String Quartet from Whiskey Boot Hill

Album: Neil Young (1969)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "String Quartet from Whiskey Boot Hill" is an instrumental and is the first track on the second side of Neil Young's debut album. In that way, it mirrors the first track on the first side, "The Emperor Of Wyoming."

    Along with "I've Loved Her So Long" and "The Old Laughing Lady" it's one of three tracks on the album that were produced and arranged by Jack Nitzsche, Ry Cooder, and Neil Young. All others were produced and arranged by David Briggs and Neil Young. This is also the only track on the album written by Nitzsche.
  • Though Young never explicitly made the connection, "Boot Hill" was a common term in the 19th century for the burial grounds of gunfighters and cowboys who died violently, "with their boots on." The first "Boot Hill" was in Hays, Kansas, but the term eventually became commonplace. Other notable Boot Hills existed (and in some cases still exist as tourist attractions) in Dodge City, Kansas, Tombstone, Arizona, and Deadwood, South Dakota.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Michael Franti

Michael FrantiSongwriter Interviews

Franti tells the story behind his hit "Say Hey (I Love You)" and explains why yoga is an integral part of his lifestyle and his Soulshine tour.

Graham Parker

Graham ParkerSongwriter Interviews

When Judd Apatow needed under-appreciated rockers for his Knocked Up sequel, he immediately thought of Parker, who just happened to be getting his band The Rumour back together.

Dennis DeYoung

Dennis DeYoungSongwriter Interviews

Dennis DeYoung explains why "Mr. Roboto" is the defining Styx song, and what the "gathering of angels" represents in "Come Sail Away."

Chris Frantz of Talking Heads

Chris Frantz of Talking HeadsSongwriter Interviews

Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz on where the term "new wave" originated, the story of "Naive Melody," and why they never recorded another cover song after "Take Me To The River."

Dar Williams

Dar WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

A popular contemporary folk singer, Williams still remembers the sticky note that changed her life in college.