1969 Song of the Day- Cowgirl In The Sand- by Neil Young- was recorded on this date January 18, 1969- 50 years ago. It would be one of the centerpieces on Neil’s second album that was released in May 1969- “Everyone Knows This Is Nowhere.”

Neil has said that Cowgirl In The Sand was written when he was at home in California- suffering from the flu and a high fever. The song is a long one- 10:06 and is the final song on Everyone Knows This Is Nowhere. The song is either about one promiscuous woman- or three- a different one in each verse- the lyrics are rather obscure. Neil has said that the song was about his impressions of the beaches in Spain- but at this point in time he had never been to Spain. There are a number of different interpretations would what the song is about- one critic suggests it is Neil writing about himself. Who knows- and at this point Neil might not even know. It has remained one of the great Neil Young classics- and a concert favorite- with all the guitar distortion a true guitar gem from Neil.