Neil Young — Natural Beauty
Album: Harvest MoonAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 647
Length: 10:19
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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On the roller coaster ride
That my emotions have to take me on
I heard a newborn baby cry
Through the night.
I heard a perfect echo die
Into an anonymous wall of digital sound
Somewhere deep inside
Of my soul.
A natural beauty should be preserved like a monument to nature
Don't judge yourself too harsh, my love
Or someday you might find your soul endangered
A natural beauty should be preserved like a monument to nature.
Amazon
You had so much and now so much is gone
What are you gonna do
With your life?
What a lucky man.
To see the earth before it touched his hand
What an angry fool
To condemn.
One more night to go
One more sleep upon your burning banks
A greedy man never knows
What he's done.
A natural beauty should be preserved like a monument to nature
Don't start yourself too short, my love
Or someday you might find your soul endangered
A natural beauty should be preserved like a monument to nature.
Went to the rodeo today
I saw the cowgirls lined up on the fence
A brand new Chevrolet
A brand new pair of seamless pants.
We watched the moment of defeat
Played back over on the video screen
Somewhere deep inside
Of my soul.
A natural beauty should be preserved like a monument to nature.
That my emotions have to take me on
I heard a newborn baby cry
Through the night.
I heard a perfect echo die
Into an anonymous wall of digital sound
Somewhere deep inside
Of my soul.
A natural beauty should be preserved like a monument to nature
Don't judge yourself too harsh, my love
Or someday you might find your soul endangered
A natural beauty should be preserved like a monument to nature.
Amazon
You had so much and now so much is gone
What are you gonna do
With your life?
What a lucky man.
To see the earth before it touched his hand
What an angry fool
To condemn.
One more night to go
One more sleep upon your burning banks
A greedy man never knows
What he's done.
A natural beauty should be preserved like a monument to nature
Don't start yourself too short, my love
Or someday you might find your soul endangered
A natural beauty should be preserved like a monument to nature.
Went to the rodeo today
I saw the cowgirls lined up on the fence
A brand new Chevrolet
A brand new pair of seamless pants.
We watched the moment of defeat
Played back over on the video screen
Somewhere deep inside
Of my soul.
A natural beauty should be preserved like a monument to nature.
Comments (97)add comment
GTT wrote:
Couldn't have said it better
I've always loved NY ... why? The music is simple, repetitive, usually melodic, sometimes rocking, often haunting. It just hit me that a key ingredient of what makes it so good is that NY is smart ... one of the most intelligent of the rock musicians ... so his lyrics are always worth hearing, even when I disagree with what he is saying. He even admits he sometimes gets it wrong (Love and War, I think). Glad someone mentioned Nicolette L ... beautiful voice, sad end.
Couldn't have said it better
islander wrote:
Dave's not here man.
He went to buy the drugs.
Dave's not here man.
He went to buy the drugs.
TampaPurple wrote:
Dave?
Dave's not here man.
Dave?
Dave's not here man.
Neil Young: great songwriter, shame about the voice. In the same category as Bob Dylan and Tom Waits: brilliant poets, but for these lugholes better listened to covered than in the original.
In the words of Joe Strummer: f*ckin' long, innit? This guy doesn't do songs, he does novellas...
In the words of Joe Strummer: f*ckin' long, innit? This guy doesn't do songs, he does novellas...
TampaPurple wrote:
Dave?
Yeah. Bill was going incognito that day.
Dave?
Yeah. Bill was going incognito that day.
You Are Like a Soft Rain
Is patient an OK way to describe a song? The pace of this song is so fantastic. Just a rock lullaby..
liteon1 wrote:
I suspect that Neil and Pink Floyd would reciprocate on you tuning out. In fact, that is to say, they would not care. Come back next week. Or after any length of time. I'm sure that NY and PF would be on RP directly.
I certainly hope Radio Paradise can see when people stop tuning in and use that as a way to gauge a song's popularity (or lack thereof). Artists I tune out: Neil Young, Pink Floyd, Jackson Browne, Depeche Mode, Elvis Costello (in that order). I'll come back in about 10 minutes.
I suspect that Neil and Pink Floyd would reciprocate on you tuning out. In fact, that is to say, they would not care. Come back next week. Or after any length of time. I'm sure that NY and PF would be on RP directly.
RP plays a wonderful array of artists ... we all have our favorites, Neil Young is my personal favorite. Promise to
be more patient to some of those other artists I'd just as soon not hear from.
be more patient to some of those other artists I'd just as soon not hear from.
