Top 10 Best Songs by Neil Young

This song touches the soul of anyone who thinks about their place in time. The simple guitar stroke at the beginning, followed by that penetrating voice: it comes right in. It is a conversation between young and old, full of understanding and longing. The dynamics between soft verses and powerful chorus with banjo are masterful. A timeless monument about aging and the search for connection.

His only number 1 hit and one of the most beautiful folk songs ever. The combination of acoustic guitar and harmonica is immediately recognizable. It is about the eternal search for love and goodness, and the fear of growing old without finding it. Neil sings it softly and vulnerably. A campfire song that conquered the whole world.

A fierce, cynical rock anthem that is often wrongly seen as patriotic. Young dissects American society, from homelessness to environmental pollution. The riff is simple and aggressive. "Keep on rockin' in the free world" is screamed as an accusation, not a celebration. It is the sound of an angry man who refuses to close his eyes.

When Neil Young turns the amplifier up to 11, you get this. A storm of sound. The melody is beautiful, but is buried under layers of feedback and distortion. It is about an all-consuming love that turns your life upside down. "You are like a hurricane, there's calm in your eye." The solo lasts forever and is captivating every second.

An epic seven-minute song that drifts on a slow, hypnotic groove. It tells the story of the conquest of Mexico, but from the perspective of the Aztecs. The guitar solos are slow and lingering; Neil lets his guitar speak and cry. It is a dreamlike trip through history, full of longing and loss.

A short, acoustic song barely two minutes long, but the impact is enormous. It is a raw account of heroin addiction that destroyed his friends. The guitar line is complex but sounds sad and simple. Young sings with a resignation that cuts through. "Every junkie's like a setting sun." A monument for lost talent.

One of the first and best examples of grunge, years before the term existed. The riff is heavy and "crunchy", played in a unique tuning (double drop-D). It is about a dream girl he wants to pursue. The duet with Danny Whitten is beautiful. Short, powerful, and full of energy. A rock classic that sticks immediately.

The ultimate romantic song for people who have been together a long time. The broom gently sweeping over the floor in the rhythm gives it a domestic, intimate feel. Neil sings tenderly about a love that does not fade, but ripens. The pedal-steel guitar cries softly in the background. It is a moonlit dance on the veranda, full of warmth and affection.

A fierce protest song against racism in the southern US. The guitar solos are long, sharp, and chaotic, as if the anger must come out. Young spares no one in his lyrics about slavery and oppression. The song provoked a response from Lynyrd Skynyrd ('Sweet Home Alabama'), but it still stands as a powerful statement.