and many songs, such as this one, reflected what was happening.
When Neil wrote this song in 1969, the Jim Crow laws in the South were just starting to be abolished. It was this song and another called "Alabama" Neil wrote that Lynyrd Skynyrd responded to with Sweet Home Alabama.
Bizmatic as a fellow Canadian of Neil Young and a massive fan. One of Neil best tracks is "Down by the River" live version with Neil band Crazy Horse. No pun intended but you'd be crazy not to give it a listen 😂😂
I think more conversations should be had about racism and the lasting impact it has; generations passing it down. We (I say we because I personally know Americans who feel this way) act like what happened to Emmett Till was 200 years ago. We act like segregation was 150 years ago. This still effects a generation who grew up in the mix of hate…who are still alive. I’m in my 30’s and grew up in the South. People of influence around me would say “I’m not racist, but don’t bring a black man home, they’re not welcome.” It would infuriate me, but, when you grow with certain individuals, you learn not to fight back or stand up against it even though it made me sick to the pit of my stomach. Thankfully I’ve raised kids who see someone based on their character and not the way someone looks on the outside. Anti-Semitic non sense is on the rise in 2023 on American soil. History, majority of the time in the worst ways, always has a habit of repeating itself if we ALLOW it to. I hope everyone has a wonderful Thursday. -Amber
YOU NEED MORE NEIL : POWDERFINGER, LIKE A HURRICANE, SEDAN DELIVERY, WELL THERE'S 3 BANGERS 😊 BUT THERE'S SO SO MUCH MORE LIKE IF YOU WANT SOME GREAT HARMONICA, THERE'S JUST SO MUCH OF NEIL THAT YOU CAN DO MY FRIEND! 💯
A person who didn't have ancestors enslaved for centuries and isn't feared/insulted because of the color of his skin, can't just tell people who have endured that to "get over it."
However, keeping proper perspective is also critical. There were black slave owners in the south. There are white, black and every other people, young and old enslaved TODAY. And was it really the colour of their skin or the fact that blacks in Africa enslaved their own and sold them?
@@HeavyBrocks No...we don't like idiots who cloak their racism in fables and poor attempts at deflection. People are not stupid...we can recognize closet racism when we see it. 🤔
Always loved this song and appreciate it’s truths, no holds barred. I’ve heard some sickening racist attitudes from ignorant people over the last 5 years rearing their ugly heads again, so this song remains relevant. As a Canadian 🇨🇦, Neil has always been one of our icons.
Yo biz. Anotha one. Hearing this when I was young. It really didn’t register. Didn’t even care. Liked the guitar on it though. Older now with more understanding. Growing up in 70s and 80s. I really didn’t know racism. Now when I went to prison in 88. That’s where I actually saw racism. Crazy.
Classic! In my opinion there were many protest songs that were hits in 60's and 70's. But protest became so unfashionable, the labels don't want any anti-empire lyrics. So the best protest songs are often performed in bars, house parties etc. #Medicare4All, #BLM #Homes4All also I support black media: Revolutionary Blackout Network, Black Power Media, This Is Revolution, Burn It Down W/ Kim Brown, FD Signifier, Khadija Mbowe
The lyrics of this song, combined with the angry guitar work always make me think. I am a 68 yr old white Canadian, so my contact with racism is limited. It must be horrible to be black in the Southern states.
Neil owns the longest one note solo with Down by The River. And the longest song with the fewest words, 'T-Bone'. goes like this: Got mashed potatoes. Ain't got no T-bone.
As a resident of South Minneapolis I know you don't have to go that far south. I live just a couple miles from where George Floyd. was murdered. My city was unable to get control over a police department that did not feel accountable for it's own overt racism. Only now is there a reckoning with oversight from state and federal agencies. We are down about 300 officers and our crime situation is not good. We have come a long way but still have a long way to go to end racism in our society. Neil should write another song.
I absolutely love this song. He was simply singing about the culture that persisted in the Jim Crow south. Some people want to pretend that it didn’t happen but it’s history and it cannot be erased.
The members of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Neil Young were actually friends. I bet you get a lot of shit. Why do we Americans feel nervous or uncomfortable in talking about race? It is silly for whites to feel that way. But history is history. As an old white guy who grew up in Florida I lived through some of that history and have stories to tell. So southern man needs to step up and accept what southern men did. If you aren't racist (or at least try not to be) then there is nothing to feel guilty about. But we Americans have a lot of history to go over and accept, both good and bad. Here's what an ol' Southern writer of some esteem has said about it quite awhile ago: "The past is never dead. It's not even past." William Faulkner
I remember crying the first time I heard this and thought yea fuck you I remember those hoses and dogs sicked on the black folk and living in the north horrified, and visiting I got in a colored line for a water fountain and my mom pulled me away even though I was white I understood I was in a place that you needed to be aware of your surroundings.In Detroit even though things weren’t perfect we accepted people for who they were ,so I was glad Neil had the balls to do this
Here is some history for you. Nils Lofgren is the pianist on this song. Him and the drummer were goofing off and they did the song as a polka. Turns out neil liked it so much that he put it in the middle between the more shuffle beats in the front and back of song... I know there is an interview.. Found it: ua-cam.com/video/TnQPkVTyH2I/v-deo.html Wasn't sure i was going to. enjoy.
