Actually, this song was _not_ about Danny Whitten! It in fact was written by Neil and he performed it live in January of 1971, almost 2 years before Danny died on November of 1972. The song is about several musicians that Neil had known who died of Heroin overdoses. Regarding Danny Whitten, although he was a heroin addict, he actually died from a mixture of diazepam, which he was taking for severe knee arthritis, and alcohol. Neil Young had fired him from the band rehearsal because he just wasn't able to perform sufficiently in the band due to his drug addiction. Danny died later that same night. Note: Danny began using Heroin as a pain reliever for his rheumatoid arthritis which he suffered from for years.. And became addicted.
The following is the standard interpretation of the song. It is, as you point out, misleading. "In 1972 Danny Whitten died of a drug overdose aged 29. He was a member of Neil Young's Crazy Horse. The Neil Young song ‘The Needle and the Damage Done’ was written about Whitten’s heroin use (before he died of an overdose).
Needle was actually the first Neil Young song I heard, and it was a cover by some other band. It didn't take long for me to find Neil and listen to everything he ever wrote from then -- early 1970s -- until now. Saw him live back in the 1980s. The Judds opened for him.
Heard this song probably a hundred times. Still made me cry, thinking of people lost and people on the edge now, including someone I just served a free lunch to
Needle and the Damage Done is slightly longer but it is a short and to the point tale about the loss of many of his friends. The death of Danny Whitten, who was a member of the Rockets and then Crazy Horse, hit hard as Danny OD'd fatally after Neil fired him. The " Ditch Trilogy" which is Tonight's the Night, Time Fades Away and On The Beach, were cathartic for Neil's recovery from their deaths and the dark side of fame.
"The Needle and The Damage Done" is such a powerful, yet short song, but you can really hear the pain in Neil's voice. IMVHO the most powerful line is the last one, "But every junkie's like a setting sun". Neil Young is STILL The MAN, and he is as great a person and he is a performer. He cares about everyone.
I learned to play this song when the album first came out around 1970 and I play at least a part of it warming up every single day on my guitar. I love the finger-picking and it limbers me up. Great back story and what a great album.
Another song about addiction is Joni Mitchell’s “Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire” from her “For The Roses” LP. Joni describes the song as being about the seduction of heroin which she never did but was around. And who she was around was her one time boyfriend James Taylor. This is a haunting recording the instrumentation unusual but so fitting the song and along with Joni’s vocals really beautiful.
This song always brings me to tears.... saw way too much of milk blood to keep from running out back in the day. RIP to all of those victims who were, (and today still) caught in that web. It was (is) tragic, heartbreaking and maddening to witness. I still think of their families often.....
The two best NY albums imo are Harvest(you'll love Heart of Gold, Shawn)and After the Gold Rush. These were what I call his folkrock days after/before Crazy Horse. He didn't write the song about Danny W. because Danny was dead. The song came out 2 years before Danny died. It was like the Lynyrd Skynrd song, "Needle and the Spoon" that talked about people they knew who were addicted to heroin. Maybe Danny being addicted helped inspire it but he didn't die and then Neil wrote this song about him. The original drummer in Buffalo Springfield was also a heroin addict if my memory serves me correctly. Heroin has been a part of Jazz and Blues musicians for decades before the '70s
One of my favourite Neil Young songs is another short but absolutely beautiful one, "Helpless". I first heard it used as background music to a TV documentary about Alzheimer's Disease, for which it fitted perfectly, but I believe it referenced a time in Neil's childhood when he was very sick and bedbound for a long period. I've also heard Neil mention that he was inspired to write about the 'heavy' issue of drug addiction and death by hearing a song by the great (though less well-known than he ought to be) British folksinger/ guitarist/ song-writer Bert Jansch. The song is called "Needle of Death", and like Neil's song, it has a beautiful haunting tune and lyrics.
It would be great if Shawn would react to "Helpless". The song is about the town of Omemee, Ontario, a very small place down the road from where I now live. Neil lived there when he was young (oops....bad pun) and his father, journalist Scott Young moved back there later on in his life. I believe that "Helpless" may have been used in that documentary with the blessing of Neil, as his father had some form of dementia (Alzheimer's?). I remember speaking with Scott in the late 90's and he was sadly showing signs of the disease.
