LYRICS to ON THE BEACH

By Neil Young

2) SEE THE SKY ABOUT TO RAIN
handed to reprise 6th April 1971
first live performance 30th November 1970 Cellar Door washington DC last live performance 8th March 1999 Portland
===== lyrics
See the sky about to rain, broken clouds and rain. Locomotive, pull the train, whistle blowing through my brain. Signals curling on an open plain, rolling down the track again. See the sky about to rain. Some are bound for happiness, some are bound to glory Some are bound to live with less, who can tell your story? See the sky about to rain, broken clouds and rain. Locomotive, pull the train, whistle blowin' through my brain. Signals curlin' on an open plain, rollin' down the track again. See the sky about to rain. I was down in Dixie Land, played a silver fiddle Played it loud and then the man broke it down the middle. See the sky about to rain.

3) REVOLUTION BLUES
handed to reprise April 1974
first live performance 16th March 1974 San Luis Obispo California last live performance 10th February 1983 Hartford
===== lyrics
Well, we live in a trailer at the edge of town You never see us 'cause we don't come around. We got twenty five rifles just to keep the population down. But we need you now, and that's why I'm hangin' 'round. So you be good to me and I'll be good to you, And in this land of conditions I'm not above suspicion I won't attack you, but I won't back you. Well, it's so good to be here, asleep on your lawn. Remember your guard dog? Well, I'm afraid that he's gone. It was such a drag to hear him whining all night long. Yes, that was me with the doves, setting them free near the factory Where you built your computer logs. I hope you get the connection, 'cause I can't take the rejection I won't deceive you, I just don't believe you. Well, I'm a barrel of laughs, with my carbine on I keep 'em hoppin', till my ammunition's gone. But I'm still not happy, I feel like there's something wrong. I got the revolution blues, I see bloody fountains, And ten million dune buggies comin' down the mountains. Well, I hear that Laurel Canyon is full of famous stars, But I hate them worse than lepers and I'll kill them in their cars.

4) FOR THE TURNSTILES
handed to Reprise 8th April 1974
first live performance 11th January 1989 St Louis last live performance 12th June 1989 Holmdel New Jersey
===== lyrics
All the sailors with their seasick mamas Hear the sirens on the shore, Singin' songs for pimps with tailors Who charge ten dollars at the door. You can really learn a lot that way It will change you in the middle of the day. Though your confidence may be shattered, It doesn't matter. All the great explorers Are now in granite laid, Under white sheets for the great unveiling At the big parade. You can really learn a lot that way It will change you in the middle of the day. Though your confidence may be shattered, It doesn't matter. All the bushleague batters Are left to die on the diamond. In the stands the home crowd scatters For the turnstiles, For the turnstiles, For the turnstiles.

5)VAMPIRE BLUES
handed to Reprise April 1974
first live performance [ with the Eagles] 16th March 1974 San Lois Obispo California last live performance 16th March 1974 San Lois Obispo California
===== lyrics
I'm a vampire, babe, suckin' blood from the earth I'm a vampire, baby, suckin' blood from the earth. Well, I'm a vampire, babe, sell you twenty barrels worth. I'm a black bat, babe, bangin' on your window pane I'm a black bat, baby, bangin' on your window pane. Well, I'm a black bat, babe, I need my high octane. Good times are comin', I hear it everywhere I go Good times are comin', I hear it everywhere I go. Good times are comin', but they sure comin' slow. I'm a vampire, babe, suckin' blood from the earth I'm a vampire, baby, suckin' blood from the earth. Well, I'm a vampire, babe, sell you twenty barrels worth. Good times are comin'.
(end of side 1)