I've always loved NY ... why? The music is simple, repetitive, usually melodic, sometimes rocking, often haunting. It just hit me that a key ingredient of what makes it so good is that NY is smart ... one of the most intelligent of the rock musicians ... so his lyrics are always worth hearing, even when I disagree with what he is saying. He even admits he sometimes gets it wrong (Love and War, I think). Glad someone mentioned Nicolette L ... beautiful voice, sad end.
Hoffco wrote:
Dave?
Neil Young has always been one of my favorite artists. This is the first time I've heard Natural Beauty. It's amazing. I had to go right over to iTunes and buy the single. Dave, keep up the great work! We love the variety of music you provide. 
Dave?
Neil Young has always been one of my favorite artists. This is the first time I've heard Natural Beauty. It's amazing. I had to go right over to iTunes and buy the single. Dave, keep up the great work! We love the variety of music you provide.
liteon1 wrote:
This song has an overall listener rating of 7.5 (pretty popular) - that is how popularity is gauged.
I certainly hope Radio Paradise can see when people stop tuning in and use that as a way to gauge a song's popularity (or lack thereof). Artists I tune out: Neil Young, Pink Floyd, Jackson Browne, Depeche Mode, Elvis Costello (in that order). I'll come back in about 10 minutes.
This song has an overall listener rating of 7.5 (pretty popular) - that is how popularity is gauged.
Hope not.
Does this p.o.s. ever end?
I like the comments I saw on the youtube clip --->
Many of Neil's songs are like walking down a dusty corridor of an old house. Sunlight filters through dirty and cracked windows. Music for a sweet and long-past moment trapped in Time (Forever). Music to build a lifetime around. A sweet and loving past and hopeful future within a perfect "now" moment.
......I just typed what I know is in my soul. My late and eternal love (Barbra Rose) and I enjoyed Neil's Harvest Moon. I never had the chance to play this song to Barb before she left this world. I hope that each time I play them, My Barbra Rose hears this one, Harvest Moon, and all the other songs we shared in this life. Light, life, truth, and love to you and yours.
Many of Neil's songs are like walking down a dusty corridor of an old house. Sunlight filters through dirty and cracked windows. Music for a sweet and long-past moment trapped in Time (Forever). Music to build a lifetime around. A sweet and loving past and hopeful future within a perfect "now" moment.
......I just typed what I know is in my soul. My late and eternal love (Barbra Rose) and I enjoyed Neil's Harvest Moon. I never had the chance to play this song to Barb before she left this world. I hope that each time I play them, My Barbra Rose hears this one, Harvest Moon, and all the other songs we shared in this life. Light, life, truth, and love to you and yours.
stunix wrote:
Come on boys, Throw Your Hatred Down!
I bet if you boiled him in oil, he would still make that noise.
Come on boys, Throw Your Hatred Down!
I certainly hope Radio Paradise can see when people stop tuning in and use that as a way to gauge a song's popularity (or lack thereof). Artists I tune out: Neil Young, Pink Floyd, Jackson Browne, Depeche Mode, Elvis Costello (in that order). I'll come back in about 10 minutes.
I thought my neighbour's cat is dying. But it's just Neil Young .... 
I bet if you boiled him in oil, he would still make that noise.
AMAZING, A SQUEEL TUNE I CAN LISTEN TO MUST BE NICKOLETTS FAULT....
d-don wrote:
Thank you for this - she was a natural beauty gone too soon indeed
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolette_Larson
The words "Backup vocals" reminded me of a movie I heard about, but didn't see yet - 20 Feet From Stardom - Has anybody seen it here on RP?
Nicolette Larson's backup vocals on this work so well. What a beautiful voice she had, and what a shame we lost her so early.
Thank you for this - she was a natural beauty gone too soon indeed
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolette_Larson
The words "Backup vocals" reminded me of a movie I heard about, but didn't see yet - 20 Feet From Stardom - Has anybody seen it here on RP?
dew34 wrote:
Excellent choice.
I'm making a collection of Neil Young albums and I recently transferred the cassette copy to cd. I was amazed at how excellent this recording really is. neil is a major influence in my musical tastes and this is a fine example of his greatness. Just got Sleeps with Angels and i think that may be his best. 
Excellent choice.
Nicolette Larson's backup vocals on this work so well. What a beautiful voice she had, and what a shame we lost her so early.
How could the recording engineer and the producer allow something like that leave their mixing desk? A piece where the singer is out of key on half the notes? Much as I hate AutoTune, it would be better to apply that than to cause toothache in those who happen to hear the correct pitch. It's like a fork on a glass plate to me.
Add to it the whiny, shakey voice and I wish there was a rating lower than "1".
Add to it the whiny, shakey voice and I wish there was a rating lower than "1".
