Neil Young, “OId Man” Live From Farm Aid 2008

Live From Farm Aid, 2008

Written and performed by Neil Young on his 1972 album Harvest, ‘Old Man’ is likely one of the biggest hits of Young’s entire career, second only to ‘Heart Of Gold’. It compares a young man’s life to an old man’s and shows that the young man has, to some extent, the same needs as the old one, and even features the talents of both James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt on banjo and backing vocals.

In 2008, Neil took the stage at Farm Aid and delivered a performance of ‘Old Man’ that tied in nicely with the song’s overall theme; written when Young was a young man, it almost seems now as if Neil is the old man telling the story to a new generation that doesn’t quite believe that they have much in common with him.

The song was written for the caretaker of the Northern California Broken Arrow Ranch, which Young purchased for $350,000 in 1970.

Neil Young is one of the most prolific songwriters since Bob Dylan, always writing content that gets to the heart of the human condition and telling our story in a way that makes us want to keep telling it. This rendition of ‘Old Man’ no different; it’s one of the best we’ve ever seen, and is a testament to Neil’s tremendous stage presence that makes you want to gather ’round and hear what he’s got to share with us.

+ Old Man lyrics +

Old man look at my life,
I’m a lot like you were.
Old man look at my life,
I’m a lot like you were.

Old man look at my life,
Twenty four
and there’s so much more
Live alone in a paradise
That makes me think of two.

Love lost, such a cost,
Give me things
that don’t get lost.
Like a coin that won’t get tossed
Rolling home to you.

Old man take a look at my life
I’m a lot like you
I need someone to love me
the whole day through
Ah, one look in my eyes
and you can tell that’s true.

Lullabies, look in your eyes,
Run around the same old town.
Doesn’t mean that much to me
To mean that much to you.

I’ve been first and last
Look at how the time goes past.
But I’m all alone at last.
Rolling home to you.

Old man take a look at my life
I’m a lot like you
I need someone to love me
the whole day through
Ah, one look in my eyes
and you can tell that’s true.

Old man look at my life,
I’m a lot like you were.
Old man look at my life,
I’m a lot like you were.