We Rank 3 Of Neil Young’s Greatest Love Songs
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA - OCTOBER 26: Singer Neil Young performs at the 16th annunal Bridge School benefit concert October 26, 2002 in Mountain View, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Known for his stirring songs about politics, war, and the hardships of daily life, Neil Young is frequently regarded as the voice of social change. However, Young also has a lot to say about love. His love songs are still brimming with passion and unadulterated emotion, even though they aren’t always as simple as the conventional romantic ballads. These three of his greatest love songs highlight his more vulnerable side.
1. “Motion Pictures (For Carrie)”
“Motion Pictures (For Carrie)” was written during a turbulent time in Neil Young’s relationship with actress Carrie Snodgress. Although their romance was falling apart, the song is a poignant reflection of Young’s lingering feelings for her. The lyrics express a sense of longing and nostalgia, capturing the bittersweet emotions of love that’s fading. Even though things weren’t perfect, it’s clear from the song that Young held on to the memories of their time together.
2. “Cinnamon Girl”
A more upbeat and straightforward love song, “Cinnamon Girl” was inspired by a city girl Young encountered, though he described her in an unusually cryptic way. “Wrote this for a city girl on peeling pavement coming at me thru Phil Ochs eyes playing finger cymbals,” he explained. It’s a quirky and heartfelt expression of Young’s desire to find love with a special girl, with lyrics like “I wanna live with a cinnamon girl / I could be happy the rest of my life.” These lines capture the kind of simple but powerful love that resonates deeply, even if the rest of the description remains a bit mysterious.
3. “Danger Bird”
While “Danger Bird” isn’t your typical love song, it certainly reflects the complexity of love lost. On this track, Young dives deep into the emotional aftermath of a breakup, singing about the pain and yearning that follows the end of a relationship. The lyrics explore the lingering love and regret that remains after a love affair fades away. With its soaring melody and intense energy, “Danger Bird” shows the fiery side of love, even when it’s been shattered.
