Track 3 from his fifth solo studio album “On the Beach” released in 1974 copyright Reprise Records. It was recorded at Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood and Young’s Broken Arrow Studio at his ranch in Woodside, California. After releasing the album “Time Fades Away,” recorded live on the “Harvest” tour, Young recorded a new album that would become “Tonight’s the Night.” It was a dark album that dealt with his grief over the recent deaths of two close friends and was shelved and not released for two more years. “On the Beach” was recorded immediately after and has a slightly more hopeful theme based on acceptance of life’s harsh realities, overcoming them and finding a way to move on with your life. It reached No. 5 in the Netherlands, No. 13 in Canada and No. 16 on the Billboard chart. It achieved Gold status in a couple of months. Written by Neil Young and produced by Neil Young, David Briggs, Mark Harman & Al Schmitt. RIP Jack Nitzsche, Kenny Buttrey, Henry Lewy, Ben Keith & Tim Drummond. Featuring:
Neil Young – Lead vocals, lead & rhythm guitars, harmonica, Wurlitzer electric piano, banjo guitar & electric tambourine
Special Guests:
Ben Keith – Slide guitar, steel guitar, Wurlitzer electric piano, dobro, organ, hair drum & hand drums & background vocals, bass on “Motion Pictures” & “Ambulance Blues”
Rusty Kershaw - Slide guitar on “Motion Pictures” & fiddle on “Ambulance Blues”
David Crosby – Rhythm guitar on “Revolution Blues”
George Whitsell – Rhythm guitar on “Ambulance Blues”
Graham Nash – Wurlitzer electric piano on “On the Beach”
Tim Drummond – Bass, percussion on “Vampire Blues”
Billy Talbot – Bass on “Walk On”
Rick Danko – Bass on “Revolution Blues”
Ralph Moline – Drums & hand drums, background vocal on “Walk On”
Levon Helm – Drums on “See the Sky About to Rain” & “Revolution Blues”
Well, we live in a trailer at the edge of town
You never see us 'cause we don't come around
We got twenty-five rifles just to keep the population down
But we need you now
And that's why I'm hangin' around
So you be good to me and I'll be good to you
And in this land of conditions I'm not above suspicion
I won't attack you but I won't back you
Well, it's so good to be here asleep on your lawn
Remember your guard dog, well, I'm afraid that he's gone
It was such a drag to hear him whining all night long
Yes, that was me with the doves setting them free near the factory
Where you built your computer love
I hope you get the connection 'cause I can't take the rejection
I won't deceive you, I just don't believe you
Well, I'm a barrel of laughs with my carbine on
I keep 'em hoppin' till my ammunition's gone
But I'm still not happy, I feel like there's something wrong
I got the revolution blues, I see bloody fountains
And ten million dune buggies comin' down the mountain
Well, I hear that Laurel Canyon is full of famous stars
But I hate them worse than lepers and I'll kill them in their cars
