The Official Music Video of "Stringman" by Neil Young is now streaming on YouTube (see below).
Breathtaking in its simple beauty, "Stringman" reveals Neil Young in one of his most intimately vulnerable moments.
Recorded in concert at Hammersmith Odeon, London on March 31, 1976 (overdubs at CBS Studios, London on April 1, 1976), the track is from Look Out For My Love (1975-1976) — Archives Vol. 2, Disc 9.
As has been observed many times before, the irony of Neil on a piano, singing about Neil playing a guitar -- all while trying to keep his head together and not losing his soul -- between the hippies and the soldiers, is literally spellbinding.
More on SOLD OUT: Neil Young Archives Volume II Blows It Out in 48 Hours.
Neil Young Archives Volume II (1972 - 1976)
Also, see Comment of the Moment: Pre-Order - Neil Young Archives Volume II (1972 - 1976).
Pure beauty!
ReplyDeleteVery,very nice!Thanks for sharing Stringman.
ReplyDeleteWasn't Stringman written for Stephen Stills?
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ReplyDeleteJimmy McDonough quotes Neil in Shakey as saying Stringman was “written for Jack [Nitzsche] and me”. Nitzsche was apparently going through a difficult divorce at the time.
ReplyDeleteI'd read that it was about Stephen Stills.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm singing for the stringman
Who lately lost his wife
There is no dearer friend of mine
That I know in this life
On his shoulder rests a violin
For his head where chaos reigns
But his heart
Can't find a simple way
thanks all here on Stringman.
ReplyDeleteagain, we tend to lend towards autobiographical. generally most art is a reflection of the artist themselves.
so what ever neil says, consciously or unconsciously, he's a character in his own plays.
yes, we're familiar w/ the Nitzsche & Stills angles. Presumably, the key line here is "Who lately lost his wife".
not sure about Stills' wife status in the 76 era? does that really check out?
76 is a few years after Neil separated from 1st wife Susan, which has always been a real mystery. Carrie was not Neil's wife despite being the mother of his son Zeke.
lastly, we have tried to downplay some of the heavy analysis of neil lyrics here over the years. because it really is about the listener making their own interpretations.
we saw Powderfinger lose a lot of mystery when the official video was made.
so we won't be discussing what thrasher is really all about anytime soon here. gotta keep the dreams going....
Stringman -- it is a wonderful song, regardless of whoever this might be about directly or indirectly.
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