We've all heard the song "Long May You Run" by Neil Young countless times by now, as well as, the back story behind the song.
Briefly, "Mort" -- the 1948 Buick Hearse in
which Neil transported the bands equipment -- broke down near Blind River, Ontario.
"Mort" - 1948 Buick Roadmaster hearse
Ken Koblun, Neil Young, Bob Clark.
Fort William, Ontario, April 1965
Photo courtesy of Ken Koblun
via Author Sharry Wilson's Young Neil: The Sugar Mountain Years
From YouTube by Eric:
I was having breakfast in Blind River Ontario and decided to do a quick bit of research into Neil Young's reference to the town.Apparently, Neil's hearse ("Mort") broke down outside of town with transmission troubles. He and his band spent 4 or 5 days there and drove out of town, in Mort, once the repairs were finished. Germaine, Bert's wife, confirms that it was 1962, not 1963 - she was pregnant with her son at the time and is, therefore, certain of the date.
Per book Shakey, it was actually Iron Bridge (Neil apparently got it wrong) and they definitely weren't heading to Wawa but were going the other way down to Toronto. Neil drove "Mort" from Toronto to Los Angeles, where he met Stephen Stills and formed Buffalo Springfield. Neil was in Canada driving to Sudbury when 'Mort' broke down in Blind River, June 1965. (Which is contradictory to the lyrics; "well it was back in Blind River, in 1962, when I last saw you alive")."
More on Neil Young's early years explored by Canadian author Sharry Wilson and Neil Young`s Canadian Years by John Einarson.
Also, see Visiting Neil Young's Hometown Omemee, Canada: A Fan's Journey.
Visiting Omemee, Canada
Neil Young's Hometown
“Nineteen sixty-five” would have created an internal rhyme, which could have come off a bit hokey. “Nineteen sixty-two” sounds better, even though it’s historically inaccurate.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Tomatron,the year was 1962, being next door neighbors of Bill's Garage where Mort was taken to for repairs.Because of what was happening in our life at the time I am very clear of the year.My husband was working part time for Bill Vezeau and i was pregnant for our son who was born in May 1962.In 1963 my husband had started an Apprenticeship at a Dealership in Blind River Ontario and did not work for Bill's Garage.The Vezeau family have also spoke about that time.Not sure why people think we are making this up when we lived those days.I still live next door to the garage after all those years.Why Neil Young has a memory laps is beyond me.
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