Legendary music magazine ROLLING STONE took
(a lot of) time to pick its TOP 100 of NEIL YOUNG songs.

As a fervent NY fan myself, I was quite surprised by the TOP 3
(see below) and about several other songs in the long list I wouldn’t
have even thought of.

1. POWDERFINGER

Released for the first time on 1979 live album
Rust Never Sleeps and reappearing again,
afterward, on other live LPs.

Young about the song: “I think the crux of it
is anti-violent. It shows the futility of violence.”

Look out, Mama,
there’s a white boat
comin’ up the river
With a big red beacon,
and a flag,
and a man on the rail
I think you’d better call John,
‘Cause it don’t
look like they’re here
to deliver the mail
And it’s less than a mile away
I hope they didn’t come to stay
It’s got numbers on the side
and a gun
And it’s makin’ big waves.

2. AMBULANCE BLUES

Track from his grand 1972
LP On The Beach.

Back in the old folky days
The air was magic when we played
The riverboat was rockin’ in the rain
Midnight was the time for the raid

3. HEART OF GOLD

One of his best known and most famous – his only
No 1 single in the US – songs. From his standout
album 1972 Harvest.

I want to live
I want to give
I’ve been a miner
For a heart of gold
It’s these expressions
I never give
That keep me searching
For a heart of gold
And I’m getting old
Keep me searching
For a heart of gold
And I’m getting old

Full top-100 list here