"[1] He describes the music as being "built on some simple, downcast chord changes, in a modal D guitar tuning," which he says gives the song depth and grandeur.
[1] Music critic Johnny Rogan describes the song's use of string instruments and a "ghostly girl chorus" as giving it an "eerie effect.
"[2] Young biographer Jimmy McDonough remarks on the song's "sweet, sad countermelodies passing from strings to French horn with beautiful restraint.
"[3] According to music critic Nigel Williamson, the production by Jack Nitzsche helps give the song a sense of mystery.
[10] In 2014 the editors of Rolling Stone Magazine ranked it as Young's 63rd all time greatest song, describing it as "California psychedelia with the sun sucked out.