The Loner
Neil Young · Official Release Series Discs 1 - 4 [2012]
Like a cross of himself and a fox
He's a feeling arranger
And a changer of the ways he talk
He's the unforeseen danger
The keeper of the key to the lock
Know when you see him
Nothing can free him
Step aside, open wide
He's the loner
If you see him in the subway
He'll be down at the end of the car
Watching you move
Until he knows he knows who you are
When you get off at your station alone
He'll know that you are
Know when you see him
Nothing can free him
Step aside, open wide
He's the loner
There was a woman he knew
About a year or so ago
She had somethin' that he needed
And he pleaded with her, "Please don't go"
On the day that she left
He died, but it did not show
Know when you see him
Nothing can free him
Step aside, open wide
He's the loner
Know when you see him
Nothing can free him
Step aside, open wide
He's the loner
The Loner
Neil Young's "The Loner" stands as a poignant song in his extensive discography, capturing the isolation and introspection characteristic of his later work. Recorded for the Official Release Series Discs 1 - 4 [2012], the track exemplifies Young's mastery of blending acoustic intimacy with electric intensity. The song reflects a recurring theme in his catalogue: the solitary journey of the individual against the backdrop of a changing world. With its distinctive vocal delivery and atmospheric production, the recording serves as a testament to Young's enduring ability to translate personal vulnerability into universal resonance. It remains a significant piece within his body of work, offering listeners a glimpse into the quiet struggles of modern existence through his unique sonic lens.