OLD MAN chords lyrics & live video performance – Neil Young
This post includes Old Man chords, lyrics and an amazing live video performance of Neil Young. One of Neil Young’s most popular songs, it is a true classic. Neil truly is a musical icon. His songs impact us in so many ways. He has an incredible ability to write and perform a song that cuts through and touches your soul every time.
Artist: Neil Young Composer: Neil Young Album: Harvest Released: 1972
Intro
Dm9
D#m9
Em9
Fm9
F#m9
Gm9
G#m9
Am9
A#m9
Bm9
Cm9
C#m9
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
Dm9
D#m9
Em9
Fm9
F#m9
Gm9
G#m9
Am9
A#m9
Bm9
Cm9
C#m9
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
Dm9
D#m9
Em9
Fm9
F#m9
Gm9
G#m9
Am9
A#m9
Bm9
Cm9
C#m9
Old man look at my life, I’m a lot like
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
you
were
Dm9
D#m9
Em9
Fm9
F#m9
Gm9
G#m9
Am9
A#m9
Bm9
Cm9
C#m9
Old man look at my life, I’m a lot like
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
you
were
Verse 1
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
Old man
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
look at my life
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
Twenty four and there’s
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
so much more
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
Live alone in a
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
paradise
That
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
makes me think of
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
two
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
Love lost,
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
such a cost
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
Give me things that
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
don’t get lost
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
Like a coin that
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
won’t get tossed
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
Rolling home to
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
you
Break
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
Am7
A#m7
Bm7
Cm7
C#m7
Dm7
D#m7
Em7
Fm7
F#m7
Gm7
G#m7
Em7
Fm7
F#m7
Gm7
G#m7
Am7
A#m7
Bm7
Cm7
C#m7
Dm7
D#m7
Chorus
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
Old man take a look at my life
I’m a
Am7
A#m7
Bm7
Cm7
C#m7
Dm7
D#m7
Em7
Fm7
F#m7
Gm7
G#m7
lot like
Em7
Fm7
F#m7
Gm7
G#m7
Am7
A#m7
Bm7
Cm7
C#m7
Dm7
D#m7
you
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
I need someone to love me
the
Am7
A#m7
Bm7
Cm7
C#m7
Dm7
D#m7
Em7
Fm7
F#m7
Gm7
G#m7
whole day
Em7
Fm7
F#m7
Gm7
G#m7
Am7
A#m7
Bm7
Cm7
C#m7
Dm7
D#m7
through
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
Ah, one look in my eyes
and you can
Am7
A#m7
Bm7
Cm7
C#m7
Dm7
D#m7
Em7
Fm7
F#m7
Gm7
G#m7
tell that’s
Em7
Fm7
F#m7
Gm7
G#m7
Am7
A#m7
Bm7
Cm7
C#m7
Dm7
D#m7
true
Break
Dm9
D#m9
Em9
Fm9
F#m9
Gm9
G#m9
Am9
A#m9
Bm9
Cm9
C#m9
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
Verse 2
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
Lullabies,
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
look in your eyes
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
Run around the
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
same old town
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
Doesn’t mean that
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
much to me
To
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
mean that much to
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
you
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
I’ve been
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
first and last
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
Look at how the
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
time goes past
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
But I’m all a
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
lone at last
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
Rolling home to
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
you
Break
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
Am7
A#m7
Bm7
Cm7
C#m7
Dm7
D#m7
Em7
Fm7
F#m7
Gm7
G#m7
Em7
Fm7
F#m7
Gm7
G#m7
Am7
A#m7
Bm7
Cm7
C#m7
Dm7
D#m7
Chorus
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
Old man take a look at my life
I’m a
Am7
A#m7
Bm7
Cm7
C#m7
Dm7
D#m7
Em7
Fm7
F#m7
Gm7
G#m7
lot like
Em7
Fm7
F#m7
Gm7
G#m7
Am7
A#m7
Bm7
Cm7
C#m7
Dm7
D#m7
you
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
I need someone to love me
the
Am7
A#m7
Bm7
Cm7
C#m7
Dm7
D#m7
Em7
Fm7
F#m7
Gm7
G#m7
whole day
Em7
Fm7
F#m7
Gm7
G#m7
Am7
A#m7
Bm7
Cm7
C#m7
Dm7
D#m7
through
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
Ah, one look in my eyes
and you can
Am7
A#m7
Bm7
Cm7
C#m7
Dm7
D#m7
Em7
Fm7
F#m7
Gm7
G#m7
tell that’s
Em7
Fm7
F#m7
Gm7
G#m7
Am7
A#m7
Bm7
Cm7
C#m7
Dm7
D#m7
true
Outro
Dm9
D#m9
Em9
Fm9
F#m9
Gm9
G#m9
Am9
A#m9
Bm9
Cm9
C#m9
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
Dm9
D#m9
Em9
Fm9
F#m9
Gm9
G#m9
Am9
A#m9
Bm9
Cm9
C#m9
Old man look at my life, I’m a lot like
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
you
were
Dm9
D#m9
Em9
Fm9
F#m9
Gm9
G#m9
Am9
A#m9
Bm9
Cm9
C#m9
Old man look at my life, I’m a lot like
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
you
were
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
Old Man CHORDS
The song Old Man by Neil Young is written in the key of D Major. Neil uses a great opening chord for the intro riff [Dm9] which is basically the open D chord shape moved up to the 5th fret. Then just let the open E string ring. You can see the the chord shape above in this post. From there, its these basic open chords D F C & G chords. The chord break between each verse and chorus has three chords D Am7 & Em7. Then you’ll continue that 3-chord progression throughout the chorus (adding a quick G chord at the end). The live video of Neil below will help you see how to play it.
Neil Young Old Man LIVE
I can’t get enough of this video with Neil Young’s Old Man performance. The video was recorded live at Massey Hall in 1971. Neil was well into his mastery of songwriting, storytelling and performing. The sound of this recording is incredible. It’s amazing how he sounds just like the recorded version without any electronics. This video recording is sure to get you hooked on the greatness of Neil. I have no doubt you will love learning and playing this song in no time at all.
In Summary
Neil Young’s Old Man on guitar is classic you must have in your bag of tricks. Everyone loves it and will join in to sing along. As always, I believe you should commit to getting down the chord changes first. Get so that you play it without thinking. After that, you will love singing and playing along with your friends and fellow musicians.
