My My, Hey Hey (Out Of The Blue)

Neil Young's 'My My, Hey Hey (Out Of The Blue)' is a song that has become an anthem for the resilience of rock and roll. The lyrics suggest a defiance against the fading of relevance and a celebration of the genre's enduring impact. The phrase 'It's better to burn out than to fade away' became particularly famous, often interpreted as a commentary on the fleeting nature of fame and the importance of leaving a strong legacy rather than slowly disappearing into obscurity.

The song also delves into the transition from life to death, or from significance to insignificance, as expressed in the lines 'Out of the blue and into the black.' This could symbolize the sudden changes in an artist's life, the unpredictability of success, or the shift from being in the limelight to being forgotten. Neil Young pays homage to the 'king,' which could be a reference to Elvis Presley, and Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols, representing the old and new guards of rock music, respectively. Both are portrayed as icons who will not be forgotten, reinforcing the theme of enduring legacy.

Finally, the song asserts that 'Rock and roll can never die,' suggesting that the spirit of rock is immortal, transcending the artists themselves. There's an acknowledgment of the complexity of the music industry and the lives of those within it, 'There's more to the picture than meets the eye,' which hints at the unseen struggles and stories behind the music. Neil Young's song is a powerful statement about the art form's permanence and the artists' desire to make a lasting mark.