Old Man

Old man look at my life,
I'm a lot like you were.
Old man look at my life,
I'm a lot like you were.

Old man look at my life,
Twenty four
and there's so much more
Live alone in a paradise
That makes me think of two.

Love lost, such a cost,
Give me things
that don't get lost.
Like a coin that won't get tossed
Rolling home to you.

Old man take a look at my life
I'm a lot like you
I need someone to love me
the whole day through
Ah, one look in my eyes
and you can tell that's true.

Lullabies, look in your eyes,
Run around the same old town.
Doesn't mean that much to me
To mean that much to you.

I've been first and last
Look at how the time goes past.
But I'm all alone at last.
Rolling home to you.

Old man take a look at my life
I'm a lot like you
I need someone to love me
the whole day through
Ah, one look in my eyes
and you can tell that's true.

Old man look at my life,
I'm a lot like you were.
Old man look at my life,
I'm a lot like you were. 

This song by Neil Young is about growing up in life.  This isn't so much about becoming a teenager like some growing up songs, but more growing old in life.  As we grow old we realize what we have done with our lives. Some become what they wanted and others see lost opportunities. But in the end everyone reflects on their life regardless, as we grow old and settle down. In this case Neil is talking about his life and what he's missed and gained. Some believe it was about a old man that he had as a neighbor in California. I believe that the old man is a metaphor for where he is in the present and he is talking about his life in the past. The overall meaning to this poem is that sometimes we have to stop and see what we have really done with our lives. Have we missed out? Have we celebrated our gains? Have we found our true passions on Earth? It is like a reality check. This poem is Neil Young reflecting on his life and seeing that he has everything except a partner for life.