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I borrowed Neil Young’s compilation, Decade, from the library (half of it, anyway).  “Mr. Soul” is on it.  “Mr. Soul” was first released by the American-Canadian rock band Buffalo Springfield in June 1967, from their second studio album Buffalo Springfield Again.

Wikipedia has a couple of different song origins listed: “Mr. Soul” is about Neil Young’s personal problems with fame and disregard towards rock stardom. It was written by Young after experiencing an epilepsy attack after an early show with Buffalo Springfield in San Francisco. Many people in the audience were questioning if it was part of the act. While being a patient at UCLA Medical Center’s neuropsychiatry branch, he wrote the song once he was awake and recovering and told to return for further tests. The lyrics had reflected Young’s experience, feeling as though he was about to die.

Oh, hello Mr. Soul, I dropped by to pick up a reason
For the thought that I caught that my head is the event of the season
Why in crowds just a trace of my face could seem so pleasin’
I’ll cop out to the change, but a stranger is putting the tease on

I was down on a frown when the messenger brought me a letter
I was raised by the praise of a fan who said I upset her
Any girl in the world could have easily known me better
She said, “You’re strange, but don’t change”, and I let her

In a while will the smile on my face turn to plaster?
Stick around while the clown who is sick does the trick of disaster
For the race of my head and my face is moving much faster
Is it strange I should change? I don’t know, why don’t you ask her?
Is it strange I should change? I don’t know, why don’t you ask her?
Is it strange I should change? I don’t know, why don’t you ask her?

Songwriters: Neil Young