this song is from a time in our history, when a LOT of people were getting disgusted with the "way things were..." it was the time of the vietnam war protests, and the civil rights marches.. massive amounts of people were speaking out and singing out about the unacceptable injustices in our country... unfortunately, the pendulum has swung the other way, and we have an entire political party whose base is the most ugly, racist members of our society...
Some of the best guitar riffs and great song, he also did this with Crosby, Stills, and Nash on the Deja Vu album I believe and the guitar solo was even longer , better, and more complex🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶
I'm white, I spent the first 5 years of my life in Louisiana in the 70's and even at that age I saw and recognized a lot of racism. It was definitely part of the overall culture. That's why as soon as my dad got discharged we got out.
SO HERE'S HOW IT WENT BIZ 😊: NEIL DID THIS SONG, THEN NEIL DID ( ALABAMA ) AND THEN ( SKYNYRD ) RESPONDED WITH : SWEET HOME ALABAMA BUT THEY WERE RESPONDING TO ALABAMA AND NOTTTTT SOUTHERN MAN. 😊 SO YOU NEED TO DO ( ALABAMA ) AND THEN DO SWEET HOME ALABAMA IF ANYTHING!.
You never get over it. I'm white and I'm not over it. I do my best to keep peaceful, but "how long?" How long is right. I appreciate this song and I appreciate you having the courage to put yourself out there.
Neil gave a whole story in just a couple stanza's. I was a teen when it came out and played on Album Oriented FM stations. It never gets old and unfortunately still current. I grew up in Western NY and I was always struck by what I would hear of the south when I was a child in the 60's - the separate bathrooms, doors to go through, seating, and "white only" establishments. I guess I thought, as a child, how ancient the times of President Lincoln were and yet what went on only a decade before (1950's) and even into the 60's how unevolved our society (white) is. But you're right, in the north racism is more under cover and in whispers. At least it was. Nothing seems to be much any more these days. We (boomers) didn't change the world with our revolutionary styles and music as much as we hoped. What I didn't expect, is for things to go backwards.
I seriously doubt Neil was a pall bearer for Ronnie Van Zandt, but they did admire each other's music. Neil actually wrote Powderfinger with the idea that it might make a good Skynyrd song. And Ronnie is seen on the cover of 'Street Survivor' in a Neil Young 'Tonight's the Night' t-shirt. Skynyrd clapped back at Neil because they thought he was painting with too broad a brush and frankly, they were more annoyed with the song 'Alabama' off the album 'Harvest' than they were with 'Southern Man.' And even Neil admitted that Alabama might have been a bit extreme. But Neil was never afraid to say exactly what he thought.
The power of music. It took a Canadian to fully see the atrocity of the American South at the time, especially since the American North was on fire in the 60s for the same reasons.
This song is another reminder of how terrifying the current state of our country is. There’s an entire political party determined to roll back the years to a time when it was acceptable for one group to own members of another group based on race. I’m scared to death of these gun toting, racist, sexist, hate filled wackos. And they called themselves “Christians”. The hypocrisy is stunning. Love your channel. 🌺✌️
Complete nonsense. What political party are you referencing? If you think Trump or MAGA is,you're way off base as MAGA stands for "Put America first in everything,for everyone" For the sake of brevity Trump is not an Republican or Democrat and neither is MAGA NATION.
Keep in mind Biz, Neil Young wrote this song in 1970 as a result of traveling through the South. It was actually based on his experience of traveling in the South in the 60's.
Those who don't learn from History are doomed to repeat it. Neil Young brought the issues of the day to the forefront. Things that upset people world wide.
This version is nice.... but you need the 4-Way Street live with CSN. Neil and Stephen have a killer jam with this. And you can feel the anger and pain in voices.
Tough song to comment on from a socio-historical perspective; definitely gritty also from a musical perspective! That's cool that you opened up about moving to the South. All the best to you and your channel!
Fun fact: when Neil was a teenager, he was briefly in a band with Rick James, the later funk star. Neil's musical experience and range were bottomless.
One of the great Neil Young compositions. The medley and guitar are as impactful as the lyrics. Not his first protest song. Check out "Ohio" by Crosby Stills Nash & mostly Young.
