The song is typical of the Zuma album-simple, big chords and a bass line that sometimes becomes very powerful and fades again. Rolling Stone critiqued the song's idyllic view of Mesoamerica, Composition A lotta shit I just made up because it came to me.' Young replied, 'What the fuck am I doing writing about Aztecs in 'Cortez the Killer' like I was there, wandering around? 'Cause I only read about it in a few books. On a more cynical note, in Jimmy McDonough's biography of Young, Shakey, the author asked Neil if his songs were autobiographical. I still can't remember when / or how I lost my way.' Young had recently gone through his breakup with Carrie Snodgress around this time. Instead of describing Cortés' battles with the Aztecs, the lyric in the last verse suddenly jumps from third person narrative to first person, and possibly over a time span of centuries as well, with a reference to an unnamed woman: 'And I know she's living there / And she loves me to this day. 'Cortez the Killer' also makes reference to the Aztec ruler Moctezuma II and the Spanish conquest of the New World.

The song is inspired by Hernán Cortés (Cortés' name has an alternate Anglicized spelling in the song title), a conquistador who conquered Mexico for Spain in the 16th century. Lyrics and interpretation Hernán Cortés, the inspiration behind the song's title According to El País and book author Xavier Valiño, the album Zuma was released in Spain in full following Franco's death, with the song renamed to the less inflammatory title 'Cortez'.

According to Young's notes for the album Decade, the song was banned in Spain under Francisco Franco. Young has stated in concert that he wrote the song while studying history in high school in Winnipeg. 329 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. 39 on Guitar World's 100 Greatest Guitar Solos and No. It was recorded with the band Crazy Horse. ' Cortez the Killer' is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young from his 1975 album, Zuma. 1975 song by Neil Young 'Cortez the Killer'

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