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Neil Young — The Needle And The Damage Done
Album: Unplugged
Avg rating:
8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 506









Released: 1993
Length: 2:52
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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I caught you knockin' at my cellar door
I love you, baby, can I have some more?
Ooh, ooh, the damage done

I hit the city and I lost my band
I watched the needle take another man
Gone, gone, the damage done

I sing the song because I love the man
I know that some of you don't understand
Milk blood to keep from running out

I've seen the needle and the damage done
A little part of it in everyone
But every junkie's like a settin' sun
Comments (70)add comment
Superb, love old Neil.
Posted 7 years ago by semolinapilchard    [ Reply ]
Such a tragic song.. Danny Whitten RIP
Posted 10 years ago by Boy_Wonder    [ Reply ]


Awsome performance of Neil Young & Crazy Horse tonight Sep 29, 2012, in Central Partk, New York. Neil, at its best, continues to dominate the stage, aged 66, with vitality, emotion, conviction and delusion of the beginning of his career. It is truly amazing. Thanks for everything and "good to see you".



Posted 12 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
10, too true.
Posted 12 years ago by palad1    [ Reply ]
Yup, a solid 9.  Especially coming on the heels of John Barleycorn!
Posted 12 years ago by Stratocaster    [ Reply ]
Nine.  Solid nine.  No question.
Posted 12 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
wow two {#Puke} in a row...
Posted 12 years ago by MiracleDrug    [ Reply ]
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Buh-bye. (Don't hurry back.)

 
It's a wave thing

Posted 13 years ago by cohifi    [ Reply ]

The Pretenders - N.Young´s The Needle and the Damage Done, Live:

Rare clip of Miss Hynde and the boys singing a hymn to those the needle done damaged.


Posted 13 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
 jagdriver wrote:
GOOD! Time to go the restroom.
 
Buh-bye. (Don't hurry back.)

Posted 13 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
Every junkie's like a setting sun...

If you've ever seen someone you like or care about become an addict and self-destruct in slow motion, you know exactly what he's talking about.
Posted 13 years ago by Baby_M    [ Reply ]
 Cynaera wrote:

Well, ...... Trust me - when everything falls apart, you'll wish you'd been a little more polite to those of us who know how to survive, and have known for more years than you've been alive.

Oh - and by the way:  {#Ass} 
 
Very, very well said! 


Posted 13 years ago by casey1024    [ Reply ]
GOOD! Time to go the restroom.
Posted 13 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
 slippery wrote:

You are most definitely right - that is brilliant.

The only poblem is that the feeling I get deep down inside when I hear Neil open his cookie-hole could at closest be compared with the feeling you would get by slowly scraping your nails all the way down a green board.



Neil should by law be forbidden to get closer than 10 meters of a microphone.

PS. Leave the dude who quoted dumb and dumberer alone.
First off - he's right. Also, the movie was, and still is hilarious.

Peace to all you dried-up old farts!
 
Well, and peace to you self-involved, gonna-rule-the-world upstarts.  Remember that EVERYONE dies, regardless of how many toys they have. At least we "dried-up old farts" know how to grow plants, dig root cellars, and live on a dollar a day. I feel for you "supple young burps" (well, isn't that the exact opposite of what you call us?) Trust me - when everything falls apart, you'll wish you'd been a little more polite to those of us who know how to survive, and have known for more years than you've been alive.

Oh - and by the way:  {#Ass} 
Posted 13 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
 HazzeSwede wrote:

Sorry,but that made me ...{#Roflol}...I very seldom do that !

 
Um, I'm glad I could afford you a laugh, but I'm not sure why you're laughing... Was it because I have a Yamaha guitar?

Posted 13 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
 Cynaera wrote:
This was one of the first songs I learned to play on my guitar (it's a 1974 Yamaha Acoustic, and I've changed the strings several times because I keep over/undertuning aka Joni Mitchell. She owes me, and someday, I'll collect.)  And wow - there it sits, right next to this computer desk at which I sit, and it's in its case, begging to be trotted out and used again. And how weird is this? I actually have fingernails on my right hand, and not so much fingernail on my left hand, which puts me in the prime position for playing my ancient guitar again.

Thanks, Neil. I hate you. I love you.
 
Sorry,but that made me ...{#Roflol}...I very seldom do that !

Posted 13 years ago by HazzeSwede    [ Reply ]
 Bosami wrote:

I was at an acoustic show where Neil yelled out - 'If you are going to clap in the middle of a song  - at least clap in time!'
 
{#Roflol}

Posted 13 years ago by Bleyfusz    [ Reply ]
 Zep wrote:
Really weird, and entirely inappropriate, to clap in time and to yell and whoop, to this song.

"Yeehaw, every junkie, right on Neil!"



 
I'm with ya, brother!