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Just one of the best Neil ever wrote. He has the uncanny ability to make a guitar sound like an angry human protest, not just an inanimate musical instrument. Pure genius.
Neil Young one of the greatest Songwriter's singers, father of grunge guitar, not afraid to tell it like it is. A Canadian hero loved throughout the world. One of his best angry songs. He still lays it on the line politically. Such a unique voice he can play all kinds of genres. This was a cutting through song, The 70;s were big Vietnam war protests, Neil wrote Ohio, and many other protest songs for over 50 years now. Listen to more Neil Young
Second request for Comes a time. Live if possible with Emmylou Harris on backing vocals
I am a white British Jew. I thought I knew about racism until I started going out with a black woman. It's amazing how some some white people will do racist shit in front of me when I am with my wife, children or grandchildren (all black) that they wouldn't do when I appear to be just a lone white man. But equally, in the black community, some people will say some really antisemitic rubbish to me, not knowing I am Jewish. It's easy to think one isn't racist; but in this society everyone is a work in progress (unless they are content with being prejudiced).
What you like about this song musically x 1000= Cowgirl in the sand by Neil Young. Nice review my friend .
White guy from Texas here. I love this song, and the message. I love that it was unapologetically confrontational. I appreciate a band using their platform to speak out on important issues in this way.
53 years later, school kids might need another song to tell the history they don't learn in class. Excellent reaction!
They are actually banning books, now. Decades ago Nazis first burned books, then they burned people. History repeats when society doesn’t learn from the past.
So true!
I love your comment, and totally agree.
Neil Young can rock and do a ballad, like Heart of Gold. I'm a white southerner and I always like this song...Neil Young too. IMO, Neil Young is a top 10 singer / songwriter.
We were in the middle of the civil rights movement and I think Neil felt it was necessary to acknowledge the inhumanity of the past. Awareness being step one in the healing process. You handled this topic with real class, Bro! Great reactions too! ☺✌💛, PJ
Are,not were, we’re still trying to change some folks, every day every way.
Crank it up! PS. When Young dropped this in 1970 it was only seven years earlier that the cops in Alabama sicced dogs and water cannons on children, 15 years after Emmett Till was murdered. So if the song made people in the South uncomfortable it was mostly because they were in denial about the truth of Jim Crow. Their complaints fall on deaf ears with me, to be honest.
Biz, I’m white and have zero problem with you speaking about race stuff. Don’t feel like you gotta hold back man, you’re a thoughtful dude and we’d all appreciate your perspective, no matter what it is. Great song choice, peace brotha
Well said, John. I watch to learn from you, Biz, just as you learn from our experiences as expressed in the music that shaped out lives in the '60s and '70s. Music and culture will bring the world together some day. You are part of that.
It's all about the talent to me NY is 1 of a kind musically period!!!
I’m an older white Canadian fellow who has watched a number of your videos, hadn’t subscribed ‘cause I was following so many sites but always liked your take on music. Last night my wife and I watched this reaction to the end and were quite taken by your comments, not surprised, as forms of racism are everywhere. Your take on the quiet form as opposed to the more open form of racism is right on. In any case that discussion goes on, for myself I try to be open to other cultures and people and have met lots of great folks. I’ve subscribed to your site, I like what you have said and I don’t mind learning more and having my eyes opened.😎🍺
Biz if you’re interested check out Rossington Collins Band Don’t Misunderstand Me. Thanks for the reviews and perspective!
Exactly
You can tell that Neil Young, aka THE MAN, was really pissed off when he wrote and recorded this song in 1972. When Ronnie Van Zant sings "When will Neil Young remember that a Southern Man don't need him around anyhow.", he signaled that he and his friends were not too happy having to hear the sad truth about some members of Southern society. Eventually, Neil and Lynyrd Skynyrd became friends and wore each others T Shirts when performing concerts. But he still sang this song, and took some heat for it, but he survived okay. Neil is THE MAN.
I'm an old white woman and I admire Neil for this song. I agree with him so very much. You should listen to four dead in ohio..by csny and I think Neil wrote it. About Natl guard gunning down four students at Kent St in ohio not far from where I live. They were protesting Vietnam War.
Yes, Neil wrote the song Ohio
Ditto
I'm glad you helped me out I always thought that song was called born dead in Ohio I thought it was kind of an abortion song or something, thanks
dark day in ohio history as well as the country.
over a war we never should have been in.
looks like history repeating itself again.
off of the csn&y so far Lp. played it so much back in the day. had to replace it when the harmonies didn't sound right. lol
Another old white woman who couldn't agree more. This was back when we didn't turn our backs on things that were hard to look at.
