Neil Young — Revolution Blues
Album: On The BeachAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 702
Length: 3:58
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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, love.
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.
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, love.
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.
Comments (106)add comment
I'm very political at the moment, and I'm thinking to understand what his impressions felt like!
Lyrics sound like the Manson Family story?
Just read Helter Skelter!
Dune buggies, weapons, Laurel Canyon, movie stars
Just read Helter Skelter!
Dune buggies, weapons, Laurel Canyon, movie stars
Wonderloaf wrote:
Too bad, some of the folks in the music industry still stay away from AI curated playlists. This includes Neil Young, but (very sadly) not Bill Goldsmith to an extent he promised to us in his latter writings on the RP Blog site:
Bill readily admits to getting most of his inspirations from Spotify in an interview on the RP Blog. Could that be double-speak?!
press play LP for me........
Love RP, but if NY was still on Spotifty, i'd be playing the whole damn thing right now.......
Too bad, some of the folks in the music industry still stay away from AI curated playlists. This includes Neil Young, but (very sadly) not Bill Goldsmith to an extent he promised to us in his latter writings on the RP Blog site:
Bill readily admits to getting most of his inspirations from Spotify in an interview on the RP Blog. Could that be double-speak?!
press play LP for me........
Love RP, but if NY was still on Spotifty, i'd be playing the whole damn thing right now.......
Love RP, but if NY was still on Spotifty, i'd be playing the whole damn thing right now.......
Superb! 
Wow somehow missed this song and album entirely?! Great!
My favorite album of Neil's, and love this song. Weird thing to "like" I guess, but I like the misanthropy in this one, and of course the amazing drumming by Levon Helm.
Some hear Neil Young, some hear Squeal Young.
Ghiaap wrote:
Ghiaap wrote:
Funny how controversial mr Young is to the RP listeners; for me it's an anoiting (sic) for others it's just annoying
Oh Yes, has to be a big fat 9 gotallie wrote:
Funny how controversial mr Young is to the RP listeners; for me it's an anoiting for others it's just annoying
It's painful to listen to that guy sing.
Funny how controversial mr Young is to the RP listeners; for me it's an anoiting for others it's just annoying
Some great-arse song, sir ... yes indeed!
Goose bumps! straight 10+
one weired ass song, by the king hippie....
It's painful to listen to that guy sing.
helgigermany wrote:
If by "nice", you mean Ghod-like, then I agree.
Nice song.
If by "nice", you mean Ghod-like, then I agree.
Nice song.
...those iconic tail lights again. (fantastic song by Neil aswell)
Johnny-smooth wrote:
I have to agree.
Love this album
I love this song, hell I love this whole album, not a bad cut in the entire thing. Probably my favorite album of his and that is a very tough decision, he's put out so much good stuff over the years.
I have to agree.
Love this album
"I hate them worse than lepers, and I kill them in their cars," Gotta love a guy who speaks his mind. Guess Joni turned him down...
Great record.
Great record.
You can only see it live but The Baseball Project (Steve Wynn, Peter Buck, Linda Pitmon, Scott McCaughey) version of Revolution Blues is stellar too.
Nothing left to say but....thanks Neil, for everything!
Thanks Bill for turning me on to this song and album. I love the man.
bregs wrote:
Ditto...wearing shades sitting cross-legged outside Laurel Canyon
Fantastic song - one of his finest!
Ditto...wearing shades sitting cross-legged outside Laurel Canyon
midnightcurry wrote:
Sheer genius (bar some electro crap and over the top country voyages) from an artist always at the top!!
Fantastic song - one of his finest!
Johnny-smooth wrote:
You're preachin' to the choir, Johnny-smooth!
I love this song, hell I love this whole album, not a bad cut in the entire thing. Probably my favorite album of his and that is a very tough decision, he's put out so much good stuff over the years.
You're preachin' to the choir, Johnny-smooth!
