43 Best Neil Young Songs

“Harvest Moon” by Neil Young

Song Year: 1992

Neil Young wrote and recorded “Harvest Moon” as a loving tribute to his wife, Pegi. The lyrics capture the feeling of long-lasting love, incorporating the imagery of dancing in the moonlight to represent their bond. Its main guitar riff gives the song an extra sentimental and romantic vibe.

“Harvest Moon” ranked fifth on RPM's Top Singles Chart and 36th on the UK Singles Chart in 1993. It’s a beautiful choice for any wedding anniversary party.

“Heart of Gold” by Neil Young

Song Year: 1972

Hailed as one of the best songs of the 70s, “Heart of Gold” is all about finding love and satisfaction in life. Young wrote the lyrics while he had a back injury, giving it a personal touch of hope to any looking for their situation in life to improve.

“Heart of Gold” topped several charts after its release, including Billboard's Hot 100, RPM's Hot Singles, and Record World's Top 100 Singles. It sold over a million certified units in the US.

“Angry World” by Neil Young

Song Year: 2010

“Angry World” is a top choice if you’re looking for music for venting your feelings when you feel frustrated. Young's vocals and guitar have a gruff edginess that injects deep energy into the piece, while the looping inclusion of the word “angry” make it sound hypnotic.

This song won Young’s first Grammy Award in 2011 for “Best Rock Song” and was nominated for “Best Solo Rock Performance.”

“The Loner” by Neil Young

Song Year: 1969

“The Loner” was the first single Neil Young recorded after his music group, Buffalo Springfield, disbanded. It has an upbeat vibe, helped along by its bass and guitar accompaniment. Some have speculated the lyrics describe Young himself, while others believe he wrote it about Stephen Stills.

Regardless of the inspiration, “The Loner” was a standout track on Young's debut solo album, Neil Young. Over the years, many artists recorded covers, including Stephen Stills in 1976 and Henry Kaiser in 1990.

“Sedan Delivery” by Neil Young

Song Year: 1979

One of the best Neil Young songs I consider one of my favorites is “Sedan Delivery.” This track has an upbeat guitar and drum backing track which dips into a slower tempo at a few points.

The lyrics incorporate plenty of outlandish imagery, adding to the song's hectic tone. Many believe “Sedan Delivery” is about a drug dealer making his round of deliveries. It’s worth listening to if you’re looking for a song that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

“Out on the Weekend” by Neil Young

Song Year: 1972

“Out on the Weekend's” slower tempo matches well with the song's theme of loneliness after experiencing heartbreak. The lyrics tell the story of a man moving to a new place and his former love, comparing his experience to a new day's dawn after the weekend.

The slow guitar and harmonica backing tracks give it a country-like sound. It’s a comforting song to listen to on lonely Saturday nights.

“Love Is A Rose” by Neil Young

Song Year: 1977

“Love Is A Rose” beautifully incorporates a powerful metaphor about love. Love has positive and negative aspects, such as the beautiful growth of a relationship and the pain of heartbreak if it fails.

Over the years, several artists recorded covers, including Linda Ronstadt's country interpretation in 1975 and Terri Clark's iteration in 2012.

“After the Gold Rush” by Neil Young

Song Year: 1970

“After the Gold Rush” reflects on how humanity caused environmental destruction after centuries of expansion. It's the type of song that makes you think about what we'd do if our world can't support its life. The featured piano distinguishes this track from many of his famous guitar-centric songs.

Young included this record on an album of the same name. It ranked within the top 10 of several international charts.

“The Needle and the Damage Done” by Neil Young

Song Year: 1972

“The Needle and the Damage Done” is a song about addiction, a challenging theme that might speak to several avid music lovers. The acoustic guitar gives the song a melancholy mood. One of Young's bandmates, Danny Whitten, suffered through a heroin addiction before dying from an overdose, giving this track an extra layer of poignancy.

Several music groups recorded covers, with notable examples being Our Lady Peace, Duran Duran, and The Pretenders.

“Change Your Mind” by Neil Young

Song Year: 1994

“Change Your Mind” is the perfect song to listen to whenever you need extra motivation if you're feeling down. It's one of Neil Young's best songs showcasing his guitar skills, primarily because of the track's length. He wrote this track in memory of Kurt Kobain.

It ranked 18th on the Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart and was included on the album Sleeps with Angels.

“Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)” by Neil Young

Song Year: 1979

This classic Neil Young song revolves around the feeling of becoming irrelevant as time marches on, something that many music artists find relatable. The narrator seems to be at war with himself, worrying about his stardom dwindling yet retaining hope that the spirit of rock and roll will never die.

This single was featured on several weekly charts, including the 79th spot on Billboard's Pop Singles Chart.