canada.gif

gb.gif

de.gif

us.gif
Neil Young's new release ""World Record" w/ Crazy Horse is now available for pre-order. Order here
(Please shop locally & independently. But if you can't, we appreciate your supporting Thrasher's Wheat by clicking this link or YOUR COUNTRY's FLAG. Thank you!!!)
ADVERTISEMENT
<-Older Posts Blog Home Newer Posts->

Friday, September 07, 2018

"Campaigner": Neil Young Archives Song of the Day


"Campaigner" is the Song of the Day on the Neil Young Archives today, September 7.

Hmmm. Why might "Campaigner" be the Song of the Day? Well your guess is as good as ours. Over the decades it has been a routine exercise for fans to replace "Richard Nixon" with whoever the current U.S. President might be at the time. And the song seems to work consistently from Administration to Administration.

So go ahead and play the "Campaigner" game with us.

"Campaigner" by Neil Young - 1976

I am a lonely visitor.
I came to late to cause a stir,
Though I campaigned all my life
towards that goal.

I hardly slept the night you wept
Our secret's safe and still well kept
Where even Richard Nixon has got soul.
Even Richard Nixon has got
Soul.

Traffic cops are all color blind.
People steal from their own kind.
Evening comes to early for a stroll.
Down neon streets the streaker streaks.
The speaker speaks,
but the truth still leaks,

Where even Richard Nixon has got soul.
Even Richard Nixon has got it,
Soul.

The podium rocks in the crowded waves.
The speaker talks of the beautiful saves
That went down long before
he played this role
For the hotel queens and the magazines,
Test tube genes and slot machines
Where even Richard Nixon got soul.
Even Richard Nixon has got it,
Soul.

Hospitals have made him cry,
But there's always a free way in his eye,
Though his beach just got
too crowded for his stroll.
Roads stretch out like healthy veins,
And wild gift horses strain the reins,
Where even Richard Nixon has got soul.
Even Richard Nixon has got
Soul.

I am a lonely visitor.
I came to late to cause a stir,
Though I campaigned all my life
towards that goal.
"Campaigner", from the 2017 album Hitchhiker, includes a newly relevant verse deleted from the version that appeared on 1977's Decade: "The speaker speaks, but the truth still leaks."

But what does Neil Young know about politicians anyways? Or, what do politicians know about Neil Young?

More on "Campaigner" and the album Hitchhiker.


Neil Young | Hitchhiker
(Click to enlarge & preview tracks)

Labels: ,


13 Comments:

At 9/07/2018 08:06:00 PM, Blogger thrasher said...

Wee missed noting this above above, but if you look at NYA Home page on the left, there's a link for "NEW SHOWS TBA".

Another hmmm. we're on standby. Maybe something coming after Farm Aid later in Sept in the N.E. area?

Thanks Darren for pointing out!

 
At 9/08/2018 12:15:00 PM, Blogger Jim said...

Neil usually does "warm-up" shows for Farm Aid so maybe something is up for that.

Really hope that the "archives" project that Neil Young is doing will start to include live shows like Bruce Springsteen is doing. Over this weekend Bruce announced a show from 1999 that got me to thinking wouldn't it be amazing to get some of the '99 solo shows that Neil did. Maybe he could do a matrix mix of the soundboards with some of those amazing Schoeps mic'd audience recordings that surfaced back in the Yahoo Rust era? Seems like the archives website is positioned perfectly to give us 16 to 24 bit live recordings from pretty much his entire career. Now, I think there is something fishy about no live Buffalo Springfield recordings given all the times they played for Bill Graham who was clearly a recording nut and he clearly liked the Springfield, too. That is plain weird but here is an example of what Neil could do based on what Bruce is doing...

http://live.brucespringsteen.net/

The show I want the most, however, is that three day stand at the Canterbury House in "A Squared" pretty much on/within the "very moment" that Neil Young became a star after the debut of CSNY live that included Woodstock, just a month before recording "Country Girl" for Deja Vu and the live debut of some of the "After The Goldrush" songs already penned or covered. Both of his bands, Crazy Horse and CSNY, were getting the recognition that the Springfield didn't get beyond the hit single on their debut tours just months before the Canterbury House recordings. A lot of the introductions to the songs from the 1969 Canterbury House are already up on the Archives under the "video" heading as I've stated before.