I LOVE Burt Jansch! Great birthday celebrations, and truly an incredible talent! Another great less well- known artist, (than he ought to be), IMHO, is Scottish folksinger/guitarist/songwriter, Richard Thompson.
awesome pick Bro AAA++++ In case nobody noticed that was a Martin guitar--Big booming sound made in Nazareth,PA USA .."Words Between the Lines of Age" is a great song ..I grew up on this stuff..my fam was musical and jammed every weekend..great times..many are gone now
There are more drug overdoses now than back in the '70s, by far. Drug deaths rates per 100,000 in the '70s was about 3.0. In the 2010s - to now, it is about 25.
Sorry to hear that gun violence has joined drugs as causes of many deaths. I had a live in girlfriend in the late 70s who when she discovered I had this album had me play this song often. She explained that a couple years prior when she was living is So Cal had issues with the drug, but managed after a time to get away from it. Yes, she saw first hand the damage done.
Neil was at the top of his game at this time. His voice was the best it has ever been. Harvest is good but not even in his top 5 imo. The harvest songs are done much better without the overproduction on live at Massey Hall
Every junkie’s like the setting sun, for everyone that sets another rises. Neil’s a genius writer and musician.😊
One of the great singer songwriters of my generation
He's an incredibly prolific song writer with always great melodies.
Not only was this a powerful, emotional message, it was paired with an elegant sound.
Neil Young is one of the best singer songwriters of this generation, not only is Harvest a great album so is After The Gold rush
Notice the cold stop, reminding us of a life stopped cold....
I love you Shawn please don't let anything get you down. ❤❤❤❤
Actually, this song was _not_ about Danny Whitten! It in fact was written by Neil and he performed it live in January of 1971, almost 2 years before Danny died on November of 1972. The song is about several musicians that Neil had known who died of Heroin overdoses. Regarding Danny Whitten, although he was a heroin addict, he actually died from a mixture of diazepam, which he was taking for severe knee arthritis, and alcohol. Neil Young had fired him from the band rehearsal because he just wasn't able to perform sufficiently in the band due to his drug addiction. Danny died later that same night. Note: Danny began using Heroin as a pain reliever for his rheumatoid arthritis which he suffered from for years.. And became addicted.
Thanks for the clarification.
The following is the standard interpretation of the song. It is, as you point out, misleading. "In 1972 Danny Whitten died of a drug overdose aged 29. He was a member of Neil Young's Crazy Horse. The Neil Young song ‘The Needle and the Damage Done’ was written about Whitten’s heroin use (before he died of an overdose).
I remember Neil saying about this song that some of the best musicians he ever saw died from OD before they could be discovered .
Thanks for the clarification 🙏
Needle was actually the first Neil Young song I heard, and it was a cover by some other band. It didn't take long for me to find Neil and listen to everything he ever wrote from then -- early 1970s -- until now. Saw him live back in the 1980s. The Judds opened for him.
Heard this song probably a hundred times. Still made me cry, thinking of people lost and people on the edge now, including someone I just served a free lunch to
Needle and the Damage Done is slightly longer but it is a short and to the point tale about the loss of many of his friends. The death of Danny Whitten, who was a member of the Rockets and then Crazy Horse, hit hard as Danny OD'd fatally after Neil fired him. The " Ditch Trilogy" which is Tonight's the Night, Time Fades Away and On The Beach, were cathartic for Neil's recovery from their deaths and the dark side of fame.
Thanks for going down the Neil Young Rabbit Hole. Neil has a unique way with lyrics and feelings. Great music choices as always.
You're the best.
"The Needle and The Damage Done" is such a powerful, yet short song, but you can really hear the pain in Neil's voice. IMVHO the most powerful line is the last one, "But every junkie's like a setting sun". Neil Young is STILL The MAN, and he is as great a person and he is a performer. He cares about everyone.
I was "into Neil Young" way back...when I was teaching myself guitar...And this was a good one...
Neil is a musical genius.❤ He still has the property in California that he sings about... he probably bought it in the mid-70s.
" Every Junkie like a setting sun " profound
Yes, I thought so too
Love the gospel vibe in this song.
YESSSSSSSS SHAWN, MULTI MULTI TALENTED HE SURELY WAS!💯😊 AWESOME, SHAWN, GR88888 COMBO!👍
Thanks, Shawn... such a beautiful and haunting song... meaningful and sad...
Needle and the damage done First song I learned on the guitar as a teen.
I learned to play this song when the album first came out around 1970 and I play at least a part of it warming up every single day on my guitar. I love the finger-picking and it limbers me up. Great back story and what a great album.
Another song about addiction is Joni Mitchell’s “Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire” from her “For The Roses” LP. Joni describes the song as being about the seduction of heroin which she never did but was around. And who she was around was her one time boyfriend James Taylor. This is a haunting recording the instrumentation unusual but so fitting the song and along with Joni’s vocals really beautiful.
