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Neil Young — Words (Between The Lines Of Age)
Album: Harvest
Avg rating:
7.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2230









Released: 1972
Length: 6:32
Plays (last 30 days): 1
Someone and someone were down by the pond
Looking for something to plant in the lawn
Out in the fields they were turning the soil
I'm sitting here hoping this water will boil

When I look through the window and out on the road
They're bringing me presents and saying hello
Singing words, words between the lines of age
Words, words between the lines of age

If I was a junkman selling you cars
Washing your windows and shining your stars
Thinking your mind was my own in a dream
What would you wonder and how would it seem?

Living in castles a bit at a time
The king started laughing and talking in rhyme
Singing words, words between the lines of age
Words, words between the lines of age
Comments (312)add comment
 Edweirdo wrote:

I love this album and After the Goldrush; the rest of his output not so much.
However.
From now on I give Neil Young a solid 10 on account of his principled stand against the disgusting Spotify who not only host but actually pay the moron Joe Rogan for his pathetic loser dribble "podcast".



I second this! Another 10 from me for battling the bizzaro new normal we've all come to accept.
I love this album and After the Goldrush; the rest of his output not so much.
However.
From now on I give Neil Young a solid 10 on account of his principled stand against the disgusting Spotify who not only host but actually pay the moron Joe Rogan for his pathetic loser dribble "podcast".


 Jayesea wrote:
 
From a Reddit post, quoting Neil from the book "'Waging Heavy Peace',

“Words” is the first song that reveals a little of my early doubts of
being in a long-term relationship with Carrie. It was a new
relationship. There were so many people around all the time, talking and
talking, sitting in a circle smoking cigarettes in my living room. It
had never been like that before. I am a very quiet and private person.
The peace was going away. It was changing too fast. I remember actually
jumping out the living room window onto the lawn to get out of there—I
couldn’t wait long enough to use the door! Words—too many of them, it
seemed to me. I was young and not ready for what I had gotten myself
into. I became paranoid and aware of mind games others were trying to
play on me. I had never even thought of that before. That was how we did
Harvest, in love in the beginning and with some doubts at the end.”

Thanks Jayesea.  As somebody who feels extremely comfortable in the middle of the wilderness, I totally get it.

I used to listen to this song from the Journey Through the Past album on an old mono record player as I was going to sleep in the early 1970s.  At the time, I had no idea what the lyrics might mean.
 sfyi2001 wrote:
Sad ballad of authentic folk rock in which Young, in a dramatic and purely poetic way, reflects with melancholy on the sterility of his life as a rock musician in comparison to those for whom work and effort have real and true meaning.
He wonders with fear if he would have been able to be anyone else if he had not been himself and is surprised that the one he admires is precisely him, when all he does is sing empty words while the years continue to pass unabatedly.

The way in which the different verses  fit together,  the piano arpeggios,  the transitions between 6/8 and 5/8 bars in the instrumental parts that end in 4/4 on the return of the main voice,  the stridency of the electric guitar,  the chosen theme . . .
'WORDS' has something of a magic quality that prevents one from listening to it with indifference and distance.
It is probably one of Young's best songs and the perfect finale to an album that anyone who wants to know the keys to approach his discography without misgivings, should listen to.

Sad ballad of authentic folk rock in which Young, in a dramatic and purely poetic way, reflects with melancholy on the sterility of his life as a rock musician in comparison to those for whom work and effort have real and true meaning.
He wonders with fear if he would have been able to be anyone else if he had not been himself and is surprised that the one he admires is precisely him, when all he does is sing empty words while the years continue to pass unabatedly.

The way in which the different verses  fit together,  the piano arpeggios,  the transitions between 6/8 and 5/8 bars in the instrumental parts that end in 4/4 on the return of the main voice,  the stridency of the electric guitar,  the chosen theme . . .
'WORDS' has something of a magic quality that prevents one from listening to it with indifference and distance.
It is probably one of Young's best songs and the perfect finale to an album that anyone who wants to know the keys to approach his discography without misgivings, should listen to.




 aspicer wrote:
...gosh how many times I've listened to this album straight through?! Brilliant.
 
I had to flip it over, several times!
 westslope wrote:

OK.  I will bite.  What on earth do the lyrics mean?
From a Reddit post, quoting Neil from the book "'Waging Heavy Peace',

“Words” is the first song that reveals a little of my early doubts of
being in a long-term relationship with Carrie. It was a new
relationship. There were so many people around all the time, talking and
talking, sitting in a circle smoking cigarettes in my living room. It
had never been like that before. I am a very quiet and private person.
The peace was going away. It was changing too fast. I remember actually
jumping out the living room window onto the lawn to get out of there—I
couldn’t wait long enough to use the door! Words—too many of them, it
seemed to me. I was young and not ready for what I had gotten myself
into. I became paranoid and aware of mind games others were trying to
play on me. I had never even thought of that before. That was how we did
Harvest, in love in the beginning and with some doubts at the end.”
His  voice is insufferable. Perhaps in his bondage-dungeon-cum-studio the clamps were too tight.    
...gosh how many times I've listened to this album straight through?! Brilliant.
 HonduranRed wrote:
I love the lyrics,...so simple and full of life!
 
