needle and the damage done - neil young

cover of neil youngs needle and the damage done

Needle and the Damage Done - Neil Young cover
"The Needle and the Damage Done" is a song by Neil Young that chronicles the descent of musicians he knew into heroin addiction. It was written about the heroin use of (but before the overdose death of) his Crazy Horse guitarist Danny Whitten, and previews the theme of "Tonight's the Night," a song that addresses the heroin overdose and death of Bruce Berry, a roadie for Young and his band Crazy Horse. "The Needle and the Damage Done" first appeared on the Harvest album in 1972. The song was recorded live rather than in the studio. It appears on the compilation albums Decade and Greatest Hits. On the handwritten liner notes included in Decade, Young had this to say about the song: "I am not a preacher, but drugs killed a lot of great men."

A recording from 1971 was part of the 2007 album Live at Massey Hall. The album captured Neil's introduction of his song thus:

Ever since I left Canada, about five years ago or so.. and moved down south.. found out a lot of things that I didn't know when I left. Some of 'em are good, and some of 'em are bad. Got to see a lot of great musicians before they happened... before they became famous.. y'know, when they were just gigging. Five and six sets a night... things like that. And I got to see a lot of, um , great musicians who nobody ever got to see. For one reason or another. But.. strangely enough, the real good ones... that you never got to see was.. 'cause of, ahhm, heroin. An' that started happening over an' over. Then it happened to someone that everyone knew about. So I just wrote a little song."

Bands that covered this song on studio albums include Our Lady Peace, Green River, Duran Duran, Lior, and The Pretenders; the Pretenders lost members to drug-related deaths. Punk rock band The Bronx recorded a cover which can be found as a b-side on the "False Alarm" single.

Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante has covered it while on tour in Japan. Alternative metal band Seether covered it during a performance on Last Call with Carson Daly.

Cross Canadian Ragweed also covered this song on their 2006 release Back To Tulsa - Live and Loud at Cain's Ballroom.


[edit] References in Popular Culture
A reference to its title can be found in the song "Understanding in a Car Crash" by Thursday.

The title was also used as the album title for the second installment of the Nirvana: Outcesticide bootleg series.

Furthermore, it was the inspiration for The Sisters of Mercy's first 7" single, "The Damage Done".

"Song To Say Goodbye" by the group Placebo includes the lyrical reference "your needle and your damage done".

Episode seven of the fifth season of Will & Grace was titled "The Needle & Omelet's Done". In the episode, Will gets botox for the first time (hence the needle). Grace goes to brunch with her boyfriend, during which she unwittingly meets his parents (hence the omelet).


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[ChrisWilliamFrith]

That was amazing, I wish I could take up the guitar and play like that, but I dought i'd be able to haha.

Im only 16 so maybe thats a good age to start?

Again, that was brilliant well done :D

[Idontlikebanjo]

@ChrisWilliamFrith Thanks pal, yeah get on that guitar its so rewarding if your willing to put the hours in and learn. And any age is a good age .

[SamraBolan]

hey man! how long did it take you to play the guitar like this??? this is sooo awesome!!

greez ^__^

[Idontlikebanjo]

been playin for 3 years now, thanks for the comments!!

[riverface123]

Fucking brilliant mate *****

[Idontlikebanjo]

cheers buddy

[theycallmefingers2]

@Raiderfn31

Only Neil can sing it like Neil. He did it his own way, and it was fine.

[theycallmefingers2]

Pretty good cover actually. Couldn't help but notice you haven't a fondness for a particular 5 stringed instrument though. Since you're playing a Young song, i assume you're a Young fan? You realize... that he has banjo pieces in his songs right? :)

[ledgeja05]

Spot on my man. Well done.

[Raiderfn31]

sing it like NEIL dude....otherwise very nice

[MtSiredneck]

@ChrisWilliamFrith

hey man im 16 to and started a few months ago im already playin neil young and james taylor its all bout being in love with music and inspired to create somthing beatiful once you learn your basics every else comes easy if you truely love music and not the glory

[riverface123]

nice one mate!!

[ChrisWilliamFrith]

Alright :D

thanks mate, I have alot of time on my hands of late so I think ill give it a go (y)