Old Man

L Y R I C S

Old man look at my life, I'm a lot like you were. Old man look at my life, I'm a lot like you were.	One of Neil Young’s most successful songs, "Old Man,” was released in 1972, before the death of Bruce Berry. Only 24 years old at the time, Young sings about an elderly figure whom he praises in the song.
Old man look at my life, Twenty four and there's so much more Live alone in a paradise That makes me think of two.	The overall mood of “Old Man” is positive and nostalgic while most of his songs on Tonight’s the Night are strikingly depressing. Though Young was relatively successful at a young age, he is optimistic in the piece that his life can be even better as he sings, “Twenty four and there's so much more”. This optimism and positive feeling is something that is never felt in his Tonight’s the Night.
Love lost, such a cost, Give me things that don't get lost. Like a coin that won't get tossed Rolling home to you.
Old man take a look at my life I'm a lot like you I need someone to love me the whole day through Ah, one look in my eyes and you can tell that's true.
Lullabies, look in your eyes, Run around the same old town. Doesn't mean that much to me To mean that much to you.
I've been first and last Look at how the time goes past. But I'm all alone at last. Rolling home to you.	The sound of Young’s voice is fragile, soft, and calm compared to his rough, coarse voice found in his later album, Tonight’s the Night. The soothing strum of his guitar is far more appealing than his louder and harsher tunes in many of his songs in Tonight’s the Night. (source )
Old man take a look at my life I'm a lot like you I need someone to love me the whole day through Ah, one look in my eyes and you can tell that's true.
Old man look at my life, I'm a lot like you were. Old man look at my life, I'm a lot like you were.	Overall, this drastic change in Young’s music can be directly attributed to the effect that the death of his longtime friend and roadie Bruce Berry had on Young.