The Old Laughing Lady
| "The Old Laughing Lady" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Neil Young | |
| from the album Neil Young | |
| Released | November 12, 1968 |
| Recorded | 1968 |
| Length | 5:58 |
| Label | Reprise |
| Songwriter(s) | Neil Young |
| Producer(s) |
|
"The Old Laughing Lady" is a song written by Neil Young that was first released on his 1968 debut solo album Neil Young.
Music and lyrics
Allmusic critic Matthew Greenwald describes "The Old Laughing Lady" as a "striking mood piece."[1] He describes the music as being "built on some simple, downcast chord changes, in a modal D guitar tuning," which he says gives the song depth and grandeur.[1] Music critic Johnny Rogan describes the song's use of string instruments and a "ghostly girl chorus" as giving it an "eerie effect."[2]
Young biographer Jimmy McDonough remarks on the song's "sweet, sad countermelodies passing from strings to French horn with beautiful restraint."[3] According to music critic Nigel Williamson, the production by Jack Nitzsche helps give the song a sense of mystery.[4] The song contains four verses but no refrain.[5] The changes in mood and tone over the course of the song are reminiscent of Young's earlier song "Broken Arrow" that he wrote and performed as a member of Buffalo Springfield.[6]
Rolling Stone Magazine critic Gary Von Tersch considers "The Old Laughing Lady" to be the more effective of the two, because he considers it to be "tighter, more mature and [have] more of the quiet explosion to it that Young obviously intends.[6]
The themes of "The Old Laughing Lady" include love, death, alcoholism and alienation.[1][7] The old laughing lady of the title can be a metaphor for either death or alcohol.[2][4][8] The song describes how the old laughing lady affects the lives of those she interacts with.[5]
Writing and recording
"The Old Laughing Lady" was written earlier than most of the songs on Neil Young. According to Young, he wrote it one day on a napkin while drinking coffee in a coffee shop without knowing what prompted it.[3][8] A version was recorded by Buffalo Springfield for their 1968 album Last Time Around in January 1968.[1][4]
An even earlier version was tried out during the sessions for Buffalo Springfield's earlier album Buffalo Springfield Again.[4] In the version on Neil Young, Nitzsche used a vocal muting technique that makes Young sound "a million miles away, but right there."[3]
Reception
Neil Young FAQ author Glen Boyd described "The Old Laughing Lady" as having "stood the test of time" since Neil Young was released.[9] Pitchfork contributor Mark Richardson describes the song as having "echoes of the great music to come" from Young's later career.[10] In 2014 the editors of Rolling Stone Magazine ranked it as Young's 63rd all time greatest song , describing it as "California psychedelia with the sun sucked out."[8]
Young included "The Old Laughing Lady" on his 1977 compilation album Decade.[2][11] A live version was released on Young's 1993 album Unplugged, although Rogan felt that version lacked the mystery and sadness of the original.[2][5][12]
References
- ^ a b c d Greenwald, Matthew. "The Old Laughing Lady". Allmusic. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
- ^ a b c d Rogan, Johnny (1996). The Complete Guide to the Music of Neil Young. Omnibus Press. p. 13. ISBN 978-0711953994.
- ^ a b c McDonough, Jimmy (2003). Shakey: Neil Young's Biography. Anchor. pp. 136, 294. ISBN 9780679750963.
- ^ a b c d Williamson, N. (2002). Journey Through the Past: The Stories Behind the Classic Songs of Neil Young. Hal Leonard. p. 22. ISBN 9780879307417.
- ^ a b c Bielen, Ken (2008). The Words and Music of Neil Young. Praeger. pp. 8–9. ISBN 9780275999025.
- ^ a b Von Tersch, Gary (April 5, 1969). "Neil Young". Rolling Stone Magazine. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
- ^ Downing, D. (1994). A Dreamer of Pictures: Neil Young, the Man and His Music. Da Capo. p. 46. ISBN 9780306806117.
- ^ a b c "The 100 Greatest Songs". Neil Young. Rolling Stone. 2014. p. 88.
- ^ Boyd, Glen (2012). Neil Young FAQ: Everything Left to Know About the Iconic and Mercurial Rocker. Backbeat Books. p. 30. ASIN B008RYZ7WM.
- ^ Richardson, Mark (December 11, 2009). "Neil Young". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
- ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Decade". Allmusic. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
- ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Unplugged". Allmusic. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
