New Song "Just Singing A Song Won't Change The World"

On August 7, in Helsinki, Finland, Neil Young debuted a new song called "Just Singing A Song Won't Change The World".

The song is in response to a question that was raised at a press conference: "can music still change the world"?

The worldwide reaction to Neil's response prompted him to make a highly unusual clarification about what it will really take to change the world.

And now Neil's put those thoughts into a song.

"Just Singing A Song Won't Change The World" [mp3]

Thanks Johnny TheSongDog Yuma!

Lyrics transcribed by Liza from Germany.

Just Singing A Song Won't Change The World

You can play my guitar
See it where it'll go
Send this song to a distant star
While the rhythm explodes
Just singing a song won't change the world

You can drive my car
Feel how it rolls
Feel a new energy
As it quietly rolls
Just singing a song won't change the world

Just singing a song won't change the world
Just singing a song won't change the world

You can sing about change
Well, you're making your own
You can be what you're trying to say
On a big wheel road
Just singing a song won' change the world

You could play my guitar
Go where it goes
Send this song to a distant star
While the rhythm explodes
Just singing the song won't change the world

(Note that lyrics in 3rd verse are incomplete. Corrections welcome!

Thanks Liza! Updated lyrics 8/14.)




Pete Townshend discussed Neil's quote that music can not change the world on this YouTube video and didn't necessarily disagree.

Others, nevertheless, haven't lost faith in the power of music:

"Perhaps it’s true that music and musicians don’t change the world the way they or we like to think they can. But individual people create change every day. Some by teaching, some by protesting, some by volunteering time or money. Sometimes a smile is all it takes to make the difference in another’s day. A song won’t change the world dramatically overnight, but it has to start somewhere, and musicians and their music can still do their part even if it’s not a revolution."

Lately, Neil has made serious commitment to his vision of eliminating roadside re-fueling with the LINC VOLT project.

Asked about the perceived shift, Neil responded in an interview:

'You know, I thought long ago you could change the world by writing songs.

'But you can't change the world by writing songs.

'Oh, you can inspire a few people, get some of them to change their thinking about something. But you can't change the world by writing songs.

'But we could change it with this car.'"

"Back in the old folky days,
The air was magic when we played."