Cinnamon Girl (Live 1991)

Zoo Freaks, get ready to groove with the Zoo Crew as we spin "Cinnamon Girl (Live 1991)" by Neil Young from the gritty, electrifying Weld album! This track, recorded during the 1991 Ragged Glory tour with Crazy Horse, is a raw, amped-up beast that captures Neil at his most visceral. The song’s lore is wild—originally penned in 1969 while Neil was battling a 102-degree fever in Topanga, California, it was one of three tracks, alongside "Cowgirl in the Sand" and "Down by the River," written in a single delirious afternoon. The Weld version, though, cranks the intensity to eleven, with Neil’s Gibson Les Paul, "Old Black," unleashing a seething wall of feedback and distortion. Fans on platforms like Reddit and Neil Young fan groups often rave about how this live take, with its chaotic guitar solos and pinched harmonics, feels like a proto-grunge anthem, influencing bands like Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr..

Dive deeper into the song’s mystique, and you’ll find stories swirling around its inspiration. In the liner notes for his Decade compilation, Neil cryptically wrote that "Cinnamon Girl" was for “a city girl on peeling pavement coming at me thru Phil Ochs eyes playing finger cymbals,” referencing folk singer Jean Ray—a line he admitted was tough to explain to his wife. Some fans speculated it was about Pamela Courson, Jim Morrison’s partner, due to her cinnamon-hued hair and their shared Topanga scene, but Neil shut that down in interviews. The Recliner Notes blog highlights the song’s explosive coda on Weld, where Crazy Horse pushes the feedback to a breaking point, reflecting the Gulf War’s shadow over the 1991 tour. Neil told Rolling Stone that the war’s violence, seen on CNN, bled into their performances, making tracks like "Cinnamon Girl" sound like “heavy machinery” and “outright destruction.”

Now, let’s rewind to how Neil Young kicked off his legendary career. Born in Toronto, Canada, on November 12, 1945, Neil Percival Young started making waves in Winnipeg’s music scene in the early 1960s. He played in local bands like The Squires, honing his raw guitar style and songwriting chops. By the mid-’60s, he moved to Los Angeles, where he co-founded Buffalo Springfield with Stephen Stills and Richie Furay. Their folk-rock sound, blending Neil’s introspective lyrics with jangly guitars, scored hits like “For What It’s Worth” and put him on the map. After the band split in 1968, Neil went solo, releasing his self-titled debut, but it was 1969’s Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere with Crazy Horse that defined his gritty, electric edge. Tracks like "Cinnamon Girl" showcased his knack for blending personal storytelling with distorted riffs, cementing his status as a rock icon.

Want to keep up with Neil Young? Check out his official site at neilyoungarchives.com for tour dates, archival releases, and more. He’s active on Facebook, sharing updates and throwbacks, and on Instagram, where you’ll find rare photos and tour snippets. Follow him on X for his candid takes on music, politics, and life. Fans gather at sites like Thrasher’s Wheat, a dedicated fan hub with news and deep dives, and Sugar Mountain, which tracks his setlists. Join the Neil Young Appreciation Society on Facebook or the Neil Young Fans group to connect with fellow Zoo Freaks who live for his raw, timeless sound.