6) ON THE BEACH
handed to Reprise April 1974
first live performance 16th May 1974 Bottom Line NYC last live performance 1st May 1999 Chicago
===== lyrics
The world is turnin', I hope it don't turn away, The world is turnin', I hope it don't turn away. All my pictures are fallin' from the wall where I placed them yesterday. The world is turnin', I hope it don't turn away. I need a crowd of people, but I can't face them day to day, I need a crowd of people, but I can't face them day to day. Though my problems are meaningless, that don't make them go away. I need a crowd of people, but I can't face them day to day. I went to the radio interview, but I ended up alone at the microphone, I went to the radio interview, but I ended up alone at the microphone. Now I'm livin' out here on the beach, but those seagulls are still out of reach. I went to the radio interview, but I ended up alone at the microphone. Get out of town, think I'll get out of town, Get out of town, think I'll get out of town. I head for the sticks with my bus and friends, I follow the road, though I don't know where it ends. Get out of town, get out of town, think I'll get out of town. 'Cause the world is turnin', I don't want to see it turn away.

7) MOTION PICTURES
handed to Reprise April 1974
first live performance 16th May 1974 Bottom Line NYC last live performance 16th May 1974 Bottom Line NYC
===== lyrics
Motion pictures on my TV screen, A home away from home, livin' in between But I hear some people have got their dream. I've got mine. I hear the mountains are doin' fine, Mornin' glory is on the vine, And the dew is fallin', the ducks are callin'. Yes, I've got mine. Well, all those people, they think they got it made But I wouldn't buy, sell, borrow or trade Anything I have to be like one of them. I'd rather start all over again. Well, all those headlines, they just bore me now I'm deep inside myself, but I'll get out somehow, And I'll stand before you, and I'll bring a smile to your eyes. Motion pictures, motion pictures.

8) AMBULANCE BLUES
recorded handed to reprise April 1974
first live performance 16th March 1974 San Luis Obispo California last live performance 2nd June 1999 Houston--Texas
===== lyrics
Back in the old folky days The air was magic when we played. The riverboat was rockin' in the rain Midnight was the time for the raid. Oh, Isabela, proud Isabela, They tore you down and plowed you under. You're only real with your make-up on How could I see you and stay too long? All along the Navajo Trail, Burn-outs stub their toes on garbage pails. Waitresses are cryin' in the rain Will their boyfriends pass this way again? Oh, Mother Goose, she's on the skids Shoe ain't happy, neither are the kids. She needs someone that she can scream at And I'm such a heel for makin' her feel so bad. I guess I'll call it sickness gone It's hard to say the meaning of this song. An ambulance can only go so fast It's easy to get buried in the past When you try to make a good thing last. I saw today in the entertainment section There's room at the top for private detection. To Mom and Dad this just doesn't matter, But it's either that or pay off the kidnapper. So all you critics sit alone You're no better than me for what you've shown. With your stomach pump and your hook and ladder dreams We could get together for some scenes. I never knew a man could tell so many lies He had a different story for every set of eyes. How can he remember who he's talkin' to? 'Cause I know it ain't me, and I hope it isn't you. Well, I'm up in T.O. keepin' jive alive, And out on the corner it's half past five. But the subways are empty And so are the cafes. Except for the Farmer's Market And I still can hear him say: You're all just pissin' in the wind You don't know it but you are. And there ain't nothin' like a friend Who can tell you you're just pissin' in the wind. I never knew a man could tell so many lies He had a different story for every set of eyes How can he remember who he's talking to? Cause I know it ain't me, and hope it isn't you.