Johnny-smooth wrote:
I've got to pull this one out and give it a listen. It's been a while!
I love this song, hell I love this whole album, not a bad cut in the entire thing. Probably my favorite album of his and that is a very tough decision, he's put out so much good stuff over the years.
I've got to pull this one out and give it a listen. It's been a while!
JBarDom wrote:
...at fourty years old?..in the formal sense, the era was post-modern, and in the literal sense, it's antiquated - kind of misses modern from both ends...
What can be said? A modern classic.
...at fourty years old?..in the formal sense, the era was post-modern, and in the literal sense, it's antiquated - kind of misses modern from both ends...
tough and also good to shake your booty to.
What can be said? A modern classic.
Cheers to you as well, On_The_Beach wrote:
I believe it! Cheers, Rickvee.
I believe it! Cheers, Rickvee.
I can't give much by NY a not so good rating, including this.......
i got the revolution blues
i see bloody fountains
and a ten million dune buggies
comin' down the mountains
i see bloody fountains
and a ten million dune buggies
comin' down the mountains
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
So, you met Charles Manson at a party and are impressed by the fact that he was so wacko that he slaughtered some people who were partying. That, in my opinion, is phoning it in. -10 for lazy, self indulgent lyrics. +10 for not caring what I think and making independent art. No rating.
lemmoth wrote:
If you like them then shut the fuck up about the vocals. This is rock and roll man.
I like your style, sir!
If you like them then shut the fuck up about the vocals. This is rock and roll man.
I like your style, sir!
I love this song, hell I love this whole album, not a bad cut in the entire thing. Probably my favorite album of his and that is a very tough decision, he's put out so much good stuff over the years.
paraclete wrote:
If you like them then shut the fuck up about the vocals. This is rock and roll man.
Ok . . . Tom Petty, then Nick Young . . Next should be Bob Dylan for the Nasal Singer Trifecta! 
Great talents all, with skilled turns of the phrase, great licks on the ax, but just a bit whiney. Even tho I like'em
Great talents all, with skilled turns of the phrase, great licks on the ax, but just a bit whiney. Even tho I like'em
If you like them then shut the fuck up about the vocals. This is rock and roll man.
Rickvee wrote:
I believe it! Cheers, Rickvee.
You better believe this is a 10. Pure greatness.
I believe it! Cheers, Rickvee.
pauleywalnuts wrote:
...great guitar player!
Far from being a perfectionist,
but that's exactly what is GORGEOUS about him!
Neil plays with heart and soul!
great song, great album, great artist!
...great guitar player!
Far from being a perfectionist,
but that's exactly what is GORGEOUS about him!
Neil plays with heart and soul!
HarvestMoon wrote:
ABSOLUTELY TRUE - though I did not know this album was good too!
It is...? Possibly the only one I do not own and know!
By the way:
A new album is on the way - coming out this year!
A masterpiece! Love the lyrics - only Neil can tell stories like that.
ABSOLUTELY TRUE - though I did not know this album was good too!
It is...? Possibly the only one I do not own and know!
By the way:
A new album is on the way - coming out this year!
A masterpiece! Love the lyrics - only Neil can tell stories like that.
One of my very favorite LPs....
Also try the Steve Wynn/Minus 5/Baseball Project version 2009 - one of the best songs they did on tour
Watched American Masters last night featuring Neil. Really interesting. There was an amazing amount of film footage.
They bought the Caddy fin at a junk yard and the furniture at Pier 1.
I love Neil.
They bought the Caddy fin at a junk yard and the furniture at Pier 1.
I love Neil.
Took me forever to find this album! Thanks bill! Love it....
Unbelievable song.
Neil...before him
God, I love this song . . .
jnhashmi wrote:
When you buy an iPhone. I just got one, added the portion of the web site that has a link to the 3G network to my home screen, hooked the headphone jack to my aux input in my car, and Bam! I now have RP in my car. It sounds great, too. Just like it does at home. I can't believe it works so well.