Mr Songwriter !
This is probably my favorite Neil Young disc. Not a clunker on it. Even enjoy 'King and I'.
philbertr wrote:
ditto, he writes from the heart, what is important to him, his observations and not what will sell or fill a concert hall. For that alone I admire him - true artist, true to his art.
I love how Neal's songs have matured as he has...and I have.
Unlike certain Britons who shall remain unnamed.
Unlike certain Britons who shall remain unnamed.
ditto, he writes from the heart, what is important to him, his observations and not what will sell or fill a concert hall. For that alone I admire him - true artist, true to his art.
jimys wrote:
Thanks for sharing that with us.
Not at all a Neil Young fan.
Thanks for sharing that with us.
I'm making a collection of Neil Young albums and I recently transferred the cassette copy to cd. I was amazed at how excellent this recording really is. neil is a major influence in my musical tastes and this is a fine example of his greatness. Just got Sleeps with Angels and i think that may be his best.
that's me on the xylophone.
I love how Neal's songs have matured as he has...and I have.
Unlike certain Britons who shall remain unnamed.
Unlike certain Britons who shall remain unnamed.
He's singing out of key in some places.
For me out of key notes are like fingernails on a blackboard. Yuck.
For me out of key notes are like fingernails on a blackboard. Yuck.
Loving this but if next up isn't The Who with Behind Blue Eyes I'll be at least a little disappointed.
buddy wrote:
Ah, such a breath of fresh air to hear someone not whining about Neil's voice.
I believe Neil has one of the most beautifully distinctive voices of his generation. He is also an amazingly skilled acoustic guitarist, with mad skills on electric. . . .
Ah, such a breath of fresh air to hear someone not whining about Neil's voice.
This is awesome. Makes me push back from the desk, put my feet up, close my eyes, and lose myself in the music.
Not my favorite Neal Young song, but still incredibly good. If Neil Young isn't a musical god, then the term has no meaning.
"Natural Beauty"
On the roller coaster ride
That my emotions have to take me on
I heard a newborn baby cry
Through the night.
I heard a perfect echo die
Into an anonymous wall
of digital sound
Somewhere deep inside
Of my soul.
A natural beauty should be preserved
like a monument to nature
Don't judge yourself too harsh,
my love
Or someday you might find
your soul endangered
A natural beauty should be preserved
like a monument to nature.
Amazon
You had so much
and now so much is gone
What are you gonna do
With your life?
What a lucky man.
To see the earth
before it touched his hand
What an angry fool
To condemn.
One more night to go
One more sleep
upon your burning banks
A greedy man never knows
What he's done.
A natural beauty should be preserved
like a monument to nature
Don't start yourself too short,
my love
Or someday you might find
your soul endangered
A natural beauty should be preserved
like a monument to nature.
Went to the rodeo today
I saw the cowgirls
lined up on the fence
A brand new Chevrolet
A brand new pair of seamless pants.
We watched the moment of defeat
Played back over on the video screen
Somewhere deep inside
Of my soul.
A natural beauty should be preserved
like a monument to nature.
That my emotions have to take me on
I heard a newborn baby cry
Through the night.
I heard a perfect echo die
Into an anonymous wall
of digital sound
Somewhere deep inside
Of my soul.
A natural beauty should be preserved
like a monument to nature
Don't judge yourself too harsh,
my love
Or someday you might find
your soul endangered
A natural beauty should be preserved
like a monument to nature.
Amazon
You had so much
and now so much is gone
What are you gonna do
With your life?
What a lucky man.
To see the earth
before it touched his hand
What an angry fool
To condemn.
One more night to go
One more sleep
upon your burning banks
A greedy man never knows
What he's done.
A natural beauty should be preserved
like a monument to nature
Don't start yourself too short,
my love
Or someday you might find
your soul endangered
A natural beauty should be preserved
like a monument to nature.
Went to the rodeo today
I saw the cowgirls
lined up on the fence
A brand new Chevrolet
A brand new pair of seamless pants.
We watched the moment of defeat
Played back over on the video screen
Somewhere deep inside
Of my soul.
A natural beauty should be preserved
like a monument to nature.
Not at all a Neil Young fan.
cmarcan wrote:
I believe Neil has one of the most beautifully distinctive voices of his generation. He is also an amazingly skilled acoustic guitarist, with mad skills on electric. I totally agree with the rest of your points
A not so great voice. Mediocre guitar skills. Yet Neil has an amazing way of writing and delivering music that is so awsome. Great music creates a doorway to another place and it's the artists job to draw the listener in through that door and no one does that better than Neil.