I remember getting this album when it dropped. The whole thing is fire. The sound of everything is so genuine. Real music on real instruments. Naked, raw, vocals, it’s everything I love about music. Plus it’s Neil Young at the pinnacle of his career. As far as America during slavery and the difficulties of Reconstruction, it happened don’t erase history. Don’t ban books. The Nazis burnt books, then they burnt people. History is vital to a truly free society.
Yeah very real, it was recorded in a home studio, and Neil has written at times his wife was banging on the door during it lol
@@blindriv3r I saw a documentary on Neil gives a tour of that house and describes exactly how the record was made. But, I can’t remember if it was CBS 60 Minutes or somewhere else. Do you know.
@@ed.z. This is the only thing like that I am aware of, don't know of any other ones w/the Topanga house
ua-cam.com/video/HHnDc7jhyu0/v-deo.html
What a time to be alive. Maybe I lived a past life in the 60s I connect so much with Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Buffy St Marie, the Band. It would have been an interesting time to be alive
@@atherwitch it sounds like you have a bit of a hippy soul. I suggest Judy Collins, “Who knows Where the Time Goes” and her hit version of Joni’s “Both Sides Now”. And, Laura Nyro, “Stone Soul Picnic”.
Neil said a lot with very few words. The music always sounded like a mix of anger and anguish. If, that makes sense.
It's very sad to me that I'm 2023 we still have racist, backward thinking people but I guess they'll never completely go away as much as the majority wish they would! Keep doing what your doing Biz!! I love your reactions! Your honesty and humor are
refreshing. 🖤 🤍🖤🤍🖤
Shakey at his best. This song will never cease to sound powerful.
As a white person who lived through the racial and social upheavels of the 60's & 70's, I am not at all offended to have discussions on our history of racism and the battles taking place back then. I am proud to be part of the "hippie" generation who actually cared about our fellow man and were idealistic about making change. Lots of good protest songs around and Neil contributed quite a few. Please continue with Neil and also CSNY. "Harvest" and "Harvest Moon" are not socially significant, just lovely.
BTW - since you like Humble Pie, Steve wrote an excellent song about American racism from their first album - Not well known but worth a listen - "Alabama '69". Also shown on another Beat Club video.
Yes but now the left is ushering in a racial ranking system just like the actual NAZIs they are. Let's debate. By the way, NAZI = "National Socialist Workers Party." The NAZIs were socialists. The idea that Hitler was right wing is just plain stupid and ignorant.
Neil Young - the Master of the One-Note Guitar Solo! Neil is a deep music hole, and if you are into social issue songs, you will cross Neil Young's path many times. I love everything he does - almost. :)
As a Canadian, I say preach. ✌🏽❤️🇨🇦
Neil Young is a legendary artist. But he’s one of the most divisive guitar players in rock n’ roll history. No one sounds like Neil. Great song
and great lyrics. I'm a White Man in my 70's, from the South. My Grandmother was a Native American and felt the sting of racism. She told me, "To never let your inner spirit become lost enough to hate any man of any tribe, race, or religion!" She had never been to school, but she had wisdom. Thanks, Biz for your wisdom and thoughts, They help bring us all together with a smile and good music.;
Im a white woman, and Ive song this song in clubs (in Fl) with a bunch of southerners in the audience and I hoped they got pissed! I applaud N Young
You go sista!
Also listen to his Alabama off , Harvest
@@alanthomson1227 Oh yeah! I've got the original vinyl album. :)
You can’t erase history. Only learn from it
You're damn right white people need to hear this. Keep speaking your mind.
This song was written by a White man and millions of White people, including me, have listened to it for decades. And his message came across loud and clear.
How about a song concerning the black-on-black violence in Chicago?
Especially REPUBLICAN white people. Most with "Christian" in their bio. Trump came along and took their masks off.
@@johnbrowne2170 Nice attempt at deflection Sparky...not! 🥴👈
@@anthonyhedberg6471 Or the window-breaking- shop lifters in California.
'Heavy' is an appropriate sum up, and you're right, he's not talking about all southern peeps, it's not called Sothern Men.
It hit hard with a lot of people, truth can be hard, and wow how you can almost see and feel the screams and whips lashing thru his delivery and in the solo.
Respect from Ireland for what it's worth. Peace.
I'm a 69 year old white dude that sometimes not to happy with that. I've lived and seen a lot of horrible things that haven't change much to me any way. Played this song in a few bands back in the 60's and 70's with some enjoyment and some flack. Keep up the good work man. Jim
Neil is indeed Canadian, but a US citizen. But above all, he is a thinking and feeling man,
who puts his world into wonderful songs. He is a real treasure for humanity!
He's Canadian born and raised and kept his citizenship of his home country. He took out American citizenship so is a dual citizen of both nations
Neil did leave Canada and ended up in LA in 1966 … but he only added an American citizenship in 2020.