OK.  I will bite.  What on earth do the lyrics mean?
I love the lyrics,...so simple and full of life!
To me Neil should be 8 or above
I guess the can’t all be legend.
I played this album and CSNY 4-Way Street continuously when I was a High School. This still sounds just as good now as when I first heard it.
Eww.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..............
bought this album LP last week. one of the greatest recording ever 
great album cut
Someone and someone and something and stuff
Writing these lyrics can sometimes be tough
one of neil's best slow-burn leads. never gets old
words!
{#Bananajam}
This was my favorite song in High School.    I think it still stands up well after all these years.
 expatlar wrote:
Still makes me perk up my ears and reach over to turn it up after all these years. First album I ever bought, I was in the eight grade. The music has aged better than I.

 
Yup.  Between the lines of age indeed.  But any day on this side of the dirt is a good day, eh?  {#Cheers}

Highlow
American Net'Zen
Just saw him on a national tv broadcast from his hometown in Ontario, he did all his good stuff solo acoustic just him and his many guitars and harmonica...on after the hockey game of course 
Still makes me perk up my ears and reach over to turn it up after all these years. First album I ever bought, I was in the eight grade. The music has aged better than I.
 DrLex wrote:
The rhythm is all over the place.
I think none of the instruments were accurately tuned.
It also seems the tape recorder had trouble maintaining a constant speed at times.
But still it's goddamn beautiful, maybe exactly because of all its imperfections.

 
The rhythm is not all over the place: there is "only" a change from 11/8 during the interludes to 4/4 in verse and chorus.
Dr Lex...yep!

It's so freakin unique but with hooks and trippy grooves, that are universal.     
The rhythm is all over the place.
I think none of the instruments were accurately tuned.
It also seems the tape recorder had trouble maintaining a constant speed at times.
But still it's goddamn beautiful, maybe exactly because of all its imperfections.
 boxofrain wrote:
One of Neil's most overlooked songs — a true masterpiece.  Not sure how it ended up on this album as it's so different in tone than all the others.  THANKS RP for playing this one!!

 
A true masterpiece for sure, maybe even the best song Neil ever made. But not so different from Alabama to my ears.
Timeless - the athmosphere of this tune is still breathing!
one of my favours.
saw neil this summer in montreux. The man still keeps it going for 3
Hous standing tall and rockin


 SanFranGayMan wrote:

Agree. This whole album ranges in the sad, beautiful and soulfully engaging. My fav on this album is Man Needs a Maid. "Just to make his bed and go away." Yet, after all the angst and rejection of relationships, he says, "When can I see you again?" This covers the spectrum of the male-independent, yet oh so dependent. His vulnerableness is on full display-brilliant and honest. and the orchestration is for me, so mesmerizing. The bells, the cymbals-percussion and strings-all ring at just the right time.  The guy was on fire with this album-and many others!

 
I bought a used copy of this album as well.  I did a lot of hw to it in college.
One of Neil's most overlooked songs — a true masterpiece.  Not sure how it ended up on this album as it's so different in tone than all the others.  THANKS RP for playing this one!!
 Ptijoc wrote:
I can't explain what this song makes to me...the guitar is so sad and beautiful, the lyrics so strange, i hear it since 1974, i was 10 and the it still magic. One of the greatest song for ever and ever.

 
Agree. This whole album ranges in the sad, beautiful and soulfully engaging. My fav on this album is Man Needs a Maid. "Just to make his bed and go away." Yet, after all the angst and rejection of relationships, he says, "When can I see you again?" This covers the spectrum of the male-independent, yet oh so dependent. His vulnerableness is on full display-brilliant and honest. and the orchestration is for me, so mesmerizing. The bells, the cymbals-percussion and strings-all ring at just the right time.  The guy was on fire with this album-and many others!
And as the moon rises he sits by his fire
Thinking about women and glasses of beer
And closing his eyes as the doggies retire
He sings out a song which is soft but it's clear
As if maybe someone could hear
Still like this song.  Strange beat in the bridge, though.  What is it,  11/4 ??

Just looked on wikipedia, it is 11/8!   I was close!