Those three days of Canterbury House recordings (please release all three!) I would like to request be followed by releasing complete shows that included Hargus "Pig" Robbins just before the very first Farm Aid. There is a little bit of Hargus on "The Treasure" but not enough since it didn't include the "Old Man" or the stunning "Down By The River" that band did. Now, as I've mentioned before that show at Meadowbrook Music Theater, that included Nicolette Larson opening and later joining the Harvesters/Grey Riders I might add, was the one that I got to talk for a good bit with Neil. We talked about "Neil & Me" and then the next day he arranged an interview with Willie Nelson for three hours the following week. That story with Willie about the first Farm Aid got my co-byline on a front page story in the Detroit Free Press. My parents got to see me go from a paperboy with 90 dailies and 130 Sunday papers to a writer published on the front page and I have Neil Young to thank for that.

From "Shakey" about this particular tour...

https://books.google.com/books?id=yrd20PZoLFYC&pg=PT846&lpg=PT846&dq=hargus+pig+robbins+down+by+the+river&source=bl&ots=dQYXCUEMV5&sig=9-cl2L1Y5MXkqspub51NuBhi4ug&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjR34OL36vdAhVqtlkKHUfhAnsQ6AEwDHoECAIQAQ#v=onepage&q=hargus%20pig%20robbins%20down%20by%20the%20river&f=false

The song "Campaigner" teken from shows from 1976 would be a nice thing to offer as a download on the Neilyoungarchives pages, too. 1976 was a very good year!

http://sugarmtn.org/song.php?song=84

 
At 9/08/2018 12:20:00 PM, Blogger Jim said...

Yeah, listen to what Neil Young says about playing in the Grey Riders band here and specifically at 8:51 on this video...

"I couldn't go anywhere where he couldn't go farther," Neil Young talking about Hargus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxEaQZUPSL4&t=585s

 
At 9/08/2018 12:40:00 PM, Blogger thrasher said...

Hey Jim, thanks for the drop by.

Yeah, Bruce and Bob have done a lot on their concerts and rarities releases. And do agree that we should really start to see Neil flood NYA once the paywall setup is in place.

Could be part of the setup w/ some stealth gigs like back earlier this year w/ CH & POTR? Maybe announce subscription service, stream some live gigs, and then the HUGE track drop. MOAD (Mother of all DROPS)

great clip and reminder on Grey Riders Hargus "Pig" Robbins. need to re-post that to TW.

 
At 9/08/2018 01:33:00 PM, Blogger wardo said...

I figured the postings of "Campaigner" and "Hitchhiker" were mostly because the Hitchhiker album was released a year ago this week.

 
At 9/08/2018 02:23:00 PM, Blogger thrasher said...

@wardo - fair point, makes sense.

 
At 9/08/2018 03:54:00 PM, Blogger Mabel Haller said...

If you're going to post lyrics, please try "to" use correct English.
It's..... too late , not "to late"
It's..... too early, not "to early"

 
At 9/08/2018 04:10:00 PM, Blogger thrasher said...

@Mabel - good catch and thanks for the proof reading. You're never going to believe this , but we didn't actually transcribe these lyrics, not are they official.

If you follow the link to NY's official lyric transcripts, you'll see that Neil definitely knows proper grammar and spelling.

TW is a pretty low budget operation, as you can see. Maybe you would like to underwrite a paid internship for proofing dept.? And we do have several other unfunded positions as well.

Everyone here @ TW is a volunteer working on a labor of love... and we'd like to keep it that way, actually.

peace

 
At 9/08/2018 05:07:00 PM, Blogger Richie Cruz said...

Completely off topic here, but I was wondering if anyone here could provide information on something. My friend showed me a picture of Neil, Stills, Nash, and Jimmy Page(!) playing together on a stage somewhere.

He thinks it's possibly from a private performance involving Atlantic records (both CSNY and Zeppelin being on that label), but he wasn't completely sure. It definitely looks 1974ish, Neil is wearing those big sunglasses and huge mutton chops that he was sporting in '74. And it looks like Jimmy Page from that period.

Does anyone know where this was from? It's a very cool and intriguing picture.

 
At 9/08/2018 05:33:00 PM, Blogger thrasher said...

@Richard - See SOLVED: Photo of the Moment - CSNY & Jimmy Page, 1974 http://neilyoungnews.thrasherswheat.org/2012/03/solved-photo-of-moment-csny-jimmy-page.html

We just re-read all of the comments. wow, quite a bit of history on the photo.

Thanks for the off topic detour!

 
At 9/08/2018 06:23:00 PM, Blogger Richie Cruz said...

