Neil Young
Homegrown's alright with me
Homegrown's the way it should be
Homegrown, it's a good thing
Plant that bell and let it ring
Neil Young wrote and sang these lyrics for "Homegrown" in 1977 on American Stars 'N' Bars. For the 2007 Farm Aid concert, it was the theme song, with Willie Nelson joining Young on a spirited version. Young also wrote "Roll Another Number (for the Road)" in 1973 for Tonight's the Night.
Born in Nov. 12, 1945 in Toronto, Young formed the Mynah Birds with Bruce Palmer and funk icon and fellow Canadian Rick James before moving to Los Angeles where he, Palmer, Steve Stills, Richie Furay, Jim Messina and Dewey Martin christened themselves as Buffalo Springfield. They had a hit with the anti-establishment "For What's It Worth" (No. 7, 1967), but Young and Stills soon split to start Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young with David Crosby and Graham Nash. Young's CSNY songs - "Helpless" and "Country Girl Medley" - are highlights of Deja Vu. He also wrote "Ohio" (No. 14, 1970) after the Kent State College student killings.
Young went solo in 1969 with his band Crazy Horse, and has since released more than 40 albums, including Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (1969), After the Gold Rush (1970), Harvest (1972), Tonight's the NIght (1975), Rust Never Sleeps (1979), Freedom (1989), Harvest Moon (1992), Greendale (2003), Living with War (2006), Psychedelic Pill (2011) and Colorado (2019).
He's had hits with "Heart of Gold" (No, 1, 1971), "Old Man" (No. 4, 1972), "Harvest Moon" (No. 5, 1993), "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" (No. 16, 1970), "Cinnamon Girl" (No. 25, 1970) and "Rockin' in the Free World" (No. 39, 1989)
Young has received 27 Grammy nominations, but only won twice and never for a studio album. "Angy World" from La Noise (2010) earned Best Rock Song in 2010 and Neil Young Archives Vol. 1 (1963-1972) was named Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package in 2009.
He was the subject of Jim Jarmusch's 1997 documentary Year of the Horse.
In 2011, Young reunited with Buffalo Springfield for a short tour that culminated at Bonnaroo.
In 2020, he finally received his U.S. citizenship after the country stalled the decision due to Young's "marijuana-related activities."
Forty-five years after recording the Homegrown album and keeping it in the can, Young finally decided to release it.
Listen to Gus's version of "Homegrown," recorded especially for Hempilation: Freedom Is NORML in 1995.
Young's latest albums include Colorado and Barn.
Young and his wife of 36 years, Pegi, divorced in 2017. He married Darryl Hannah in 2018.
