Neil Young, a fastidious perfectionist, is a fervent supporter of the album format, requiring that each song flow perfectly into the overall narrative of the album. Even if a track has unquestionable excellence, the Canadian singer-songwriter prioritizes cohesiveness with the broader body of work. This dedication to album fidelity led to Young delaying one particular track for decades, waiting for the right moment.
Young’s choice not to release ‘Ordinary People’, which eventually emerged on his 2007 album Chrome Dreams II, stemmed from his love for the song. He believed that in order for the tune to receive the recognition it deserved, it needed to be included on an album that was completely consistent with the 18-minute composition.
Because of its length, the song could never be a throwaway album track that goes unnoticed. Instead, it was always meant to be the focal point. Young was patient enough to wait for the proper moment to release ‘Ordinary People’ into the world.
Initially recorded in 1988, ‘Ordinary People’ never left Young’s mind. Despite recording numerous albums over the next two decades that might have easily accommodated the song, Neil Young did not feel comfortable doing so until Chrome Dreams II.
As the title implies, ‘Ordinary People’ is a dedication to the everyman and the challenges they endure while attempting to make their place in the world, taking it “one day at a time”. At the end of the song, he expresses his support for this group. He sang, “I got faith in the regular kind, hard workin’ people, Patch-of-ground people.”
This piece would have seemed pertinent in any age. Especially in the late 1980s at the height of consumerism, Young felt 2007 was appropriate. During an interview with Uncut, he shared: “Today that song rings perhaps even more true than it did then. So, I felt that that’s a good example of a song without a home. It is a strong song that destroyed other songs when you put it with them.”
Before officially releasing it, Young frequently performed ‘Ordinary People’ during his live shows. He intended to include it on 1989‘s Freedom before changing his mind. “When I recorded it, it would have appeared on Freedom, but it blew it away. “Somehow, it just didn’t work,” he said.
Young elaborated on his thought process, saying, “It’s relentless, and there is a lot of energy in that song”. It’s also a little difficult to listen to because it’s so long. I mean, ‘Ordinary People’ is so oppressive that you might want to skip it every now and again and say, ‘I can’t go there right now’. And if you do, that is fine.
‘Ordinary People’ couldn’t cohabit with any other records before this one. It was always there. I said, “This has to come out, and it has to come out before the Archives because it contains too much information to be kept for 20 years.”
Neil Young stands by his decision despite publishing ‘Ordinary People’ two decades later than many would have preferred. Even without it, Freedom is a masterpiece that remains one of his greatest artistic achievements.
