Harvest by Neil Young

Album: Harvest (1972)

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Songfacts®:

Despite being the title track of the Harvest album, "Harvest" has enjoyed far less fanfare than songs on the set like "Heart of Gold," "Alabama," and "The Needle And The Damage Done." In that way, it's similar to the "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere," another Young title track that was overlooked in favor of other songs.

According to Jimmy McDonough's Shakey, The song's story was inspired by the life of Young's then-girlfriend, actress Carrie Snodgress, who said that while she and Young were tripping on acid, Young kept asking her to describe details about her mother Carolyn, who was a severe alcoholic that would regularly feign suicide in order to test the love of her children.

Carolyn Snodgress would burst into tears every time she visited the studio to hear "Harvest." She died a few years after the song was recorded.
Carrie Snodgress was inspiration for both this song and "A Man Needs A Maid." When McDonough asked Young point-blank if the song was indeed about Snodgress, Young, ever shifty about discussing the content of his music, muttered, "She's in there."
As quoted in Shakey, Young believes "Harvest" is one of his best songs ever, and "the best thing on Harvest."
Session musician John Harris played piano on this song.

Comments: 4

Bruno Yh from Lima, PeruI'm not a big Neil Young fan, in fact i don't like so much the Harvest album, but for some years now, this song has become my favorite. I think it encapsulates a feeling, a moment, a time, a state of mind. Neil Young is right to think it's the best song on Harvest.

P.S. The problem with the Harvest album, in my opinion, is that this song, Heart of Gold, and Out of the Weekend share the same sound, but the rest of the album sounds like something else entirely. If the whole album sounded like those three songs, it would be fantastic.
Sallyf from IllinoisIf you watch the movie "A Taste of Honey" you will understand the lyrics.
Laurie Lynn from Midwest UsaWell I could be entirely wrong but I think the song is about young girls gone astray whether with boys mom doesn’t approve of, selling oneself, or even what a good man approves of when searching for a partner. It’s kinda sad really about a young woman’s struggle to meet expectations.
Fred from Sandiegonice SongDidn't know what the lyrics mean. I l play it on the guitar for years.

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