"After The Gold Rush" is my favorite Neil Young song. Just something very moving about it, lyrics and melody.
Yeah Neil is from Canada, but his Mom's side of the family was from the southern US. The family would take yearly road trips driving down to FLA from Ontario when he was a small kid, it made an impression.
When it comes to Neil Young, until you've listened to "Cowgirl in the Sand" you simply have not experienced the full power and vision of what Young has been up to. The album recording of that song is one of the great moments in all of rock music ever.
Could not agree more!! Cowgirl in the Sand is a must!
Best UA-cam comment ever! YES.
RIP Danny Whitten. His guitar interplay with Neil will never be equalled.
He pissed off Lynyrd Skynyrd but in the end Neil has been proven right on his take.
They forgave him though...the singer (can't think of name right now) was often seen wearing a 'Tonight's the Night' t-shirt. They sure did spank him in Sweet Home though, didn't they.
@@ElCentralScrutinizer I think Southern man spanks most of the south so…Ya it was a silly grudge. Although in todays America divisions are worse.
I think Ronnie Van Zant was buried in that tee shirt. The Drive By Truckers song Ronnie and Neil is pretty interesting. The song is a jam, I don't mind Neil taking his shot and I respect Skynyrd for pushing back. It was all good in the end. Randy Newman called out northern racism in his song Rednecks.
@@michaelkeefe8494 I live in Oregon, and yes there are hicks above the Mason Dixon line 🤦🏻. At the time we loved both of them. Neil was more loved but both were played. The rebel label was looked at a bit different too. Neil’s song was about slavery, and LS’s was about taking it personally. The funny thing is I think today we’re are more divided than in a long time.
Skynyrd greatest American band ever, nobody can ever say different
Neil Young is one of my favorites. This song was released in 1970. I was 8 years old and heard it many times while growing up. He speaks out for humanity and against injustice. We come from different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. Still, we are all human beings. We come from the same source. We all just want to live and survive. We also want to be loved and safe and want the same for our loved ones. I pray for a time when we find unity. I'm a 60 year old white woman. I went to a community college campus starting in 2012 that was 93% Black student population. I ended up tutoring there and saw awful roadblocks for these students trying to succeed and create better lives for themselves. It was heartbreaking. The school moved their nursing program, medical assisting, and all other medical classes to a campus on the other end of the county out of reach for students that relied on city busses for transportation to school. One of the tutors I worked with was an amazing mathmatician. She lived in her car with her 2 kids. She was such an amazing woman and so much fun to be with at work. She died of a heart attack, leaving her kids behind. There is just too much wrong with this world. I wish people would stop the insanity and help each other when possible. I still hold onto hope for a better future.
I KNOWWWW YOU'RE LOVING NEIL'S GUITAR RANTS, THEY ARE SOME OF THE BEST WHEN HE STARTS TO GO OFF! 😊
Lynerd Skynerd's song Sweet Home Alabama was a response to this song.
And than Neil Young and Ronnei Van Zandt became great friends to the extent where Neil Young was a pall bearer at Van Zandt's funeral.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Interesting info.. Thank you.
Van Zant
Not a Pall bearer
When Neal Young heard about the crash,at his next concert he played Sweet home Alabama,in honor of Ronnie Van want and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
In the 1970s, we were never uncomfortable with this song. It’s historical, and very important to remember. That’s exactly w what we thought about it. Awesome Rock and roll.
You remind me of me at 15 when I first discovered Neil...he's funky, and brilliant and Injustice is injustice.
Was great groovin to the instrumental parts and sing along riding in car alone or with friends. The strong lyrics stuck with me and still are relevant today. Injustice anywhere should make everyone feel uncomfortable
Great reaction. Ohio is another heavy hitter.... (written and composed by neil young, performed by CSNY)
Powerful song and as a southerner I'm not the least bit offended by it. I'm 71 years old, I remember how blacks were mistreated under Jim Crowe laws .
Great reaction Biz.
I'm a southern boy and I felt the song was more than appropriate at the time. He wasn't talking about me or any other southerner who was against all the crap being perpetrated against Blacks. I worked for good people in the 70's who wouldn't hire a Black person. I know this, these type songs never have an ill effect on the people who agree with them. It doesn't matter if the people fall into the general category because everyone who agrees with them knows it's not about them.
There were white people in the original American colonies against taking land from the native people. There were white people against slavery in the 1600's, over 100 years before the Declaration of Independence. There were people in the south who were Union sympathizers and people in the north who were confederate sympathizers. White people have been against what other white people have been doing since there were white people. Same as everyone else. 😂I guess everyone could just say you humans over there who are perpetuating whatever they're talking about. Nobody cares if we all say humans suck. Everyone gets that. 😂
Yes, this song was just about history, not politics.