And if you get either the phone charger or a usb power adapter, it won't drain down either. Just if someone calls, you have to restart the app. I think. So far. Still working out the details...
When you buy an iPhone. I just got one, added the portion of the web site that has a link to the 3G network to my home screen, hooked the headphone jack to my aux input in my car, and Bam! I now have RP in my car. It sounds great, too. Just like it does at home. I can't believe it works so well.
And if you get either the phone charger or a usb power adapter, it won't drain down either. Just if someone calls, you have to restart the app. I think. So far. Still working out the details...
oldman wrote:
A Youngster?
One of Neil's least commercial albums and one of his best IMHO
Zuma came out that year and stole the thunder from On The Beach.
What do you call a Neil fanatic?
Zuma came out that year and stole the thunder from On The Beach.
What do you call a Neil fanatic?
A Youngster?
Ok . . . Tom Petty, then Nick Young . . Next should be Bob Dylan for the Nasal Singer Trifecta!
Great talents all, with skilled turns of the phrase, great licks on the ax, but just a bit whiney. Even tho I like'em
Great talents all, with skilled turns of the phrase, great licks on the ax, but just a bit whiney. Even tho I like'em
great song, great album, great artist!
young-dung
oldman wrote:
oldman wrote:
One of Neil's least commercial albums and one of his best IMHO
Zuma came out that year and stole the thunder from On The Beach.
What do you call a Neil fanatic?
Zuma came out that year and stole the thunder from On The Beach.
What do you call a Neil fanatic?
jnhashmi wrote:
When you buy an iPhone. I just got one, added the portion of the web site that has a link to the 3G network to my home screen, hooked the headphone jack to my aux input in my car, and Bam! I now have RP in my car. It sounds great, too. Just like it does at home. I can't believe it works so well.
Doesn't that get expensive?
When you buy an iPhone. I just got one, added the portion of the web site that has a link to the 3G network to my home screen, hooked the headphone jack to my aux input in my car, and Bam! I now have RP in my car. It sounds great, too. Just like it does at home. I can't believe it works so well.
Doesn't that get expensive?
OK, I confess I've never been a Neil Young fan, but this one REALLY leaves me cold. I don't get it. And before you say anything, I was a teenager in the 60s. Maybe it's the violent anger in it. But then again, maybe it's just it's the same old lame guitar and whine.
jagdriver wrote:
When you buy an iPhone. I just got one, added the portion of the web site that has a link to the 3G network to my home screen, hooked the headphone jack to my aux input in my car, and Bam! I now have RP in my car. It sounds great, too. Just like it does at home. I can't believe it works so well.
(When will I be able to get an RP Internet signal in my car?)
When you buy an iPhone. I just got one, added the portion of the web site that has a link to the 3G network to my home screen, hooked the headphone jack to my aux input in my car, and Bam! I now have RP in my car. It sounds great, too. Just like it does at home. I can't believe it works so well.
MrJames wrote:
Yep...just listening to the title track from an old cassette mix tape on the drive in to work this morning. (I was testing the tape deck since my Sony MP3-to-cassette adapter has been acting weird.)
(When will I be able to get an RP Internet signal in my car?)
Odd album, but I absolutely love it.
Yep...just listening to the title track from an old cassette mix tape on the drive in to work this morning. (I was testing the tape deck since my Sony MP3-to-cassette adapter has been acting weird.)
(When will I be able to get an RP Internet signal in my car?)
whoops....my amp clipped out.
This song speaks to me as strongly today as it did when it came out. Timeless sentiments.
Neal, rebelling from the "get go"....
Neal, rebelling from the "get go"....
Odd album, but I absolutely love it.
Neil vocalizing (enunciating) like Dylan here.
Just realized, upon backscrolling, that I made the same comment 2 years ago.
I love this man.
You better believe this is a 10. Pure greatness.
EssexTex wrote:
Neil's out there....
Go Bill! This rocks!
