Motion Pictures (For Carrie)
Neil Young
The Nine Pins video yesterday got me thinking about Neil Young, who just released his 42nd album WORLD RECORD.
Today is December 1st and I’m starring down the final month of my Song of the Day exercise. One of my original concerns about doing this project was leaving off a key artist I love by accident. I’m sure it will happen — but it won’t be Neil Young now. ☺️ I was a bit shocked when I looked back at the previous 333 entries and realized I hadn’t channeled Neil yet. So today’s the day.
I got my hands on his three record set DECADE when I was about 12. I’m not sure if it was my brother’s copy or if I checked it out from the library — but I remember listening to all six sides — lots of record flipping. I’ve been a fan for so long that I have literally listened to every single one of his albums.
So choosing a few tracks is a tough one. Just off the top of my head: Sugar Mountain, Tonight’s the Night, Cortez the Killer, Old Man, After the Gold Rush, Comes a Time — so many songs, we could fill up December in a couple minutes.
I left Hollywood three different times in my life. The second time I left, Annie and I packed up our things, feeling disillusioned and broken by this dream of making movies. We had some money saved up and we moved out to a cabin in the country near Mt. Shasta to recover. I had ON THE BEACH playing in our car as we drove deep into the woods to our new place. In a home away from home.
Something about the melancholy and disillusionment in this track. It’s so beautiful and Neil sounds so good. It was like he was serenading me with these lyrics in my disappointment, making me feel grateful and hopeful again.
Motion pictures
On my TV screen,
A home away from home,
Livin' in between
But I hear some people
Have got their dream.
I've got mine.
I hear the mountains
Are doin' fine,
Mornin' glory
Is on the vine,
And the dew is fallin',
The ducks are callin'.
Yes, I've got mine.
Well, all those people,
They think
They got it made
But I wouldn't buy,
Sell, borrow or trade
Anything I have
To be like one of them.
I'd rather
Start all over again.
Well, all those headlines,
They just bore me now
I'm deep inside myself,
But I'll get out somehow,
And I'll stand before you,
And I'll bring
A smile to your eyes.
Motion pictures,
Motion pictures.
