Music Stories Episode 6 (Neil Young - Mr.Soul)

      Welcome to music stories. I’m your host, Damian DeadLove. Tonight I’m gonna try something a little different from the past episodes. This is kinda a lyrical deep dive concept.

      Let me ask your opinion on something. Have you ever had a song that you lyrically connected to? To the point you almost felt as if it was written for you, or possibly about you? I’m sure you probably have, I know I’m not the only one.

      Now obviously I know it’s not written about me. Doesn’t change the fact I relate to the words, and how they touch my soul. So tonight’s artist is Canada’s own, “Neil Young”. But most importantly his song, “Mr. Soul”. Everything that’s italicized in this show, is written by Neil Young.

      Important note here. You have to have the premise of who I was as a teenager to get why I’m connected to the song. I had a horrible track record with women going back to puppy love. It didn’t get better for most of my adult life. In high school I had the uncanny ability of having all my relationship never make it past two weeks.

      My longest relationship before getting hitched, lasted only three months. So to say I was an awkward unfortunate guy, doesn’t quite express how bad it was. A lot of my early lyrics were full of low self-esteem, and hurt. That through screaming them loud, and growling out my rage in an angry fashion was therapy. Anyways lets begin.

Oh, hello Mr. Soul
I dropped by
to pick up a reason
For the thought that I caught
that my head
is the event of the season
Why in crowds just a trace
of my face
could seem so pleasin’
I’ll cop out to the change
but a stranger
is putting the tease on

      This first verse sucked me in from the start. I always likened it to my internal struggle with finding a reason to live or even love. Every lady I tried to date, was the event of the season. The thought maybe it’ll be different this time. I was a different person in crowds or social situations it clearly wasn’t my scene. If I could figure out how to be me I was sure I’d find comfort. The last three lines simply mean this to me. I’ll dawn a mask against my better judgement, if it will get her attention. That maybe she’ll give me a chance.

I was down on a frown
when the messenger
brought me a letter
I was raised by the praise
of a fan
who said I upset her
Any girl in the world
could have easily
known me better
She said, You’re strange
but don’t change
and I let her

      This second verse to me is kinda of a shift form the first verse, the plot begins to thicken so to speak. Whenever I was down, that’s when friends would try to hook me up with a blind date. He’s the messenger trying to bring me hope. Sarcasm, comes into play with I was raised by the praise of a fan. This is the lady who always friend zoned me. Would pay me all these compliments about being wonderful. But not wonderful enough to date. In the end most really never talked to me much afterwards. So I must have upset her somehow. She could have known me better had I been given the chance. I’ve been called strange my whole life, and been told I should never change. In the end I was always different, because I let her change me. If that makes sense? Or maybe I’m reaching on that part.  

In a while will the smile
on my face
turn to plaster?
Stick around while the clown
who is sick
does the trick of disaster
For the race of my head
and my face
is moving much faster
Is it strange I should change?
I don’t know,
why don’t you ask her?

      Third and final verse evokes the most emotion in my heart. The infatuation stage when both parties can’t get enough of each other. Where I was smiling so hard inside and out, that fluttery high feeling, nervous ridden gut doing cartwheels kinda vibe. Where I thought my smile was eternal. You’ll notice the bold text above. It’s my favorite line in the whole song. For her and others watching I’m the clown. That’s out of my mind, fueled by alcohol, angst, and an apparent lack of confidence bound to pull me down. I’m sick! The trick of disaster, is anything I attempt is sure to blow up in my fucking face. This line is more than just love or a relationship, it’s all of life, the whole ball of wax. I wait and anticipate that the shoe will drop at anytime, I’m trying to cushion the fall. It’s unrelenting how fast it spins out of control. That train is never late. It’s more sarcasm on the ending. That part where I wanted to cast blame. But that was simply foolish on my part. Blame falls on both of the participants, it does take two to tango. With wisdom comes accountability.

      Well that’s our show/experiment for tonight. I’m not trying to offend anyone, I think deep down we all experience these tangents and shifts in life. Remember music is the soundtrack of our lives. Until next time. Peace, Love, and Lennon.



Damian DeadLove