Neil Young – “Oh, Lonesome Me” (1970) Review | The Ballad of the Lonesome Wolf

Kronomyth 2.4: I can’t get over how he shifts that key.

Don Gibson’s original country hit blew by like a tumbleweed in a cool breeze. Neil Young’s dirge-like reading moves like an iceberg of heartbreak. Released during a remarkably creative period for Young, Oh, Lonesome Me actually dates back to Young’s earlier days before joining Buffalo Springfield. I’ll admit, the song gets a bit lost on After the Gold Rush because there are so many great songs on that album, and radio stations rarely played it, preferring the sweeter “Cinnamon Girl” released two months later. Although it probably wouldn’t make my top 10 Neil Young songs, the shift when Young sings “I can’t get over how she set me free” gets me every time. The B side is a track from Neil’s first album, I’ve Been Waiting for You. It’s an odd choice for the flip side, but maybe someone at Reprise had a soft spot for it.

The Product

A1. Oh, Lonesome Me (Don Gibson) (3:55)
B1. I’ve Been Waiting for You (Neil Young) (2:29)

The Players

A1 produced and arranged by Neil Young.

The Plastic

Released on 7-inch single on February 9, 1970 in the US and Canada (Reprise, 0898) and Germany (Reprise, RA 0898) with regional picture sleeve.