The song is rightfully brutal and, given the South's history, no reason not to expose it all.
I'm 73 years old and I guess having gotten out of HS in 1967, Summer of Love, was when our music crashed into human rights.
My friends were going off to fight in a war and dying, women were tired of being held back and treated like property, my black friends were still not being served when we went to grab a bite to eat in a resturant. We had a lot of issues as teens and we wanted answers and changes.
I guess we didn't have enough worldly knowledge to know we were pissing people off with our protest and demands, but we didn't care, we wanted people to listen, we were a force that politicians hated, but in time they couldn't ignore.
We were hundreds of thousands of kids finally able to afford jr college and State colleges. We had places to assemble and organize protest and we couldn't be stopped
These songs came from a place of intense needs to fix the biggest problem in America, Misogyny, Racism and the drafting of our generation of young men.
I'm sometimes amazed at what we managed to accomplish and I feel proud of our tenacity.
The music was such a universal part of the messages and it reached across State lines and borders. It still makes me emotional when I hear the protest songs and the messages that were so powerful. From Dylan to Neil Young, there's a library of music that sent strong messages and helped change this country and end a war.
Kind of sad we actually are falling back in time right now, but I look at it as a wake up call that we still have work to do and now is the time to stand up and be heard once again. Never take it for granted, there's always those looking for a time of weakness to jump in and grab what we hold most dearly, our rights. ♡
One of the most important socio/political songs in the history of the United States. With screaming guitar!
It’s a song about southern democrats.
And written a Canadian!
@@giodagrate5369
No it's not
@@SolarEclipse1996 explain how it isn’t?
@@giodagrate5369
Explain how you're so dense 🤔
Older white lady who absolutely was affected by this song when it was released. I often think “The devil went down to Georgia “ and never left!
Very thoughtful comments, Biz man. You are right to block people with hateful thoughts, don't need to give them a platform. I enjoy your reactions to the music I grew up with. You are going to find that the '60s were quite turbulent and many songs, such as this one, reflected what was happening.
When Neil wrote this song in 1969, the Jim Crow laws in the South were just starting to be abolished. It was this song and another called "Alabama" Neil wrote that Lynyrd Skynyrd responded to with Sweet Home Alabama.
Bizmatic as a fellow Canadian of Neil Young and a massive fan. One of Neil best tracks is "Down by the River" live version with Neil band Crazy Horse.
No pun intended but you'd be crazy not to give it a listen 😂😂
I think more conversations should be had about racism and the lasting impact it has; generations passing it down. We (I say we because I personally know Americans who feel this way) act like what happened to Emmett Till was 200 years ago. We act like segregation was 150 years ago. This still effects a generation who grew up in the mix of hate…who are still alive. I’m in my 30’s and grew up in the South. People of influence around me would say “I’m not racist, but don’t bring a black man home, they’re not welcome.” It would infuriate me, but, when you grow with certain individuals, you learn not to fight back or stand up against it even though it made me sick to the pit of my stomach. Thankfully I’ve raised kids who see someone based on their character and not the way someone looks on the outside. Anti-Semitic non sense is on the rise in 2023 on American soil. History, majority of the time in the worst ways, always has a habit of repeating itself if we ALLOW it to. I hope everyone has a wonderful Thursday. -Amber
Good analysis. Neil was brave to release this
neil is from the north, way north, great white north, that southern shit is still shocking to us up here
You have to love Neil's dirty soloing style. It's story telling on guitar
YOU NEED MORE NEIL : POWDERFINGER, LIKE A HURRICANE, SEDAN DELIVERY, WELL THERE'S 3 BANGERS 😊 BUT THERE'S SO SO MUCH MORE LIKE IF YOU WANT SOME GREAT HARMONICA, THERE'S JUST SO MUCH OF NEIL THAT YOU CAN DO MY FRIEND! 💯
Neil doesn't need a band, just put him on stage with a guitar and a harmonica
Or a pump organ
@@John_Locke_108 Ah, but , man, the reverb and distortion and feedback......
Nope need his electric not the wimpy top 40 crap DOWN BY THE RIVER or Cowgirl In The Sand is needed over Harvest Moon wimp boy acoustic
@@stevepincombe3836 The piano by 18 year old Nils Lofgrin
I saw him in ‘83. He did two sets solo and brought the band out for the third set. One of the best shows I’ve ever seen.
A person who didn't have ancestors enslaved for centuries and isn't feared/insulted because of the color of his skin, can't just tell people who have endured that to "get over it."
However, keeping proper perspective is also critical. There were black slave owners in the south. There are white, black and every other people, young and old enslaved TODAY. And was it really the colour of their skin or the fact that blacks in Africa enslaved their own and sold them?
@@HeavyBrocks oh Lord.