Thanks Thrasher, very cool picture with an interesting storyline. Would have been nice to have been there, if only to watch a drunken Stills fall off the drumstool!

 
At 9/08/2018 08:02:00 PM, Blogger thrasher said...

CHECK NYA Page NOW: 4 EAST COAST SHOWS

 
At 9/08/2018 08:58:00 PM, Blogger Andy said...

East Coast Australia lol one can only dream

 

Post a Comment

<< Home

<-Older Posts Blog Home Newer Posts->

Willie for a Nobel!
#Willie4Nobel

Willie Nelson for Nobel Peace Prize
for Farm Aid and his work on
alternative fuels, and world peace initiatives.

farm-aid-logo.gif
Farm Aid

Go Farmers Markets!


"In the >field< of opportunity
It's plowin' time again."

SUPPORTER
logo
Silverline Communications

(Home of the FarmAidians)
Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada
(519) 737-7979



This blog supports free speech!


Demand justice for Aaron:
Support "Aaron's Law" and inquiry into his prosecution

(... he didn't kill himself either...) #AaronDidntKillHimself

Induct Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame



Please Help Support Independent Media &
Non-Corporate Advertising
This Blog's For You!


The Hypocrisy of the Mainstream Media

It's Been Called The
"Missing Link" in the Ditch Trilogy

time-fades-away-banner2a

Sign the Release "Time Fades Away" Petition
Join The 10,000+ Who Have Already Signed


broken-arrow-mag-new-logo.gif

Neil Young Appreciation Society


sugar-mtn-logo.jpg
Sugar Mountain

Neil Young Setlists
rust-radio-new
Rust Radio


bumpersticker-neil-concert.jpg


i-l-ove-neil-young-sm.jpg
Bands Covering Neil Young songs


bumper-sticker-live-music-better-sm.jpg
LIVE MUSIC IS BETTER


ny-times-logo.jpg
Official Neil Young News Site

bridgeschool_logo
The Bridge School


The Bridge School Concerts
25th Anniversary Edition

**100% of Proceeds to Benefit Bridge School***

linda-eastman-neil-young-sugar-mtn-sm.jpg
The Essential Neil Young

neil-young-sleeveless.jpg
Fans Favorite Neil Albums

neil-young-heart-of-gold-film-still
Top 50 MP3
Neil Young Song Downloads


Top 10 Best Selling Neil Albums Today
amazon-neil-store.GIF
Support Thrasher's Wheat
via Purchases from:
United States - Amazon.com us.gif
Canada - Amazon.ca canada.gif
United Kingdom - Amazon.uk gb.gif
Germany - Amazon.de de.gif



Neil Young Songbook Project

In the fields of wheat

"Children of Destiny" will NOT be harvested
However, the chaff will be burned by unquenchable fire

Neil Young + Promise of the Real

Europe 2016 Tour Dates



2015 Rebel Content Tour


Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Alchemy Concert Tour Reviews

Fall 2012 N. America Tour
Spring 2013 Australia/New Zealand Tour
Summer 2013 Europe Tour

Europe Summer 2014 Concert Tour
Neil Young & Crazy Horse

Thrasher's Wheat Radio Supporters Go To Europe

jttp-film-poster-sm.jpg
Neil Young Films

musicares-neil-young-2010.jpg
2010 MusiCares Honors Neil Young

Features Elvis Costello, Crosby Stills & Nash, Sheryl Crow, Josh Groban, Ben Harper, Elton John, Norah Jones, Lady Antebellum, Dave Matthews, James Taylor, Keith Urban, and others.
Proceeds from sales go to MusiCares,
which helps musicians in need of
financial and medical assistance.

live-rust-promo-poster.jpg


"There's more to the picture
Than meets the eye"

#BigShift

trans-promo



Neil Young FAQ:
Everything Left to Know About the Iconic and Mercurial Rocker
"an indispensable reference"

paul-neil-bridge2004-sat-sfc-kkomenich-sm.jpg
Paul McCartney and Neil Young

woodstock-poster.jpg


"You can make a difference
If you really a try"

lennon_peace_liberty
John Lennon and Neil Young


"hailed by fans as a wonderful read"

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young:
csny-1974-poster.jpg
The Supergroup of the 20th Century



Director Jonathan Demme's Exquisite film "Heart of Gold"

eddie & neil
Eddie Vedder and Neil Young

buffalo-springfield-poster.jpg
Revisiting The Significance of
The Buffalo Springfield


"The revolution will not be televised"
... it will be blogged, streamed,
tweeted, shared and liked
The Embarrassment of Mainstream Media

Turn Off Your TV & Have A Life


"Everything Is Bullshit" +
"Turn Off The News"
Turn Off the News (Build a Garden)


Neil Young 2016 Year in Review:
The Year of The Wheat

Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain and Neil Young

Neil Young's Feedback:
An Acquired Taste?

