The Needle and the Damage Done (2:05)
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“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 his Crazy Horse guitarist Danny Whitten (before Whitten died of an overdose), 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 of the song from 1971 was part of the 2007 album Live at Massey Hall 1971. The album captured Young’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.
“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 of the song from 1971 was part of the 2007 album Live at Massey Hall 1971. The album captured Young’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.
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Neil Young Live at the Marquee, Cork
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Albums featuring this track
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Harvest
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Greatest Hits
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Shouts
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iLoveDUB wrote:
Unfortunately, I understand...RIP to friends lost!
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tinman2u wrote:
SOME ESCAPED, OTHERS NOT SO LUCKY . HEROIN WAS THE TUNE CHINA WHITE...VIET NAM, NOW WE HAVE WALKIN' DEAD LIKE ME...NEEDLE AND THE DAMAGE IS DONE
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brianm2 wrote:
every junkie is like a setting sun...brings tears
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Lisa_ww wrote:
Classic. Amazing track.
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mattbrown325 wrote:
Goosebumps !
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telscrivens wrote:
still going strong over 40 years,the greatest
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secret_nick wrote:
Indeed powerful lyrics, especially for those of us who have lost friends to drugs. It gets me everytime. Beautiful.
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Trumperldor wrote:
Beautiful. One of by favorites by Young.
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OliverTho wrote:
++++
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young_wives wrote:
such great lyrics
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toddt62 wrote:
Great song, epic album!
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BigKat77 wrote:
the damage done
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johnkelman wrote:
Great song!
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luckylollyme wrote:
haunting....
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drewthedrifter wrote:
lost some close mates to smack whilst i lived...the guilt is hard to live with...
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jbell1412 wrote:
If you ever new anyone that did ..........you'll absolutely love this song and Neil Young..........Inspired!!!!
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JadDev wrote:
great song
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treelover77 wrote:
such a deep song!!!
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sionborg wrote:
Neil Young is Awesome !!!
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cwojones wrote:
a heart felt lyic..so powerful music terrific
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