@@flubblert Don’t like truth?
@@HeavyBrocksdon't appreciate apologists for American racism.
@@HeavyBrocks No...we don't like idiots who cloak their racism in fables and poor attempts at deflection. People are not stupid...we can recognize closet racism when we see it. 🤔
Always loved this song and appreciate it’s truths, no holds barred. I’ve heard some sickening racist attitudes from ignorant people over the last 5 years rearing their ugly heads again, so this song remains relevant. As a Canadian 🇨🇦, Neil has always been one of our icons.
Yo biz. Anotha one. Hearing this when I was young. It really didn’t register. Didn’t even care. Liked the guitar on it though. Older now with more understanding. Growing up in 70s and 80s. I really didn’t know racism. Now when I went to prison in 88. That’s where I actually saw racism. Crazy.
Classic! In my opinion there were many protest songs that were hits in 60's and 70's. But protest became so unfashionable, the labels don't want any anti-empire lyrics. So the best protest songs are often performed in bars, house parties etc. #Medicare4All, #BLM #Homes4All also I support black media: Revolutionary Blackout Network, Black Power Media, This Is Revolution, Burn It Down W/ Kim Brown, FD Signifier, Khadija Mbowe
Speak your truth, man. It’s why we’re here. White folks getting defensive know why that is. Keep on. Peace.
How old are you? I’m 63 and remember the 60s and 70s. Don’t minimize the atrocities of those times.
The lyrics of this song, combined with the angry guitar work always make me think. I am a 68 yr old white Canadian, so my contact with racism is limited. It must be horrible to be black in the Southern states.
Neil owns the longest one note solo with Down by The River. And the longest song with the fewest words, 'T-Bone'. goes like this: Got mashed potatoes. Ain't got no T-bone.
As a resident of South Minneapolis I know you don't have to go that far south. I live just a couple miles from where George Floyd. was murdered. My city was unable to get control over a police department that did not feel accountable for it's own overt racism. Only now is there a reckoning with oversight from state and federal agencies. We are down about 300 officers and our crime situation is not good. We have come a long way but still have a long way to go to end racism in our society. Neil should write another song.
I absolutely love this song. He was simply singing about the culture that persisted in the Jim Crow south. Some people want to pretend that it didn’t happen but it’s history and it cannot be erased.
Check out “Powderfinger” one of these days. Electric Neil is the best Neil.
The members of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Neil Young were actually friends.
I bet you get a lot of shit. Why do we Americans feel nervous or uncomfortable in talking about race? It is silly for whites to feel that way. But history is history. As an old white guy who grew up in Florida I lived through some of that history and have stories to tell. So southern man needs to step up and accept what southern men did. If you aren't racist (or at least try not to be) then there is nothing to feel guilty about. But we Americans have a lot of history to go over and accept, both good and bad. Here's what an ol' Southern writer of some esteem has said about it quite awhile ago: "The past is never dead. It's not even past." William Faulkner
Neil gave a voice to people who weren't aloud to be heard.
I remember crying the first time I heard this and thought yea fuck you I remember those hoses and dogs sicked on the black folk and living in the north horrified, and visiting I got in a colored line for a water fountain and my mom pulled me away even though I was white I understood I was in a place that you needed to be aware of your surroundings.In Detroit even though things weren’t perfect we accepted people for who they were ,so I was glad Neil had the balls to do this
Here is some history for you. Nils Lofgren is the pianist on this song. Him and the drummer were goofing off and they did the song as a polka. Turns out neil liked it so much that he put it in the middle between the more shuffle beats in the front and back of song... I know there is an interview.. Found it: ua-cam.com/video/TnQPkVTyH2I/v-deo.html
Wasn't sure i was going to. enjoy.
this song is from a time in our history, when a LOT of people were getting disgusted with the "way things were..." it was the time of the vietnam war protests, and the civil rights marches.. massive amounts of people were speaking out and singing out about the unacceptable injustices in our country... unfortunately, the pendulum has swung the other way, and we have an entire political party whose base is the most ugly, racist members of our society...
Some of the best guitar riffs and great song, he also did this with Crosby, Stills, and Nash on the Deja Vu album I believe and the guitar solo was even longer , better, and more complex🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶
I'm white, I spent the first 5 years of my life in Louisiana in the 70's and even at that age I saw and recognized a lot of racism. It was definitely part of the overall culture. That's why as soon as my dad got discharged we got out.
controversy was never a problem with Neil, if he saw something and had something to say about it your damn sure he'd sharpen up his pencil.
I love how my boy Neil called them good ole boys out on their White Supremacy & Slavery - and how some people got so Butt hurt over it ...