A FANS ANALYSIS

On the Beach is a curious business, it comes before Tonights The Night, the album but after TTN the tour, it is one of half a dozen Young albums as yet unavailable on CD, but if you can track down a 2nd hand vinyl copy it is well worth the effort. No album sounds better on Vinyl. And despite its mixed reviews at the time,one is sorely tempted to agree with Johnny Rogan, who thinks its one of Young's finest ever recordings, certainly the 8 tracks speak for a generation whose world was in such chaos during the heady days of late 60's early 70's. side A contains 5 songs A Personal Opinion about On The Beach ===
Side 1
WALK ON A simple refrain about a point in his life where Neil is happy to have reached. but with a shake of his head he looks back at the friends he had to leave behind, solely because of their negative attitude to the vast opportunities which the future holds
SEE THE SKY ABOUT TO RAIN A Woody Guthrie Inspired song, with a rather depressing look at the State of the Union, The Ordinary People on a grey morning with no-one to hear their story He reflects on life with Train imagery, which Neil was to use in many of his future songs, the song also includes another bleak reference to a Southern Man again
REVOLUTION BLUES Well, these lyrics are poured over and disected, with every word explored with total dedication by Neil-Heads the world over. Is Neil again playing a part [ or two ] to put across view-points that perhaps he is personally uncomfortable with, Does he REALLY want to kill the inhabitants of Laurel Canyon or is he wondering out loud about the inner thoughts of Charlie ?? and the human schism between LA trailor trash and Hollywood Well, we live in a trailer at the edge of town You never see us 'cause we don't come around. We got twenty five rifles just to keep the population down. But we need you now, and that's why I'm hangin' 'round. So you be good to me and I'll be good to you, And in this land of conditions I'm not above suspicion I won't attack you, but I won't back you. Well, it's so good to be here, asleep on your lawn. Remember your guard dog? Well, I'm afraid that he's gone. It was such a drag to hear him whining all night long. Yes, that was me with the doves, setting them free near the factory Where you built your computer, logs I hope you get the connection, 'cause I can't take the rejection I won't deceive you, I just don't believe you. Well, I'm a barrel of laughs, with my carbine on I keep 'em hoppin', till my ammunition's gone. But I'm still not happy, I feel like there's something wrong. I got the revolution blues, I see bloody fountains, And ten million dune buggies comin' down the mountains. Well, I hear that Laurel Canyon is full of famous stars, But I hate them worse than lepers and I'll kill them in their cars its scary just reading the words, played live as it was in 25/01/83 San Francisco. where he dedicated the song to Charles Manson, it takes on a frightening life of its own Dylan said that his Masters of War lyric was the only song where he wished people dead, Revolution Blues was Neils. Dylan meant what he sang............But Did Neil ???
FOR THE TURNSTILES A song i have absolutly no understanding of !!! even after 26 years of listening to the track. please send all ideas, opinions and comments to Colin Young at this web-Site
VAMPIRE BLUES my, Neil must of had a bad night for to write this liitle ditty, about being a parasite on the earth, taking what you need from your friends and giving nothing back in return. except maybe a sarcastic smirk. the music adds to the atmosphere of a total neglect of feeling, another masterpiece in Neil's ongoing exploration of human emotions
SIDE 2
ON THE BEACH the song from which the album title is took taking a desolate look at his life in LA , With Walk On, he sings about escaping into the future, here he feels trapped again by his own success , yet is afraid to be alone, as his world turns . he dreams of the imaginary paradise found in the Sticks but as every traveller knows, no matter how far or where you run to, you can never escape from yourself,
MOTION PICTURES if Neil sang this any slower, he'll slip off the vinyl and onto the floor !! a beautiful stoned vision of life on the road for tired Rock Stars presumed written about the desruptive and uncomfortable Stray Gator tour in early 1973. He tried to explain this song during the NYC Bottom Line show in May 1974, but he must of had a *flashback* because Neil then proceeded to give a cookery lesson on Honeyslides. do not try this at home folks !!!!!!
AMBULANCE BLUES 8 minutes of beauty and savagery, held together with imagery of his early life in Canada accompanied by the excruciating painful and violent sound of a lonesome fiddle, a superb solo performance by Rusty Kershaw he takes no prisoners for sure with his whole world view-point open to view and ridicule. he finds time to include popular news stories , such as Patty Hearst and Richard M Nixon He dismisses his critics and past associates with a shug and ends the song by referring to everybody as just people pissing in the wind this world carries on regardless, with the farmers at the market at 5 in the morning having a better grasp of the real world, than any fist-in-the-air ranting rebel or newspaper waving politician. All comments are personal to me and are not the personal opinion of the web site editor
John Blakeney