From wikipedia:  The song is notable for alternating between a standard 4/4 time signature for verses and choruses and an unusual 11(3+3+3+2)/8 for interludes.
I can't explain what this song makes to me...the guitar is so sad and beautiful, the lyrics so strange, i hear it since 1974, i was 10 and the it still magic. One of the greatest song for ever and ever.
Can't sing. Can't much play his guitar. Writes pretty good songs though. May have a future in front of him.
9th July 2016 Neil Young + The Promise Of The Real in Amsterdam best concert I saw in my entire life: over 180 minutes long. This song was one of the highlights.
A TEN if ever there was one...
 ziggytrix wrote:
The lyrics seem somewhere between nonsense verse and word salad to me.

Pretty tune tho. :) 

 
Agreed. 

Still curious about what NY may have been hinting at..... 
The lyrics seem somewhere between nonsense verse and word salad to me.

Pretty tune tho. :) 
The recording quality on this is rip-roaring great!  I am guessing it is live - i.e. all the musicians played together, and no multiracking was used?
 westslope wrote:
So what is this song about?  ...

 
It's about 6 minutes and 40 seconds.
{#Drummer}
What is this, an audience or an oil painting?  Don't forget to tip your waitress.
 westslope wrote:
So what is this song about? 
 
Someone and someone.  ; )
Words and the cover job is exceptional.
So what is this song about?  

People who wish they were of much higher socio-economic status? 
9? what were we thinking? absolute 10.
Even wore out the CD of this album
I've said it once and I'll say it again:  compare Neil's work for the period 1967 - 1974. His only rival for a given seven period: Beatles.   
beautiful lyrics
 kingart wrote:
who is this guy ... Merely one of the premiere '60s - '80s rock demi gods with a half dozen signature ax tracks, a dozen or more classic songs, and more collaborations or appearances with other demi gods than we can probably count.  Apparently Hendrix, McCartney, Springsteen, Emily Lou, among others, were/are enamored of NY's voice.
 
Thank you, kingart!  {#Cheers}
 clelaed wrote:
Whiniest voice I have ever heard....who is this guy

 
who is this guy ... Merely one of the premiere '60s - '80s rock demi gods with a half dozen signature ax tracks, a dozen or more classic songs, and more collaborations or appearances with other demi gods than we can probably count.  Apparently Hendrix, McCartney, Springsteen, Emily Lou, among others, were/are enamored of NY's voice. 
Warren Haynes does a nice cover of this song. 
I find it amazing, the chugging, Time-bending wrenching of musicality that Neil Young wrangles and wrestles in his incendiary musings 
Great poetry, but sadly I can't get past the simply appalling sound of his voice.
 beasty7 wrote:
Music as primal and pure as it gets…if you don't get it, I'm sorry…there must be something out there that rocks your soul, but this does it for me!!!
 
Well said, beasty7!
I am so with you.
Music as primal and pure as it gets…if you don't get it, I'm sorry…there must be something out there that rocks your soul, but this does it for me!!!
Whiniest voice I have ever heard....who is this guy
Oh yeah. I just remembered why I skip this track off of this excellent effort.
 Delawhere wrote:
this one just sneaks up one you, say to myself "why haven't I listened to this song in so long", I leave the room, then the song is over. The only thing this song needs is to be longer. Thank you Neil

 
SO TRUE!
this one just sneaks up one you, say to myself "why haven't I listened to this song in so long", I leave the room, then the song is over. The only thing this song needs is to be longer. Thank you Neil
Wow, does this guy have a quiver of top-rated albums & songs.

But this one, perhaps one of my very favorite. Such class Neil guitar work. All guitarists want that sound that folks know who it is that's playing. Here, there ain't no question, and it feels so good.
{#Skull}
One of my all time favorite records, though not my favorite song.  How about a little "Out on the Weekend"?
Sounds like it was recorded in a basement. Perfect trashy sound.
C'mon...play the VU version. Or play "Heroin" or "Waiting for my man"
One of the greatest albums of the glorious 1970s!
If I was a junkman
selling you cars,
Washing your windows
and shining your stars,
Thinking your mind
was my own in a dream
What would you wonder
and how would it seem?
Living in castles
a bit at a time
The King started laughing
and talking in rhyme.

Singing words, words
between the lines of age.
Words, words
between the lines of age.

Love that poetry.
BTS —> Neil - LOVE!  solid '10'!

(I saw Neil a couple weeks back - my favorite moment - my friend turns to me & says, "Wow, this sounds like Neil Young."  If you get that, it's brilliant!)
Stand, Salute and Turn it up. Sing along with the chorus. That feels mighty fine. Thanks Neil.
Something I heard a long time ago might help the skeptics understand: "Neil doesn't sing because he wants to; he sings because he has to."
 chadlymn wrote:
COME ON....Enough Neil Young. 

Worst vocalist ever!!!!! 

Where's the mute button?   {#Puke}


 
As soon as you see the giant font and the puke emoticon you know you're dealing with the simple-minded.
 chadlymn wrote:
COME ON....Enough Neil Young. 

