Neil Young – Tonight’s The Night [1975]

Year Released: 1975
Record Company: Reprise

1. Tonight’s the Night (4:42)
2. Speakin’ Out (4:57)
3. World on a String (2:25)
4. Borrowed Tune (3:26)
5. Come on Baby Let’s Go Downtown (3:36)
6. Mellow My Mind (3:11)
7. Roll Another Number (For the Road) (3:04)
8. Albuquerque (4:02)
9. New Mama (2:13)
10. Lookout Joe (3:55)
11. Tired Eyes (4:34)
12. Tonight’s the Night Part II (4:54)

TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT

Tonight’s the night, Tonight’s the night
Tonight’s the night, Tonight’s the night
Tonight’s the night, Tonight’s the night
Tonight’s the night, Tonight’s the night

Bruce Berry was a working man
He used to load that Econoline van
A sparkle was in his eye
But his life was in his hands

Well, late at night when the people were gone
He used to pick up my guitar
And sing a song in a shaky voice
That was real as the day was long

Tonight’s the night (yes it is), Tonight’s the night

Early in the mornin’ at the break of day
He used to sleep until the afternoon
If you never heard him sing
I guess you won’t too soon

‘Cause people let me tell you
It sent a chill up and down my spine
When I picked up the telephone
And heard that he’d died out on the mainline.

Tonight’s the night, Tonight’s the night

Bruce Berry was a working man
He used to load that Econoline van
Well, early in the morning at the break of day
He used to sleep until the afternoon.

Tonight’s the night (yes it is), Tonight’s the night

Tonight’s the night, Tonight’s the night
Tonight’s the night, Tonight’s the night
Tonight’s the night, Tonight’s the night

SPEAKIN’ OUT

I went to the movie the other night,
The plot was groovy, it was out of sight.
I sat with my popcorn, out lookin’ for good times;
lost in the cartoon, I grabbed the lifeline.

I’ve been a searcher, I’ve been a fool,
But I’ve been a long time comin’ to you.
I’m hopin’ for your love to carry me through;
You’re holdin’ my baby, and I’m holdin’ you,
and it’s all right.

Oh, tell me where the answer lies.
Is it in the notebook behind your eyes?
When your decision comes to view,
I’ll be watchin’ my TV, and it’ll be watchin’ you.

[To Nils Lofgren: “Allright, Nils…”]

I’ve been a searcher, I’ve been a fool,
But I’ve been a long time comin’ to you.
I’m hopin’ for your love to carry me through;
You’re holdin’ my baby, and I’m holdin’ you,
Yes I am.

Speakin’ out.

WORLD ON A STRING

You know I lose, you know I win;
You know I call for the shape I’m in.
It’s just a game you see me play,
Only real in the way that I feel from day to day.

Although the answer is not unknown,
I’m searchin’, searchin’, and how I’ve grown.
It’s not all right to say goodbye,
And the world on a string doesn’t mean a thing.

No, the world on a string doesn’t mean a thing.
It’s only real in the way that I feel from day to day.
No, the world on a string doesn’t mean a thing.

BORROWED TUNE

I’m climbin’ this ladder, my head in the clouds;
I hope that it matters, I’m havin’ my doubts.
I’m watchin’ the skaters fly by on the lake;
Ice frozen six feet deep, how long does it take?
I look out on peaceful lands with no war nearby,
An ocean of shakin’ hands that grab at the sky.
I’m singin’ this borrowed tune I took from the Rolling Stones,
Alone in this empty room too wasted to write my own.
I’m climbin’ this ladder, my heads in the clouds;
I hope that it matters. Mm.

COME ON BABY LET’S GO DOWN TOWN

Chorus]
Come on, baby, let’s go downtown,
Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go downtown.
Come on, baby, let’s go downtown,
Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go downtown.
[Last two lines in the official sheet:
Come on, baby, let me turn around,
now turn you, turn you, turn you around.]

Walk on, talk on, baby tell no lies.
Don’t be caught with a tear in your eye.

Sure enough, they’ll be sellin’ stuff
When the moon begins to rise.
Pretty bad when you’re dealin’ with the man,
And the light shines in your eyes.

[Chorus]

Snaky eyes, French fries, and I got lots of gas.
Full moon and a jumpin’ tune, now you don’t have to ask.

[Repeat different verses…]

MELLOW MY MIND

Baby mellow my mind, make me feel like a schoolboy on good time,
Jugglin’ nickels and dimes, satisfied with the fish on the line.
I’ve been down the road and I’ve come back;
Lonesome whistle on railroad track
Ain’t got nothing on those feelin’s that I had.
Something so hard to find: a situation that can casu’lize your mind.

ROLL ANOTHER NUMBER (For the Road)

It’s too dark to put the keys in my ignition,
And the mornin’ sun is yet to climb my hood ornament.
But before too long I might see those flashing red lights;
Look out, mama, ’cause I’m comin’ home tonight.

[Chorus]
Think I’ll roll another number for the road,
I feel able to get under any load.
Though my feet aren’t on the ground, I been standin’ on the sound
Of some open hearted people goin’ down.

