“After the Gold Rush” is the title track of Neil Young’s 1970 mega hit album. My guest performer is my son, Paul, who masterfully plays the trumpet, duplicating the flugelhorn solo on Young’s original recording.
The song, “After the Gold Rush”, is an early eco-protest song. It is a surreal, time-traveling allegory that explores the environmental destruction of Earth, the disillusionment of the modern age, and humanity’s hope for the future. The title contrasts the historical rush for wealth with the desolate aftermath and need for ecological healing. To me, it is a timely warning about the effects and dangers of global warming.
The album, “After the Gold Rush”, produced other hits, such as “Southern Man”, “Only Love Can Break Your Heart”, and “Don’t Let it Bring You Down”.
