Lyrics and music
The lyrics of "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" describe Young's disillusionment with the music scene in Los Angeles. [2] Allmusic critic Matthew Greenwald describes it as "a cry from a man that is in need of settling down after a hair-raising experience." [3] This is reflected in lyrics such as "I gotta get away from this day-to-day running around" and "I think I'd like to go back home and take it easy." [2] Music lecturer Ken Bielen interprets the lyrics as suggesting that when the singer obtained what he originally wanted, possibly fame and success, he found them to be "nowhere." [4]
The music of "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" has a country rock flavor. [2] [4] [5] Young biographer David Downing describes it as "stripped–down foot–stomping rock. [6] Pitchfork contributor Mark Richardson describes it as "a brash, rollicking country-rocker in the vein of the Band." [7] Young biographer Jimmy McDonough hears an echo of Del Shannon's 1962 song "The Swiss Maid" in the music of "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere." [1]
Young and Crazy Horse guitarist Danny Whitten shared the vocals. [8] The recording of the vocals eschewed using a mixing board, and these were recorded directly to tape. [1] According to Young, this was done in an effort "to get all the bullshit out." [1] Young liked the "edge" produced by the resulting impedance mismatch, which he thought produced a "spitty-sounding" vocal. [1]
Critical reception
Record World said that "Neil strokes that guitar for all he's worth." [9] Music critic Johnny Rogan describes "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" as an "interesting, albeit slight composition," describing the harmonies as "both attractive and whimsical." [5] According to Greenwald, the "Western-influenced melody" and Crazy Horse's playing reflect the theme of appreciating simple country life "perfectly." [3] According to Uncut author Andy Gill, "the burly country twang of the astringent guitar riff, tempered by the poignant, sardonic tone of the 'sha-la-la' backing, combine to offer an intriguingly tart take on the new country-rock sound that was miles from the psychedelicized retro-purism of The Byrds and Burritos, and the saccharine sweetness of CS&N. [8] McDonough regards this "compact, country-tinged" song as representing one of the archetypes of the Crazy Horse sound. [1] The editors of Rolling Stone Magazine described it as "incisive guitar rock." [10]
Other versions
Young originally recorded "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" for his 1968 solo debut album Neil Young in a very different arrangement. [1] Rather than Crazy Horses' rock arrangement, the version recorded for Neil Young was backed by woodwind instruments. [2] Downing describes this version as sounding "pretty but passive" with "wistful vocal, beautifully layered guitars, strings and flute solo. [6] McDonogh describes the Neil Young version as "jaunty, restrained, polite, complete with a rooty-toot-toot Moog solo. [1] According to Downing, the rock version released on Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere loses none of the original versions's meaning. [6] A version of the song without Crazy Horse was released as a promotional single in March 1969. [2]
Dar Williams covered the song on her 2005 album My Better Self [4] Allmusic critic Stewart Mason described this as a "nervy cover choice" that "come off well in the context of Williams' introspective originals [on the remainder of the album]. [12] Dumptruck covered it on their 2001 album Lemmings Travel To The Sea. [13] The Red Hot Chili Peppers covered the song with a live version on their 2012 EP Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Covers . [14]
This page is based on this
Wikipedia article Text is available under the
CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