I’m not goin’ back to Woodstock for a while,
Though I long to hear that lonesome hippie smile.
I’m a million miles away from that helicopter day;
No, I don’t believe I’ll be goin’ back that way.

[Chorus]

ALBUQUERQUE

Well, they say that Sante Fe is less than ninety miles away,
And I got time to roll a number and rent a car.
Oh, Albuquerque.

I’ve been flyin’ down the road, and I’ve been starvin’ to be alone,
And independent from the scene that I’ve known.
Albuquerque.

So I’ll stop when I can, find some fried eggs and country ham.
I’ll find somewhere where they don’t care who I am.
Oh, Albuquerque, Albuquerque.

NEW MAMA

New mama’s got a son
In her eyes
No clouds are in my changing skies
Each morning when I
Get up to tise
I’m livin’ in a dreamland

Changing times
Ancient reasons
The turn to lies
Throw them all away
Head in hand
Gift of wonders to
Understand
And open all the way

New mama’s got a son
In her eyes
No clouds are in my changing skies
Each morning when I
Get up to tise
I’m livin’ in a dreamland

LOOKOUT JOE

A hip drag queen and a side walkin’ street wheeler,
Comin’ down the avenue.
They’re all your friends, you’ll come to love ’em;
There’s a load of ’em waitin’ for you.

Lookout Joe, you’re comin’ home.
Old times were good times, old times were good times.

Remember Millie from down in Philly?
She took my brain and forgot my name.
The woman you were with was about the same;
She took your money and left town.

Lookout Joe, you’re comin’ home.
Old times were good times, old times were good times.

Glory, hallelujah, will I lay my burden down?
Singin’ on the streets around, “Look at that crazy clown”.

Remember Bill from up on the hill?
A Cadillac put a hole in his arm.
But old Bill, he’s up there still,
Havin’ a ball rollin’ to the bottom.

Lookout Joe, you’re comin’ home.
Old times were good times, old times were good times.

TIRED EYES

Well he shot four men in a cocaine deal
And he left them lyin’ in an open field
Full of old cars with bullet holes in the mirrors.
He tried to do his best but he could not.

Please take my advice, please take my advice
please take my advice.
Open up the tired eyes,
open up the tired eyes.

Well, it wasn’t supposed to go down that way.
But they burned his brother, you know,
And left him lying in the driveway.
They let him down with nothin’.
He tried to do his best but he could not.

Please take my advice, please take my advice,
please take my advice.
Open up the tired eyes,
open up the tired eyes.

Well tell me more, tell me more tell me more;
I mean was he a heavy doper or was he just a loser?
He was a friend of yours.
What do you mean, he had bullet holes in his mirrors?
He tried to do his best but he could not.

Please take my advice, please take my advice,
please take my advice.
Open up the tired eyes,
open up the tired eyes.
Please take my advice, please take my advice,
please take my advice.
Open up the tired eyes,
open up the tired eyes.

TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT – PART II

Tonight’s the night, tonight’s the night,
Tonight’s the night, tonight’s the night.

Bruce Berry was a workin’ man;
He used to load that Econoline Van.
A sparkle was in his eyes,
But his life was in his hand.

And people, let me tell you:
Late at night when the people were gone
He used to pick up my guitar
And sing a song in a shaky voice
That was real as the day is long.

Tonight’s the night, tonight’s the night,
Tonight’s the night, tonight’s the night.

But early in the mornin’ at the break of day
He used to sleep until the afternoon.

If you never heard him sing,
I guess you won’t too soon.
‘Cause people let me tell you,
It sent a chill up and down my spine
When I picked up the telephone
And heard that he died out on the mainline.

Tonight’s the night, tonight’s the night,
Tonight’s the night, tonight’s the night,
Tonight’s the night, tonight’s the night,
Tonight’s the night, tonight’s the night,
Tonight’s the night, tonight’s the night,
Tonight’s the night, tonight’s the night.

Bruce Berry was a workin’ man;
He used to load that Econoline Van.
But early in the mornin’, about the break of day
He used to sleep until the afternoon.

——————————-

Credits

Walk On*
See The Sky About To Rain**
Revolution Blues**
For The Turnstiles*
Vampire Blues**
On The Beach***
Motion Pictures (For Carrie)***
Ambulance Blues***

Neil Young: guitar, banjo-guitar, harmonica, piano, vocal
Ben Keith: guitar, dobro, piano, organ, percussion, bass, vocal
and
David Crosby: guitar
Rick Danko: bass
Tim Drummond: bass, percussion
Levon Helm: drums
Rusty Kershaw: slide guitar, fiddle
Ralph Molina: drums, vocal
Graham Nash: electric piano
Billy Talbot: bass
Joe Yankee: harp, electric tambourine
George Whitsell: guitar

Recorded at Broken Arrow Ranch, Woodside, CA and Sunset Sound, Hollywood, Nov. 30, 1973-Apr. 7, 1974

*Produced by Neil Young & David Briggs
**Produced by Neil Young & Mark Harman
***Produced by Neil Young & Al Schmitt