Neil Young with Crazy Horse - Cinnamon Girl (1969)

Born in 1945, this Canadian singer-songwriter is one of the most influential artists to emerge out of the ‘60s music scene. In 1966, he co-founded Buffalo Springfield with Stephen Stills and Richie Furay. In 1968, he began to release what would become a very long catalog of solo work. In 1969, he joined Crosby, Stills & Nash. He has done countless charitable works for those in need, has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice (as a member of Buffalo Springfield and as a solo artist), and has even been labeled the “Godfather of Grunge” for his influence on the grunge music scene. Clearly, this man has more on his résumé than what this small space could indicate.

This song was written by Neil Young while suffering from a 103° fever. Before being released as a single in 1970, it appeared on his 1969 album Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere. It was his first album to feature his backing group Crazy Horse, and, besides this track, also featured the hit song “Down By the River.”

Are you familiar with Paul McCartney’s current guitar player, Brian Ray? This song was written for (and about) his older sister, Jean Ray, from the folk duo Jim and Jean.

@ablyam_60smusic Thanks for the story on "Cinnamon Girl" and my late sister, Jean.. All true. B bit.ly/KDCx3d

— Brian Ray (@brianrayguitar) May 1, 2013

Neil Young with Crazy Horse - Cinnamon Girl (1969)

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Lyrics:

I wanna live with a cinnamon girl
I could be happy the rest of my life
With a cinnamon girl

A dreamer of pictures, I run in the night
You see us together, chasing the moonlight
My cinnamon girl

Ten silver saxes, a bass with a bow
The drummer relaxes and waits between shows for
His cinnamon girl

A dreamer of pictures, I run in the night
You see us together, chasing the moonlight
My cinnamon girl

Pa sent me money, now
I'm gonna make it somehow
I need another chance
You see, your baby loves to dance
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah

Grin - Outlaw (1971)

When Nils Lofgren and his bandmates were invited to stay with Neil Young in California, they had yet to release an album. Neil Young was so impressed with the young Lofgren that he invited him to play on his solo album, After the Gold Rush. This commercial exposure led to Lofgren getting his own group a record deal that would lead to them releasing four albums.

Neil Young assisted in providing backing vocals for this track, as well as Danny Whitten and Ralph Molina.

Some of the lyrics are indecipherable to me, so please let me know if you can figure them out.



Grin - Outlaw (1971)

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Lyrics:

Now if it – if it’s good and I say “do it over,” you gotta be a judge because this is so much fun I – I would just say do it over and over just for fun, and like, I realize we have other things to do.

I woke up a-shiverin’ in my blanket
The cold wind whistlin’ through the open door
I heard a stranger cursin’ on my sister
I said, “Oh Lord, what is this bad man for?”

I jumped up a-stumblin’ for my sister
I feel the laugh as she fell to the floor
The wind was whistlin’ like a train in station
And that outlaw had just run out the door

Please, mister, don’t ya kill my sister
Would ya take the only life I have?
The outlaw said, “Son, stand in the corner”
“If I kill your sister, well, that’s too bad”

(Sing a song; make it easy)

Now I can hear a sick dog through a blizzard
And I can feel the springline on a tree
But when that outlaw struck down pretty sister
Don’cha know Heaven walked out, why, I could not see

I rest here every night with kin, family
We talk about the day and lows to be
Well I come terrified of these discussion
When I become the only soul who's seeked

Please, mister, don’t ya kill my sister
(Don’tcha do it)
Would ya take the only life I have?
The outlaw said, “Son, stand in the corner”
“If I kill your sister, well that’s too bad”

(Please Sheriff, hang the outlaw)

Please, mister, don’t ya kill my sister