I believe Neil has one of the most beautifully distinctive voices of his generation. He is also an amazingly skilled acoustic guitarist, with mad skills on electric. I totally agree with the rest of your points
A not so great voice. Mediocre guitar skills. Yet Neil has an amazing way of writing and delivering music that is so awsome. Great music creates a doorway to another place and it's the artists job to draw the listener in through that door and no one does that better than Neil.
This is music?!
Ugh.
Ugh.
Possibly his best ballad, recorded in Portland, OR (ok, I might be biased here).
Great album and song from a great artist. Now lets hear something off Americana. The new album has really stuck in my head after only a few listens. Can't wait to see him in Tahoe in August.
This was one of only a few CDs I had access to for a short while around '92/'93. It got a lot of play & I'm really enjoying hearing this play this evening.
One of Neil's best somewhat unknown songs. Hauntingly beautiful on par with "Cortez the Killer"...
"A natural beauty should be preserved like a monument to nature..."
"A natural beauty should be preserved like a monument to nature..."
annie_fannie wrote:
If we all liked the same thing, we would be cattle...
since it seems i always see negative posts about the songs i love on these message boards, i'm not gonna hold back here. i gotta admit, i don't get Neil Young's popularity. or the appeal of this song...long, rambling, seemingly random strumming of the guitar and overall really quite depressing despite the name. he had a few good ones with Crosby, Stills and Nash...but beyond that....
ok, i'll brace myself for the flood of "you have no musical taste" comments that will inevitably follow this...
ok, i'll brace myself for the flood of "you have no musical taste" comments that will inevitably follow this...
If we all liked the same thing, we would be cattle...
since it seems i always see negative posts about the songs i love on these message boards, i'm not gonna hold back here. i gotta admit, i don't get Neil Young's popularity. or the appeal of this song...long, rambling, seemingly random strumming of the guitar and overall really quite depressing despite the name. he had a few good ones with Crosby, Stills and Nash...but beyond that....
ok, i'll brace myself for the flood of "you have no musical taste" comments that will inevitably follow this...
ok, i'll brace myself for the flood of "you have no musical taste" comments that will inevitably follow this...
Best album since... "Harvest"! 
Baketown wrote:
Song for song, this has been my favorite Neil Young album for 20 years.
Neil really got it right with this album!!
Song for song, this has been my favorite Neil Young album for 20 years.
Neil really got it right with this album!!
keeps sounding like it is going into Cortez, Cortez in the beginning
Bill,
Thank you for such a nice selection.
The same effect on my soul as biting into the first tomato of the season.
Can you wrap your brain around that?
Thank you for such a nice selection.
The same effect on my soul as biting into the first tomato of the season.
Can you wrap your brain around that?
So agree, Alberta is where it's at.
coyotexxx2 wrote:
coyotexxx2 wrote:
Listen to this cd while driving through Alberta. The sounds seems to match the landscape. Makes for a great road trip. . .
Beautiful song. Beautiful album.
A truly lovely song. Hits the spot.
Listen to this cd while driving through Alberta. The sounds seems to match the landscape. Makes for a great road trip. . .
Neil Young...so beautiful.
Intense, true and honest. Can't expect much less from Neil Young. Great stuff!
Cynaera wrote:
Certainly mood is a factor, but as you say, it is immensely beautiful!
This song is so haunting... so chillingly beautiful, achingly pure. I've always loved it, but I can't always listen to it because if I'm in the wrong mood, it will make me cry. Not crying today - just loving it for all that it is. 
Certainly mood is a factor, but as you say, it is immensely beautiful!
Although too soon, considering the recent talking heads treatment, I feel compelled to take another break...
Steve wrote:
I love this Ode To Nature. It's wonderful and as sprawling as the great outdoors is when untouched.
Thank you Neil. And thank you Bill and Rebecca, and family. : D
I used to live in California, and the wilderness parts of that place still haunt my memories in a good way.
I miss Yosemite. I miss Half Moon Bay. I miss so much of it.
Thank you Neil. And thank you Bill and Rebecca, and family. : D
I used to live in California, and the wilderness parts of that place still haunt my memories in a good way.
I miss Yosemite. I miss Half Moon Bay. I miss so much of it.
What's this song about? I like it.
His wife maybe?
His wife maybe?
I hope this link works....
Neil Young's new stuff Man, he rocks. More passionate than ever, if that's possible...
Neil Young's new stuff Man, he rocks. More passionate than ever, if that's possible...
On_The_Beach wrote:
All respect to you and your monikor OTB, but to my ears this album is a classic. Maybe its cause I came to appreciate Neil late in the game, late 80's and hadn't fully discovered his earlier work by the time this came out.