Neil's out there.... 
oldman wrote:
One of Neil's least commercial albums and one of his best IMHO
Zuma came out that year and stole the thunder from On The Beach.
What do you call a Neil fanatic?
A young-ster?
the second release of "the ditch trilogy", the "dark era" and for me one of the better eras of neil young besides the early to mid 90s.
Time Fades Away, On the Beach, Tonight's the Night
(click here)
One of Neil's least commercial albums and one of his best IMHO
Zuma came out that year and stole the thunder from On The Beach.
What do you call a Neil fanatic?
Mugro wrote:
We could use a few of those population controlling rifles around here in Massachusetts! Can't swing a dead cat without hitting a Kennedy/Kerry liberal!
Huh. A conservative deadhead. That's a new one to me. There's always NH. You can live free or die there.
Neil truly is the Grandaddy of Rock & Roll!! :
dancingbanana_2:
Now I'm interested in this album. Go Neil!
stevo_b wrote:
I always thought it was when men were men and the sheep were scared shitless....
According to Douglas Adams, in the Restaurant at the End of the Universe, it was when men were real men, women were real women, and furry creatures from Alpha Centauri were real furry creatures from Alpha Centauri.
" ... I've got a lot of guns and knives and other stuffbut the things I really bank on are just a few. I always carry these." He spread his coat open, revealing the twin stainless steel Detonics .45s in their Alessi shoulder holsters. "Best automatic I know, bar nonewhen you consider effectiveness of the round they throw, reliability, and concealment characteristics. The stainless steel they use is the best quality. I almost never get the time to clean these things, and there isn't a spot of rust or corrosion. They work every time, and you can interchange the standard government model magazines, the whole bit. ... "When I'm in the field, I've got this Metalifed six-inch Python, had the barrel Mag-Na-Ported, got a set of .22 Long Rifle conversion chambers, and a barrel liner for it from Harry Owensgood for everything that way from a small bear in a pinch to a squirrel for the pot. Sometimes I use a Metalifed Colt Lawman snubby, toowhen I want a third gun that I can conceal. ... "
OK, Mister Rourke, you can go back to listening to the song ....
rgrace wrote:
Good Neil album, but on this tune he sounds like a crappy jam partner in a blues jam in a bar in downtown Oakland. :)
Doesn't he sound like that on most everything? I still love him!
kaviksdad wrote:
Ah...longing for the good ol' days - when men were men and women were witches (and burnt) 
I always thought it was when men were men and the sheep were scared shitless....
This really ROCKS...well I like it...ok??
Let me know when it's over. Until then I'll be playing something that's not Neil.
wally42 wrote:
HELLO! It's Neil!!!!!!! The best worst guitar player EVER!
Superb description. Isn't he singing as well?
Tireux_De_Roche wrote:
That's quite charming.
Do you resemble the remark?
shmiverson wrote:
"We've got 25 rifles just to keep the population down"
Hailing from Montana, this line reminds me of home.
That's 25 per person, I assume. Movin' to Montana soon: gonna be a dental floss tycoon.
Mugro wrote:
We could use a few of those population controlling rifles around here in Massachusetts! Can't swing a dead cat without hitting a Kennedy/Kerry liberal!
Ah...longing for the good ol' days - when men were men and women were witches (and burnt)
rgrace wrote:
Good Neil album, but on this tune he sounds like a crappy jam partner in a blues jam in a bar in downtown Oakland. :)
HELLO! It's Neil!!!!!!! The best worst guitar player EVER!
redtex wrote:
And "Vampire Blues".....we're still sucking blood from the earth.
I second that!
Keep on rockin in the free world, Neil!
Good Neil album, but on this tune he sounds like a crappy jam partner in a blues jam in a bar in downtown Oakland. :)
Shesdifferent wrote:
This is one of my favorite NEIL albums. Its very hard to find! Play anything from this album, one of his best!
