After the Gold Rush

This song was the title track of Neil Young's 3rd album released in 1970. It was recorded only a few weeks before the first Earth Day in the spring of 1970.

Critics were not immediately impressed. Critical reaction has improved with time. By 1975, Rolling Stone was referring to the album as a "masterpiece", and Gold Rush is now considered a classic album in Young's recording career.

Perhaps best known is the stunning 1974 interpretation by the English vocal ensemble group Prelude, whose a capella version was a top 40 hit all over the globe, especially the UK where it re-charted in the Top 40 in 1982. Patti Smith brought children's voices into her recording on the final verse.

Well I dreamed I saw the knights in armor coming
Sayin' something about a queen
There were peasants singing & drummers drumming
And the archer split the tree
D G / D G / D A / G A / 
 There was a fanfare blowing to the sun
There was floating on the breeze
Look at Mother Nature on the run
In the 21st century [orig. "in the 1970's"] (repeat last 2 lines)
 Bm C / G C - //: D A / C G - ://

I was lying in a burned out basement
With the full moon in my eyes
I was hoping for replacement
When the sun burst thru the sky

There was a band playing in my head
And I felt like I could cry [orig. "And I felt like getting high"]
I was thinking about what a friend had said
I was hoping it was a lie (repeat)
  
I dreamed I saw the silver spaceships flying
In the yellow haze of the sun
There were children crying & colors flying
All around the chosen ones

All in a dream, all in a dream
The loading had begun
Flying Mother Nature's silver seed
To a new home in the sun (repeat)
 
lyrics & words: Neil Young
© Broken Arrow Music, a division of Big Deal Music LLC.