"Captain Kennedy" & Neil Young's "Hawks & Doves": Which Side Will You Choose?
Which Side Will You Choose?
The "Blue Side" or "The Red Side"?
Neil Young's 'Hawks & Doves' (1980)
The CHOICE Is Yours ... Or Is It?
143/1-0-7
Earlier this month, the album "Hawks & Doves" was the Album of the Week on Neil Young's Archives. Neil Young commented that "Hawks & Doves" reveals him as "A redneck and a hippie, all rolled into one album."
Released in November 1980, Neil Young's album Hawks & Doves was his tenth studio album and featured the enigmatic song "Captain Kennedy".
Thematically speaking, the 1st side of the album Hawks & Doves is the "Doves" side, with the 2nd side known as the "Hawks" side. The "Doves" side has the "softer/hippie" songs like "Little Wing" and "Captain Kennedy", while the "Hawks" side has the "harder/redneck" songs like "Stayin' Power" and "Union Man". Also, the "Doves" songs are on the blue-label side and "Hawks" songs are on the red label side (see images above).
Subsequently, we have learned the following about the song "Captain Kennedy" from Brian:
"Neil Young's song, Captain Kennedy, was inspired by the mariner's life of my grandfather Captain Louis Kenedy.
Neil Young (along w Jimmy Buffet) met my grandfather in Nassau, Bahamas in the early 70's and loosely chronicles one of his life events, the sinking of his schooner (Wawaloam) by a German U-Boat (U-86) August 6, 1941. In all, Captain Kenedy skippered 10 sailing vessels all while making a living hauling cargo between the Caribbean and the Canadian Maritimes. If interested, please reference Joe Russell's book "The Last Schoonerman" which chronicles his life at sea and the ships he captained."
More on Lou Kenedy | Wikipedia.
So, why must we choose between the "Blue Side" or "The Red Side"?
"I've got the "Hawks & Doves" blues
Don't know which one to choose
There's really something to lose,
With these "Hawks & Doves" blues.
I went and played too hard,
And I lost my mind.
Oh, these "Hawks & Doves" blues
Leave me a heavy one.
My songs are all so long
And my words are all so sad
Why must I choose
Between the best things I ever had."
(Modified lyrics of Neil Young's 1974 song Love/Art Blues.)
Again, why must we choose between the "Blue Side" or "The Red Side" or "Between the best things we ever had?" ANSWER: We don't have to choose. It's all one album. Don't fall for divide and conquer. Play both sides. There are no winners or losers. Only illusions.
More on Neil Young's Album of the Week: Hawks & Doves | NYA.
Quite coincidentally (there are NO coincidences), Neil Young became a U.S. citizen in January 2020. See CITIZEN NEIL: Neil Young Becomes A U.S. Citizen.
Neil Young News: CITIZEN NEIL: Neil Young Becomes A U.S. Citizen
— ThrashersWheat (@ThrashersWheat) January 23, 2020
See https://t.co/nOylPQPFZr
---@NeilYoungNYA pic.twitter.com/vZzCFONArd
Also, see more on the other "Captain Kennedy" @ other "Captain Kennedy".
The Day The Music Died: 50 Years Ago Today and Why It Still Matters Now, More Than Ever
Hey, hey, My, My, is this the story of "Captain Kennedy" & 'CITIZEN NEIL"?
or
Hey, hey, My, My, is this the story of "Abraham, Martin & John"?
"Abraham, Martin & John" by Dion + Neil Young's song "My Pledge" w/ lyrics on brothers Abraham, Martin & John
— ThrashersWheat (@ThrashersWheat) January 21, 2020
See https://t.co/atMydHTMeD
---@NeilYoungNYA #MLKDay pic.twitter.com/YqhbqeDlK5
More on Neil Young and time travel.
Labels: album, archives, neil young, neil young archives
3 Comments:
I don’t buy into sides. I buy into one world embracing peace love and understanding. There is no THEM, there is only US, and the sooner we all get on that bus the better.
Peace 🙏
Somebody once said something about seeing clouds from both sides. Seems like a more sensible way to go about things, but maybe that's just me.
Where 'The Hawk' flies with the dove. If you can't be with the one you Love...
Post a Comment
<< Home