Back when Neil Young released this song, nobody really understood. He was mocked for it. It's maybe the most heartbreakingly moving thing he ever released, a song about trying to reach his noncommunicative son (severe cerebral palsy) through technology:
Young transforms his voice (via vocoder) into that of a weird digital angel to represent the transformation he hopes is possible for his son with technological help. And then they can finally share their love with one another. It's profoundly touching.
"Transformer man, still in command
Your eyes are shining on a beam through the galaxy of love
Transformer man, unlock the secrets
Let us throw off the chains that hold you down"
If you understand, you understand.
Your eyes are shining on a beam through the galaxy of love
Transformer man, unlock the secrets
Let us throw off the chains that hold you down"
If you understand, you understand.
Anyway, so what I'm saying is that weird techno-postpunk Neil Young is way better than you might have thought. And that "Transformer Man" in particular uses that technology in service to one of the most beautiful and pure songs Neil ever wrote.
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