The song sweet home Alabama .. Was a direct dig at Mr Young. The the line of that Southern man don't need him around anyhow
LOVE Neil Young… he tells the truth… he’s one of my favs of the time & NOW…. Love his story telling folksy bluesy rockin’ style
Now you should listen to Lynard Skynards answer to this song. It’s called Sweet Home Alabama
SO HERE'S HOW IT WENT BIZ 😊: NEIL DID THIS SONG, THEN NEIL DID ( ALABAMA ) AND THEN ( SKYNYRD ) RESPONDED WITH : SWEET HOME ALABAMA BUT THEY WERE RESPONDING TO ALABAMA AND NOTTTTT SOUTHERN MAN. 😊 SO YOU NEED TO DO ( ALABAMA ) AND THEN DO SWEET HOME ALABAMA IF ANYTHING!.
You never get over it. I'm white and I'm not over it. I do my best to keep peaceful, but "how long?" How long is right. I appreciate this song and I appreciate you having the courage to put yourself out there.
GOTTA HEAR COWGIRL IN THE SAND , DOWN BY THE RIVER, CINNAMON GREAT SOLOS REVERB
You noticed he clumped all southern men in right,this is why Ronnie Van want referenced Neal Young in Sweet home Alabama
Neil gave a whole story in just a couple stanza's. I was a teen when it came out and played on Album Oriented FM stations. It never gets old and unfortunately still current. I grew up in Western NY and I was always struck by what I would hear of the south when I was a child in the 60's - the separate bathrooms, doors to go through, seating, and "white only" establishments. I guess I thought, as a child, how ancient the times of President Lincoln were and yet what went on only a decade before (1950's) and even into the 60's how unevolved our society (white) is.
But you're right, in the north racism is more under cover and in whispers. At least it was. Nothing seems to be much any more these days. We (boomers) didn't change the world with our revolutionary styles and music as much as we hoped. What I didn't expect, is for things to go backwards.
Segregation was still legal in the 60’s . He was one of the original activists.
I seriously doubt Neil was a pall bearer for Ronnie Van Zandt, but they did admire each other's music. Neil actually wrote Powderfinger with the idea that it might make a good Skynyrd song. And Ronnie is seen on the cover of 'Street Survivor' in a Neil Young 'Tonight's the Night' t-shirt. Skynyrd clapped back at Neil because they thought he was painting with too broad a brush and frankly, they were more annoyed with the song 'Alabama' off the album 'Harvest' than they were with 'Southern Man.' And even Neil admitted that Alabama might have been a bit extreme. But Neil was never afraid to say exactly what he thought.
The power of music. It took a Canadian to fully see the atrocity of the American South at the time, especially since the American North was on fire in the 60s for the same reasons.
This song is another reminder of how terrifying the current state of our country is. There’s an entire political party determined to roll back the years to a time when it was acceptable for one group to own members of another group based on race. I’m scared to death of these gun toting, racist, sexist, hate filled wackos. And they called themselves “Christians”. The hypocrisy is stunning. Love your channel. 🌺✌️
Complete nonsense.
What political party are you referencing?
If you think Trump or MAGA is,you're way off base as MAGA stands for "Put America first in everything,for everyone"
For the sake of brevity Trump is not an Republican or Democrat and neither is MAGA NATION.
After the Gold Rush is just a masterpiece..
One of the all time great albums.
Not as Good as Ragged Glory or Evrrybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Pissed off. Shouldn't we all be?
Keep in mind Biz, Neil Young wrote this song in 1970 as a result of traveling through the South. It was actually based on his experience of traveling in the South in the 60's.
The best version of this song is on 4 WayStreet by CSNY. Neil and Steven’s guitar licks are traded back and forth. Awesome! Great song!
Hi. Sweetie. Do Horse with no name. Neil Simon.
Those who don't learn from History are doomed to repeat it. Neil Young brought the issues of the day to the forefront. Things that upset people world wide.
this song was a slap at Skynyrd at the time.
Excellent Song! Neil speaks the truth ❤❤❤
Also, don't forget to react to Young's "Alabama", from the "Harvest" album. You might say the title inspiration of Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama".
This version is nice.... but you need the 4-Way Street live with CSN. Neil and Stephen have a killer jam with this. And you can feel the anger and pain in voices.
Tough song to comment on from a socio-historical perspective; definitely gritty also from a musical perspective! That's cool that you opened up about moving to the South. All the best to you and your channel!
Fun fact: when Neil was a teenager, he was briefly in a band with Rick James, the later funk star. Neil's musical experience and range were bottomless.
One of the great Neil Young compositions. The medley and guitar are as impactful as the lyrics. Not his first protest song. Check out "Ohio" by Crosby Stills Nash & mostly Young.
Lynrd Skynrd probably objected to Neil's song "Alabama" moreso than "Southern Man".
Neil Young..AAA