This Note's for You

This song is Neil Young's critique of artists who "sell out" and allow their songs to be used in commercials, something he has never done. The title is a play on Budweiser's venerable ad campaign, "This Bud's For You." In addition to Bud, Young mentions Coke, Pepsi and Miller in the lyric.

Artists like Young and Bruce Springsteen have never let their songs be used in commercials, feeling it cheapens their artistic integrity. Many other artists, like The Who and The Rolling Stones, have made lots of money by letting companies use their songs. Some classic rock artists like John Mellencamp resisted for years, but allowed their songs to be used for commercial purposes when they realized it was the best way to get them exposure. A band with a particularly interesting take on the subject is Devo, who feel it is part of their art.

The line, "I got the real thing, baby," is a reference to the Coke slogan, "It's the Real Thing," which was introduced in 1969.