Young Neil: The Sugar Mountain Years
by Rustie Sharry "Keepin' Jive Alive in T.O." Wilson

"the definitive source of Neil Young's formative childhood years in Canada"

neil & joni
Joni Mitchell & Neil Young

europe 1987.jpg


dylan-young-crop
Bob and Neil

weld
So Who Really Was "The Godfather of Grunge"?


Four Dead in Ohio
kent state
So What Really Happened at Kent State?


The Four Dead in Ohio



May The FOUR Be With You #MayThe4thBeWithYou

concert-pass-europe-2003-solo.jpg


dissent is not treason
Dissent is the highest form of patriotism

Rockin' In The Free World



Sing Truth to Power!
When Neil Young Speaks Truth To Power,
The World Listens

emmylou-harris-neil-young-0305-crop
Emmylou Harris and Neil Young

wilco-062305-wide-background.jpg
Wilco and Neil Young

bluenotes-pass-young88crewlam-sm.jpg

bruce-springsteen-neil-young-bridge-oct-1986.jpg
Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young

europe87concertpass


elton-john-neil-young-crop-sm.jpg
Elton John and Neil Young

ronnie-vanzant-neil.jpg
Lynyrd Skynyrd and Neil Young

+

The Meaning of "Sweet Home Alabama" Lyrics


Neil Young Nation -
"The definitive Neil Young fan book"

powderfinger
"Powderfinger"
What does the song mean?

Random Neil Young Link of the Moment
neil-sad.jpg

Bonnie Raitt and Neil Young

Wisconsin-solidarity.jpg
I'm Proud to Be A Union Man

UNITED WE STAND/DIVIDED WE FALL


When Neil Young is Playing,
You Shut the Fuck Up


Class War:
They Started It and We'll Finish It...
peacefully

A battle raged on the open page...
No Fear, No Surrender. Courage
WE WON'T BACK DOWN. NEVER STAND DOWN.

"What if Al Qaeda blew up the levees?"
Full Disclousre Now


"I've Got The Revolution Blues"

Willie Nelson & Neil Young
Willie Nelson for Nobel Peace Prize



John Mellencamp:
Why Willie Deserves a Nobel

willie_picnic_poster_070503


BOYCOTT HATE

Love and Only Love

"Thinking about what a friend had said,
I was hoping it was a lie"


We're All On
A Journey Through the Past

Neil Young's Moon Songs
Tell Us The F'n TRUTH
(we can handle it... try us)

Freedom:
freedom-video
Does Anything Else Really Matter?

"Nobody's free until everybody's free."
~~ Fannie Lou Hamer

Here Comes "The Big Shift"
#BigShift

Maybe everything you think you know is wrong? NOTHING IS AS IT SEEMS
"It's all illusion anyway."

Propaganda = Mind Control
NOTHING IS AS IT SEEMS
Guess what?
"Symbols Rule the World, not Words or Laws."
... and symbolism will be their downfall...

Brighter Planet's 350 Challenge
Be The Rain, Be The Change

csny2k-plate.jpg
the truth will set you free
This Machine Kills Fascists


"Children of Destiny" - THE Part of THE Solution

(Frame from Official Music Video)

war is not the answer
yet we are
Still Living With War

"greed is NOT good"
Hey Big Brother!
Stop Spying On Us!
Civic Duty Is Not Terrorism

The Achilles Heel
#NullifyNSA
Orwell (and Grandpa) Was Right
“Emancipate yourself from mental slavery.”
~~ Bob Marley

The Essence of "The Doubters"



Yes, There's Definitely A Hole in The Sky


Even Though The Music Died 50+ Years Ago
,
Open Up the "Tired Eyes" & Wake up!
"consciousness is near"
What's So Funny About
Peace, Love, & Understanding & Music?

churchsign

Show Me A Sign

"Who is John Galt?"
To ask the question is to know the answer

"Whosoever shall give up his liberty for a temporary security
deserves neither liberty nor safety."

~~ Benjamin Franklin

Words

(Between the lines of age)


And in the end, the love you take
Is equal to the love you make

~~ John & Paul

the zen of neil
the power of rust
the karma of the wheat

~Om-Shanti.

Namaste