Posted 13 years ago by Bleyfusz    [ Reply ]
This was one of the first songs I learned to play on my guitar (it's a 1974 Yamaha Acoustic, and I've changed the strings several times because I keep over/undertuning aka Joni Mitchell. She owes me, and someday, I'll collect.)  And wow - there it sits, right next to this computer desk at which I sit, and it's in its case, begging to be trotted out and used again. And how weird is this? I actually have fingernails on my right hand, and not so much fingernail on my left hand, which puts me in the prime position for playing my ancient guitar again.

Thanks, Neil. I hate you. I love you.
Posted 14 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
A lot of negative comments against the Rating!! BTW ,brilliant song, like (PJB wrote) !!!


Posted 14 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
Really weird, and entirely inappropriate, to clap in time and to yell and whoop, to this song.

"Yeehaw, every junkie, right on Neil!"



Posted 14 years ago by Zep    [ Reply ]
I really appreciate the qualities of great songwriting, but I cannot stand this weepy voice... {#Mad}
Posted 14 years ago by prickelpit96    [ Reply ]
 Manbird wrote:
Stop clapping, you idiots. God, I hate that. 
 
I was at an acoustic show where Neil yelled out - 'If you are going to clap in the middle of a song  - at least clap in time!'


Posted 14 years ago by Bosami    [ Reply ]
10 +1

Posted 14 years ago by BowTieDad    [ Reply ]
 Manbird wrote:
Stop clapping, you idiots. God, I hate that. 
 
Me, too. They'd rather hear themselves than Neil! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.......................!!!
  Like they're at a freakin' football game!  :(


Posted 14 years ago by beset    [ Reply ]
 Manbird wrote:
Stop clapping, you idiots. God, I hate that. 
  Exactly.  Not a celebratory song.


Posted 14 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]
So Polly Jean Harvey followed by Nirvana's Polly with its leader's life cut short thanks largely to drugs  followed by this great one from Neil.

I love how Bill's mind works.  Of course it only works 'cause these are three great songs.
Posted 14 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]
A poignant follow up to Nirvana.
Posted 15 years ago by kaybee    [ Reply ]
 peter_james_bond wrote:
"Every junkies like the setting sun"

Brilliant
 
Probably his best lyrics ever.

Posted 15 years ago by Baby_M    [ Reply ]
Stop clapping, you idiots. God, I hate that. 
Posted 15 years ago by Manbird    [ Reply ]
Been to well over a thousand shows, and Neil is still in the top 5. What an amazing performer, singer, songwriter, musician. How he can make so much out of so little when he is alone on stage and doing an acoustic set is just magic.
Posted 15 years ago by gatorade    [ Reply ]
Its true, that Neil doesnt have the greatest voice, but the music and the lyrics are so great that it doesnt matter that much. Otherwise the voice appropriates to his music.

Posted 15 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
Your from Sweden, go listen to ABBA.
 slippery wrote:

You are most definitely right - that is brilliant.

The only poblem is that the feeling I get deep down inside when I hear Neil open his cookie-hole could at closest be compared with the feeling you would get by slowly scraping your nails all the way down a green board.



Neil should by law be forbidden to get closer than 10 meters of a microphone.

PS. Leave the dude who quoted dumb and dumberer alone.
First off - he's right. Also, the movie was, and still is hilarious.

Peace to all you dried-up old farts!
 


Posted 15 years ago by countyman    [ Reply ]
 peter_james_bond wrote:
"Every junkies like the setting sun"

Brilliant
 
You are most definitely right - that is brilliant.

The only poblem is that the feeling I get deep down inside when I hear Neil open his cookie-hole could at closest be compared with the feeling you would get by slowly scraping your nails all the way down a green board.



Neil should by law be forbidden to get closer than 10 meters of a microphone.

PS. Leave the dude who quoted dumb and dumberer alone.
First off - he's right. Also, the movie was, and still is hilarious.

Peace to all you dried-up old farts!
Posted 15 years ago by slippery    [ Reply ]
Nice acoustic work.
Posted 15 years ago by JSteven3    [ Reply ]
 madtowner11 wrote:
Remember that scene in Dumb and Dumber when Jim Carey said in the van, "Wanna hear the most annoying sound in the world?" Well all he had to do was put on a Neil Young CD right after that and he would have been more accurate.
 
Now if that's your kind of movie masterpiece, I don't want to know which music you're into.

Posted 15 years ago by Barman    [ Reply ]
 madtowner11 wrote:
Remember that scene in Dumb and Dumber when Jim Carey said in the van, "Wanna hear the most annoying sound in the world?" Well all he had to do was put on a Neil Young CD right after that and he would have been more accurate.
 
Your taste in movies goes a long way to explaining your taste in music.

Posted 15 years ago by cosmiclint    [ Reply ]
 bpkengor wrote:


This one is a good one for NY junkies.  


Hmmm...pun intended or?
Posted 15 years ago by rtkmusic    [ Reply ]
"Every junkies like the setting sun"

Brilliant
Posted 15 years ago by peter_james_bond    [ Reply ]

Bang on palad1.

We all use 'rules of thumb' to guide our behaviour.  Stopping non-medical self-medication short of the needle is a good one.

Once upon a time, doctors learned that the hard way.


