Neil Young – Long May You Run

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We've been through
some things together
With trunks of memories
still to come
We found things to do
in stormy weather
Long may you run.

Long may you run.
Long may you run.
Although these changes
have come
With your chrome heart shining
in the sun
Long may you run.

Well, it was
back in Blind River in 1962
When I last saw you alive
But we missed that shift
on the long decline
Long may you run.

Long may you run.
Long may you run.
Although these changes
have come
With your chrome heart shining
in the sun
Long may you run.

Maybe The Beach Boys
have got you now
With those waves
singing "Caroline No"
Rollin' down
that empty ocean road
Gettin' to the surf on time.

Long may you run.
Long may you run.
Although these changes
have come
With your chrome heart shining
in the sun
Long may you run.

Send "Long May You Run" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by H-bomb

Track duration: 03:48


Long May You Run song meanings
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15 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:There is a video interviewing an old timer who remembers Neil and the Gang breaking down in Blind River Ontario, and how they were stuck there for a few days until they could afford to get the car fixed.

    youtube.com/…
    Flag madmaxvolon December 19, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Young did say what this song is about. Here:
    youtube.com/…
    Unfortunately I'm not an English native speaker so I'm not sure I understand what he says: "This is a song I wrote for my ... car once?/ caravans?" - please HELP
    Flag thestampon August 16, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The problem with the car was a broken-down transmission. So "we missed that shift on the long decline" makes perfect sense. In southern Cal.(which is where Neil was headed)in the '60s, the surfing craze was at it's height. Everyone knows that "woody" wagons are the quintesential surfer vehicle. But old hearses were also highly prized by surfers, & considered very cool. Hence, "maybe the Beach Boys have got you now" makes sense also. Of course, there may be multiple underlying meanings. But sometimes as Freud said, a cigar is just a cigar.
    Flag OldCruiseron March 19, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is obviously not about a car. The description of the car is a metaphor for a friend on drugs. Neil is just wishing them luck and mourning the loss of a friend. "the last time i saw you alive" isn't actually a death, it is how drugs can suck the life out of someone.
    Flag mikesweeneyyon August 25, 2009   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • 0
    General Comment:"searching for a heart of gold"
    Flag NutzyPixeon October 03, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I like to believe he found the girl with a chrome heart not the one with a heart of gold and she left him and that's why he is looking for the heart of gold. lol.
    Flag NutzyPixeon October 03, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I understand that the old car he had broke down in Blind River and he couldn't repair it.
    So he just left his car there and hitched a ride to his destination.
    According to the DVD's Special features the producers of the horro movie "Final Destination" wanted to play this song in the funeral scene. However, either Neil Young and/or his manager wanted to be paid US$500,000 for the privilege.
    Unfortunately, as the price was so high the song wasn't used and many potential new fans missed out on hearing a great song.
    Flag chrisb1on April 04, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I love this song; clearly it's about his car, but I always felt that the sentiment, "long may you run," could apply to anything. Kind of a "good luck," it's just something to say to someone to let them know you hope they have a long and happy life.

    Also reminds me of the book Watership Down. When a rabbit died, they said he had "stopped running," so to run long is to have a long life. It doesn't need to apply just to his car. :)
    Flag AlphabetFishon April 12, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Actually the song could be about both. Stephen Stills apparently saw this hearse one day and he believed it to be the car of Neil Young. I’m not sure if he waited for Neil outside of the car or if he followed it around until he stopped, but I am almost positive that’s how they met.
    Flag Fenderstrats90on September 04, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Its about a car, but some people believe i is about stephen stills. Maybe it has a double meaning. Neils songs often do.
    Flag powderfingeron March 06, 2005   Link

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