Neil Young’s ‘Old Man’ Was Written With A ‘Heart Of Gold’

Some artists are truly wise beyond their years, despite all the fame and fanfare of Hollywood. For folk legend Neil Young, this was evident when he released his classic hit “Old Man” at 26 years old.

The song was written as a heartfelt, touching tribute to the caretaker of his Northern California, Ranch. It’s juxtaposes a young man’s life to an old man’s and how, to some extent, the share the same needs, clearly reflecting on the impact the “old man” caretaker had on Neil Young’s fortunate, yet humbling life.

In the movie Heart of Gold, Young introduces the song as follows:

“About that time when I wrote (“Heart of Gold”), and I was touring, I had also — just, you know, being a rich hippie for the first time — I had purchased a ranch, and I still live there today. And there was a couple living on it that were the caretakers, an old gentleman named Louis Avila and his wife Clara. And there was this old blue Jeep there, and Louis took me for a ride in this blue Jeep. He gets me up there on the top side of the place, and there’s 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, just lucky, Louie, just real lucky.” And he said, “Well, that’s the darndest thing I ever heard.” And I wrote this song for him.”

He tells a similar story when introducing the song at a February 23, 1971 performance broadcast by the BBC (in which he says that he purchased the ranch from “two lawyers”):

This heartfelt video gets you to look at yourself and reflect upon what you’ve learned from others.

OLD MAN by Neil Young

“Old Man”

“Heart Of Gold”

And I’m getting old.
Keep me searching for a heart of gold
And I’m getting old.

I’ve been to Hollywood
I’ve been 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.
You keep me searching and I’m growing old.
Keep me searching for a heart of gold
I’ve been a miner for a heart of gold.

What is your favorite Neil Young song? Share in the comment section at the bottom of this post!

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