Posted 15 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
Remember dudes,
speed kills.
Posted 15 years ago by palad1    [ Reply ]
criticism of neil young is in poor taste, he being of such stature and achievement for so long...
however, i can say i have heard this song too many times...i would love to hear something less
played..maybe something from zuma or american stars and bars....
i did enjoy hearing like a hurricane the other day..that never gets old...thanks sir william


Posted 15 years ago by arsenault    [ Reply ]
 lkson wrote:
i can't believe i've never heard this version. neilicious is right!!
 
Neilicious?  What kind of term is that?  I think you need to set your bar a little higher.

Posted 15 years ago by lwilkinson    [ Reply ]
Also love Chrissie Hynde's wonderful live version of this.  She has also seen the needle and the damage done in her band.
Posted 15 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]
best anti-drug song. Ever.
Posted 15 years ago by Pharlap    [ Reply ]
thanks Bill
Posted 15 years ago by pope183    [ Reply ]
 madtowner11 wrote:
Remember that scene in Dumb and Dumber when Jim Carey said in the van, "Wanna hear the most annoying sound in the world?" Well all he had to do was put on a Neil Young CD right after that and he would have been more accurate.
 
Now that's well said!!

Posted 16 years ago by The_Bio_Teacher    [ Reply ]
 holborne wrote:
Look, not everyone has to be a goddamned opera singer. The point of this song isn't that Neil's voice is like Caruso's — the point is the beautiful, understated quality of both of the guitar and the vocal.
 
EXACTLY! Well said. I know that some of you don't understand ... 

Posted 16 years ago by smehan55    [ Reply ]
Look, not everyone has to be a goddamned opera singer. The point of this song isn't that Neil's voice is like Caruso's — the point is the beautiful, understated quality of both of the guitar and the vocal.
Posted 16 years ago by holborne    [ Reply ]
Seminal and there's just no point in listening to anyone else playing it...
Posted 16 years ago by andycollingridge    [ Reply ]
How appropriate to follow Nirvana...
Posted 16 years ago by ca1vinandhobbes    [ Reply ]
On_The_Beach wrote:
What, no moronic comments about Neil's voice? How refreshing. A classic.
Remember that scene in Dumb and Dumber when Jim Carey said in the van, "Wanna hear the most annoying sound in the world?" Well all he had to do was put on a Neil Young CD right after that and he would have been more accurate.
Posted 16 years ago by madtowner11    [ Reply ]
me too.....brings tears to my eyes every time I hear this.....and those tears are all I have left of friends who passed along this way. but still......thanks to Neil for letting me grieve
Posted 16 years ago by Stewed_Mulligan    [ Reply ]
lkson wrote:
i can't believe i've never heard this version. neilicious is right!!
The version on the recently released "Live at Massey Hall", recorded in 1971, soon after he wrote the song, is also a very good version. This one is a good one for NY junkies. there a sense of immediacy about most of the songs that I like...
Posted 16 years ago by bpkengor    [ Reply ]
What, no moronic comments about Neil's voice? How refreshing. A classic.
Posted 16 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
i can't believe i've never heard this version. neilicious is right!!
Posted 16 years ago by lkson    [ Reply ]
lemmoth wrote:
Have you heard the Pretender's cover. Chrissy is brilliant and you can feel her emotion because she too lost a band mate to the needle.
2 actually, Pete Farndon and James Honeyman Scott, unless one of them died of another drug
Posted 16 years ago by orpheus    [ Reply ]
"Seen the needle & the damage done, little part of it in everyone... seen the needle & the damage done, every junkie's like a setting sun." Lost way too many friends this way, s'why I cry every time I hear Neil singin' it...
Posted 16 years ago by macadavy    [ Reply ]
Wow... Neil's redeemed himself in my book. Never liked his stuff - but I like this.
Posted 16 years ago by pkimbrel    [ Reply ]
Blackjack wrote:
This is one song that should never get covered. The original is just too good.
Have you heard the Pretender's cover. Chrissy is brilliant and you can feel her emotion because she too lost a band mate to the needle.
Posted 16 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]
Saw him 10th row back in October 2007. Felt like I was sitting in his living room while he played. Amazing.
Posted 16 years ago by zappaesque    [ Reply ]
Blackjack wrote:
This is one song that should never get covered. The original is just too good.
Agreed. The original is my all time favorite Neil Young song.
Posted 16 years ago by yogaboat    [ Reply ]
Simply fantastic.
Posted 16 years ago by Leslie    [ Reply ]
You've never heard Brandog do it!
Posted 16 years ago by hippiechick    [ Reply ]
This is one song that should never get covered. The original is just too good.
Posted 16 years ago by Blackjack    [ Reply ]
Pure emotion. Godlike.
Posted 16 years ago by bronorb    [ Reply ]
I'll second that!
Posted 16 years ago by Krow_Pie    [ Reply ]
Neilicious!
Posted 16 years ago by ThePoose    [ Reply ]
First! :)
Posted 16 years ago by djblitz    [ Reply ]