He also did a great version on BBC,he performed several songs there
"A Man Needs a Maid"... A Neil Young deep cut from his "Harvest" album is worth a listen.
Spoiler alert: orchestration is involved.
❤❤❤❤
I have a suggestion for a Neil Young song-Philadelphia. It’s from the movie with the same title. It’s a sad song and very haunting
Would love to see you react to Neil Young's "Hey Hey My My" and My My Hey Hey". Would be a great twofer reaction. 👍
To me Neil’s greatest album is After The Gold Rush with Southern Man on it.
This song always brings me to tears.... saw way too much of milk blood to keep from running out back in the day. RIP to all of those victims who were, (and today still) caught in that web. It was (is) tragic, heartbreaking and maddening to witness. I still think of their families often.....
The two best NY albums imo are Harvest(you'll love Heart of Gold, Shawn)and After the Gold Rush. These were what I call his folkrock days after/before Crazy Horse.
He didn't write the song about Danny W. because Danny was dead. The song came out 2 years before Danny died. It was like the Lynyrd Skynrd song, "Needle and the Spoon" that talked about people they knew who were addicted to heroin. Maybe Danny being addicted helped inspire it but he didn't die and then Neil wrote this song about him. The original drummer in Buffalo Springfield was also a heroin addict if my memory serves me correctly. Heroin has been a part of Jazz and Blues musicians for decades before the '70s
Went to 3 funerals where this song was played. So sad 😞. I have this album, it is really good, check it out.
One of my favourite Neil Young songs is another short but absolutely beautiful one, "Helpless". I first heard it used as background music to a TV documentary about Alzheimer's Disease, for which it fitted perfectly, but I believe it referenced a time in Neil's childhood when he was very sick and bedbound for a long period.
I've also heard Neil mention that he was inspired to write about the 'heavy' issue of drug addiction and death by hearing a song by the great (though less well-known than he ought to be) British folksinger/ guitarist/ song-writer Bert Jansch. The song is called "Needle of Death", and like Neil's song, it has a beautiful haunting tune and lyrics.
It would be great if Shawn would react to "Helpless". The song is about the town of Omemee, Ontario, a very small place down the road from where I now live. Neil lived there when he was young (oops....bad pun) and his father, journalist Scott Young moved back there later on in his life.
I believe that "Helpless" may have been used in that documentary with the blessing of Neil, as his father had some form of dementia (Alzheimer's?). I remember speaking with Scott in the late 90's and he was sadly showing signs of the disease.
I LOVE Burt Jansch! Great birthday celebrations, and truly an incredible talent! Another great less well- known artist, (than he ought to be), IMHO, is Scottish folksinger/guitarist/songwriter, Richard Thompson.
I'm a Rusty. I was on the NY Rust email list in the 90s🤣🤘🎸♥️
I'm still on the rust list Yahoo group which was the last thing that it turned into.
awesome pick Bro AAA++++ In case nobody noticed that was a Martin guitar--Big booming sound made in Nazareth,PA USA .."Words Between the Lines of Age" is a great song ..I grew up on this stuff..my fam was musical and jammed every weekend..great times..many are gone now
Notice he stops cold? Life stopped.
Watch a great theatrical Neil Young concert dvd Rust Never Sleeps . From 1978 at the Cow Palace near San Francisco .
One of the greatest rock concerts ever caught on film.
Harvest is his best album IMO
☮️💙💙💙🔥🔥😢
Neil young went to California driving a hearse with his band equipment in the back..
There are more drug overdoses now than back in the '70s, by far. Drug deaths rates per 100,000 in the '70s was about 3.0. In the 2010s - to now, it is about 25.
Setting sun will be back tomorrow.
Song is short…… life was cut short……. 🙏🏻
For more hard truths in song, check out "Sam Stone" by the legendary John Prine.😉👍
Sorry to hear that gun violence has joined drugs as causes of many deaths. I had a live in girlfriend in the late 70s who when she discovered I had this album had me play this song often. She explained that a couple years prior when she was living is So Cal had issues with the drug, but managed after a time to get away from it. Yes, she saw first hand the damage done.
Neil also dealt with drug addiction but for him it was cocaine. He was a functional drug addict.
Another heavy hitter. Hadn't heard the background of this song. Tragic.
Old Man is best from harvest
Neil was at the top of his game at this time. His voice was the best it has ever been. Harvest is good but not even in his top 5 imo. The harvest songs are done much better without the overproduction on live at Massey Hall