As a die-hard Neil fan, I'd have to say this was never one of my fave albums. I'm always surprised to see how much positive feedback it gets. "War of Man" was a pretty good tune, but most of the rest of it seems pretty average.
All respect to you and your monikor OTB, but to my ears this album is a classic. Maybe its cause I came to appreciate Neil late in the game, late 80's and hadn't fully discovered his earlier work by the time this came out.
As a die-hard Neil fan, I'd have to say this was never one of my fave albums. I'm always surprised to see how much positive feedback it gets. "War of Man" was a pretty good tune, but most of the rest of it seems pretty average.
This song is so haunting... so chillingly beautiful, achingly pure. I've always loved it, but I can't always listen to it because if I'm in the wrong mood, it will make me cry. Not crying today - just loving it for all that it is.
Someone just today, gave me a second-hand retail copy of "Harvest Moon." =) The CD is so pristine, I don't think it's ever been put into a CD player. This is Neil at his best. I'm in music listener's heaven.
i love the words when it says a greedy man never knows what he's done!
godlike 10 natural beauty! aho!
godlike 10 natural beauty! aho!
There's just something about this song that forces me to stop and listen.
One of my favourite Neil Young songs!
An easy 9
One of my favourite Neil Young songs!
An easy 9
jagdriver wrote:
When compared to everything else that should be heard on RP but isn't, this track certainly qualifies for the cut.
When compared to everything else that should be heard on RP but isn't, this track just doesn't qualify for the cut.
When compared to everything else that should be heard on RP but isn't, this track certainly qualifies for the cut.
peter_james_bond wrote:
Yes, I don't like that one either. Songs about pets and animals should be left for those contractual b-side/alternative takes/leftover songs albums.
Oh come on, are you telling me you've never written a song about your dead pet?
I had a cat called Bobo...got stuck in the first verse trying to think of a rhyme other than hobo..yo yo etc
Yes, I don't like that one either. Songs about pets and animals should be left for those contractual b-side/alternative takes/leftover songs albums.
Oh come on, are you telling me you've never written a song about your dead pet?
I had a cat called Bobo...got stuck in the first verse trying to think of a rhyme other than hobo..yo yo etc
What a dooooooowneeeer sooooong. It reeeeaaaaallly is looooooooong.
Rick_V wrote:
That's exactly what I do when I hear this song...get lost in it.
Amazing closing track from Neil's last classic album mo.
Its easy to get lost in this song.
Its easy to get lost in this song.
That's exactly what I do when I hear this song...get lost in it.
When compared to everything else that should be heard on RP but isn't, this track just doesn't qualify for the cut.
Amazing closing track from Neil's last classic album mo.
Its easy to get lost in this song.
Its easy to get lost in this song.
I always thought this song was a sleeper, just sitting at the end of the album shadowed by all of the other great tracks.
SweTex wrote:
Yes, I don't like that one either. Songs about pets and animals should be left for those contractual b-side/alternative takes/leftover songs albums.
Agreed, except for that one song about his dog.."Old King"?..which always makes me feel embarassed for some reason.
Yes, I don't like that one either. Songs about pets and animals should be left for those contractual b-side/alternative takes/leftover songs albums.
OH Man, Neil man!!! Shut yer whinin' willya?!?! hellfire.
flipchurn wrote:
Neil is a treasure.
ericg wrote:
Adam Lambert is irritating on levels Neil Young has never achieved.
And I don't like Neil Young that much.
He is just more current. robb104 wrote:
Adam Lambert got, what, 85 ratings in three minutes?
And good ol' Neil gets 20...interesting...
Adam Lambert is irritating on levels Neil Young has never achieved.
And I don't like Neil Young that much.
WayUpNorth wrote:
Agreed, except for that one song about his dog.."Old King"?..which always makes me feel embarassed for some reason.
This whole CD is great.
Agreed, except for that one song about his dog.."Old King"?..which always makes me feel embarassed for some reason.
Just loop this baddie a few times and I'll be set. Thanks.
He is just more current. robb104 wrote:
Adam Lambert got, what, 85 ratings in three minutes?
And good ol' Neil gets 20...interesting...
Neil is a man who can express himself with music like no other.
This whole CD is great.
Yawn!!!!!
Adam Lambert got, what, 85 ratings in three minutes?
And good ol' Neil gets 20...interesting...
I'd forgotten about this song. I'm going to have to dig out the album and listen again - it's been years...
In before the haters!
Neil is a treasure.
Neil is a treasure.
Starting to get into it, beautiful
Neil is awesome, and I like his voice 
Nice album, love songs to his wife, this works.
This is perhaps his most beautiful and haunting and moving track.