About the song
“Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)” is a powerful song by the renowned Canadian-American musician Neil Young. Released in 1979, it serves as the second part of a two-track set that includes its acoustic counterpart, “My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue),” which bookends Young’s iconic album *Rust Never Sleeps*. The song, influenced by the burgeoning punk rock movement of the late 1970s, reflects Young’s creative evolution and his introspective examination of his own career.
The origins of “Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)” are deeply intertwined with Young’s work with the American art punk band Devo. The collaboration began in 1977 when Devo was invited by Young to contribute to his film, *Human Highway*. During this period, Young and Devo performed the song together, with Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh contributing to its development. The phrase “rust never sleeps,” which became central to the song and the album, was a slogan Mothersbaugh had encountered during his graphic arts career, and Young adopted it for his music.
The song’s memorable lyric, “It’s better to burn out than to fade away,” became a significant cultural touchstone, frequently cited by critics and peers. This line, often mistakenly attributed to Young himself, was actually inspired by Jeff Blackburn of The Ducks. The version of the song on *Rust Never Sleeps* differs from that on *Live Rust*, featuring studio-added sound effects and no crowd noise.
Critics have praised the song for its raw, energetic quality. Cash Box described it as a “grinding three-chord rocker” with a “challenging musical and lyrical statement,” while Record World lauded it as an anthem of rock and roll perseverance. The song’s influence extends beyond its initial release; it has been covered by various artists, including Oasis, System of a Down, and the Dave Matthews Band.
In 1980, the song was featured as the title theme for Dennis Hopper’s film *Out of the Blue*. Its enduring legacy is evident in its inclusion in Neil Young’s Greatest Hits collection and its placement in Bob Mersereau’s *The Top 100 Canadian Singles*. The song also found its way into popular culture through various media, including HBO’s *The Sex Lives of College Girls*. Its continued relevance and numerous covers attest to its lasting impact on music and culture.
Video
Lyrics
Well, I’ve seen some women
They put your soul on ice
They want a piece of the action
But they never let you roll the dice.
That’s the kind of woman
Bring a good man down
That’s the kind of woman
I don’t want around
Hey hey.
I got a woman that dances
She knows how to jump and shout
Now she don’t want to use me
‘Cause she knows how it wears me out.
Yeah, she’s the woman
With the magic touch
She don’t want to lose me
‘Cause she loves me too much
Hey hey.
Hey hey, my woman looks good to me
Hey hey, my woman looks good to me.
Yeah, she knows how to please me
She knows how to set me free.
Get off of that couch
Turn off that M.T.V.
Get off of that couch
Turn off your M.T.V.
Hey hey, my woman looks good to me.