Neil Young

by Jeff Suwak

Only Bob Dylan could compete with Neil Young's penchant for reinventing himself. He's been around since the mid-1960s, but never quite the same one decade after the next. Young's been the loner, the family man, the hippie, the blue-collar barroom baron, the environmentalist, the electronic-music pioneer, and the heavy-metal-punk-type guy, among other things.

His latest status of "battler of Joe Rogan and Spotify" is just one more entry in a career-long saga that has seen the man pop back up into cultural relevancy every few years, sometimes for music and sometimes for just being him. Young's elusiveness and unpredictability, both musically and personally, is something fans love about him. To follow Young is to put together a puzzle of an ever-shifting portrait. Every time the pieces near completion, the whole thing gets rearranged again.

So, if you've been able to keep up with the changes over more than 50 years, prove it in this Fact or Fiction. We dare you.
February 7, 2022

Neil Young Songfacts entries
CSN&Y Songfacts entries
Bob Dylan lyrics quiz
More Fact or Fiction

Comments: 1

  • John Morrison from Irvine, CaGod Bless Neil Young. Got me thru the tough times. What a legend and a gift to all of us.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Kristian Bush of Sugarland

Kristian Bush of SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Kristian talks songwriting technique, like how the chorus should redefine the story, and how to write a song backwards.

Is That Song Public Domain?

Is That Song Public Domain?Fact or Fiction

Are classic songs like "Over The Rainbow" and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in the public domain?

Fire On The Stage

Fire On The StageSong Writing

When you have a song called "Fire," it's tempting to set one - these guys did.

The Truth Is Out There: A History of Alien Songs

The Truth Is Out There: A History of Alien SongsSong Writing

The trail runs from flying saucer songs in the '50s, through Bowie, blink-182 and Katy Perry.

Desmond Child

Desmond ChildSongwriter Interviews

One of the most successful songwriters in the business, Desmond co-wrote "Livin' La Vida Loca," "Dude (Looks Like A Lady)" and "Livin' On A Prayer."

Martin Page

Martin PageSongwriter Interviews

With Bernie Taupin, Martin co-wrote the #1 hits "We Built This City" and "These Dreams." After writing the Pretty Woman song for Go West, he had his own hit with "In the House of Stone and Light."