Somehow this track has eluded me, for all I listen to RP, so yea, belated thanx Bill
BPenni wrote:
Second that...and add "For the Turnstiles." A simply briiliant album!
And "Vampire Blues".....we're still sucking blood from the earth.
On_The_Beach wrote:
Ah, my fave Neil album! (how can you tell?)
Would love to hear "Ambulance Blues" or the title track from this album on RP.
Second that...and add "For the Turnstiles." A simply briiliant album!
what a song....kick ass...!!!
Ah, my fave Neil album! (how can you tell?)
Such a great album and one of my very fave Neil tunes.
Mugro wrote:
We could use a few of those population controlling rifles around here in Massachusetts! Can't swing a dead cat without hitting a Kennedy/Kerry liberal!
That's quite charming.
Neil sounds a bit like Dylan here, only a few octaves higher.
One of my favorites from Neil's best studio album.
kazuma wrote:
I used to think so, too. But my opinion shifted a few years ago in a big way. Now I'd say it's probably one of my top five favorite Neil Young albums. One of my favorite album covers as well.
And this is a great track!
A great album-captured the mix of hope and edginess that was LA during the reign of the Beach Boys and charles manson.
And I love how the umbrella pattern was printed inside the LP.
Snaz wrote:
in my opinion this is one of the worst neil albums.
I used to think so, too. But my opinion shifted a few years ago in a big way. Now I'd say it's probably one of my top five favorite Neil Young albums. One of my favorite album covers as well.
And this is a great track!
Shesdifferent wrote:
This is one of my favorite NEIL albums. Its very hard to find! Play anything from this album, one of his best!
Hard to find? Are you kidding? Amazon has 77 listed right now. Hard to find for less that 5 bucks (my personal limit) but it is sure available. I think I did pay more than 5 bucks for my cd, however.
Shesdifferent wrote:
This is one of my favorite NEIL albums. Its very hard to find! Play anything from this album, one of his best!
Totally agree! This is one of Neil's deepest records. Great "ditch" music. This cut rocks.
shmiverson wrote:
"We've got 25 rifles just to keep the population down"
Hailing from Montana, this line reminds me of home.
We could use a few of those population controlling rifles around here in Massachusetts! Can't swing a dead cat without hitting a Kennedy/Kerry liberal!
Shesdifferent wrote:
This is one of my favorite NEIL albums. Its very hard to find! Play anything from this album, one of his best!
ack, i have to disagree. in my opinion this is one of the worst neil albums.
by the way, you can buy it anywhere, including the amazon link above (although i wouldn't recommend wasting your money).
Ten million dune buggies coming down the mountain!!
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.
"We've got 25 rifles just to keep the population down"
Hailing from Montana, this line reminds me of home.
This is one of my favorite NEIL albums. Its very hard to find! Play anything from this album, one of his best!
Nice segue from the Tom Petty track.
Aaah, a deep cut from Neil Young. Always appreciated.
Lyrics sound like the Manson Family story?
Just read Helter Skelter!
Dune buggies, weapons, Laurel Canyon, movie stars
From "Shakey" by Jimmy McDonough . . .
". . . In addition to all the other Topanga crazies Young was meeting, at some point in 1968 he encountered Charles Manson a few times.. . . This meeting of the minds has provided much fodder for interviews, with Young telling journalist Nick Kent that Manson was "great, he was unreal . . . I mean, if he had a band like Dylan had on 'Subterranean Homesick Blues' . . . ." Young wrote a wild number inspired by Manson in 1974, "Revolution Blues." Manson returned the favor, telling a 1995 interviewer from his Vacaville, California, prison cell that his music-celebrity friends from the old days "didn't give me shit" (ie didn't give me anything) - except for Neil Young - who bequeathed him a motorcycle. : "Glad he didn't get around to ME when he was punishing people for the fact he didn't make it in the music biz. That's what that was all about. Didn't get to be a rock and roll star, so he started fuckin' wipin' people out. Dig that." . . . "