Worst vocalist ever!!!!! 

Where's the mute button?   {#Puke}


 

where's the puke emo when you need it the most...{#Lol}
Reminds me of the countless summer nights, early mornings I sat on the steps of my brownstone apartment in downtown Albany after getting off my shift, with Neil streaming gently from my speakers out into the city air.
Words — Between the Lines of Age, indeed; you said it!
Can't wait to see and hear you again, Neil!  Aug 5, Red Rocks, YEAH! 
My HERO{#Notworthy}
One of the best albums evah
10
Man, I wore out this album back in the 70's playing it on the console stereo.  Still sounds awesome...
Old Man look at my life, I`m a bit like you.Man needs a Maid,Needle and the Damage Done.Ha brilliant.
Brilliant
Still love it 40 years later.
YES!  {#Clap}
 mistabird wrote:
lang , lang ist`s her.   diese geile Zeiten heut gute erinnerungen  {#Sunny}
 
I'm not sure what the F you said, but I'm pretty sure I agree!  ; )

lang , lang ist`s her.   diese geile Zeiten heut gute erinnerungen  {#Sunny}
 chadlymn wrote:
COME ON....Enough Neil Young. 

Worst vocalist ever!!!!! 

Where's the mute button?   {#Puke}


 

(A) Take mouse in hand
(B) Slide little arrow up to little red 'X' and click
(C) Don't come back w/o written permission from your Neurosurgeon...{#Beat}
 turned f——— UP!!  {#Drummer}
 w3weasel wrote:


" pitchy, off-key, off-timing, repetative and just flat-out annoying"

 
God I love Neil Young{#Notworthy}
Never tire of any track from Harvest. {#Sunny}
Always knew this from the Decade album.  That's an awesome album too.
This LP is a must-have

I could listen it for months when I was much younger but I stil really enjoy listening it again

Thanks RP

I hate it when RPreads my mind against the stream, as it were, of the internet...
YES! dont know why, but this has been one of my fav NY songs since this album came out. Thanks rp!!
 RipperP wrote:
Wow nice set, culminating in the transition from Low to Neil...
 

Still works in July...
I just changed my last rating from 8 to 9!! Keep playing this, and I'll get it to 11....

Thx!
 pannaramma wrote:
tedious

 
...anyone into bananaramma might think so, maybe...


 black321 wrote:
It's only rock and roll, and I like it.
 
Genesis. It. The lamb lies down on broadway.
gotcha :-)

 sandpebble wrote:
Could that be Nils on piano?
 
John Harris, James McMahon, or Jack Nitzsche

Sounds as good today as it did when it came out.
Timeless.

It's only rock and roll, and I like it.
Wow nice set, culminating in the transition from Low to Neil...

Any fans of Journey Through the Past?

This one also appears on that album but in a much longer format if I recall.

A white guy from Winnipeg, Manitoba does plodding, soulful electric guitar, and guess what?  He pulls it off.

 


Thanks Bill !!!!        {#Clap}
Did anyone hear this transition? 

Low - On the Edge Of
Neil Young - Words

{#Good-vibes}

Bill ... brilliant

tedious

I LOVE Neil Young as a song writer, and he has some amazing vocals on some of his songs.

This is by far THE most annoying, pitchy, off-key, off-timing, repetative and just flat-out annoying song in his entire catalog.

Just... yuk

Great song and Radio Paradise Rocks !!!!
COME ON....Enough Neil Young. 

Worst vocalist ever!!!!! 

Where's the mute button?   {#Puke}


Sublime guitar solo.
Good song! It's just that I think the song could be about 24 minutes shorter.
 Bosami wrote:


Color me green w/ ENVY! That will be a great show. Love his acoustic concerts. Enjoy!
 
Dunno about that one, but the tickets for the other shows on the tour are crazy expensive...they START at $100 for obstructed view seating!


One of his best songs off one of his best albums...Love it {#Music}
Could that be Nils on piano?
azdcryan wrote:
agreed...this song and this entire album have to be some of the most emotive rock music in history
Verily. The time and place of its creation is well preserved by the work itself. Except the Southern Man thing. That bit of slander was beneath the high standard - although the screamin' guitar solo does cause spontaneous skin grafts.

Used to listen to this LP and other Neil Young LPs on an old mono-player.  Ah the memories.
 Darlington wrote:

Tickets on sale Saturday for his solo accoustic show in Spartanburg, SC over Labor Day weekend. Can't wait!


 

Color me green w/ ENVY! That will be a great show. Love his acoustic concerts. Enjoy!

Tickets on sale Saturday for his solo accoustic show in Spartanburg, SC over Labor Day weekend. Can't wait!


Great song, great album. As fresh now as it was in 1972. {#Dancingbanana_2}
{#Notworthy} 'nuff said.