Letters submitted by NYA Members for Neil
Thanks for the letters everyone!
I enjoy reading them every week and answering!
LOVE NEIL
Be Well
Just in from the music bunkie, which I am very fortunate to have, I know. Jammed/overdubbed some drums and guitar. Nothing “special” yet what fun and real time. In this world of being elsewhere, this improvisation/immersion is where it’s at. If you’re playin’, you’re stayin’.
Thanks for this space to dig music in all instances.
Cooler now, leaves are falling. Bundle up.
Sandy
Lake of Bays, Ontario
Sandy …. Enjoy
Thanks!
LOVE Neil
Be Well
Hey, Neil. I just watched the Farm Aid show on YT and you continue to be amazing!
Long may you run!
I want to alert the team that Donald Trump is using Rocking in the Free World in his rally in Ohio tonight. Youngstown Ohio Monday October 12, 2026. A travesty I am sure Neil would not condone.
Thank you.
Susan
Hi Susan
We are responding.
Thanks!
LOVE Neil
Be Well
Hi Neil-
Is there any chance you have this show from CSNY 2006 in your archive? I maintain this version of WOODEN SHIPS is the most desperate, heart-wrenching and intense version you fellers ever played. And I’ve listened to A LOT of them.
Maybe it was the times. I dunno. But my goodness, I go back to this audience recording regularly.
Enjoy this day,
Garrett L.
Garret
We will take a listen
Thanks!
LOVE Neil
Be Well
Dear brother Neil and to all, it has been a minute since I’ve posted and I wanted to say hello to you and Daryl and I also wanted to share what I’ve been doing lately and this is my latest very simple acoustic demo of I’ll Get By by Danny Whitten and Crazy Horse.
Sending to you love and hope you enjoy it and to all I’m very nervous right now because I’m taking a leap of faith in life and moving back to Southern California it’s pretty crazy right now and it is seriously is a leap of faith.
I hope we all can keep each other in our thoughts.
love kento
Thanks Kento!
LOVE Neil
Be Well
Songs for happiness
I love Second Song, consistency and beauty.
I think your next songs should be more about happiness rather than politics, family, shocking state of the environment etc.… It seems these are the only issues you think about. I miss your poetry sometimes.
Make a country record! Old Ways 5 and a half.
Sincere love and respect,
T
Thanks T
I thought that’s what i just did.
Thanks!
LOVE Neil
Be Well
Good Day Neil!
It’s a new day for love! Chrome Hearts sound like they are coming alive. What is the sound of a Chrome Heart beating?
Second Song has taken my mind back to some OLD INSTRUMENTALS. Slowly Burning. Whiskey Boot Hill. Falcon Lake. Have you listened to them lately? They will blow your mind.
You have so much music in you. The future is out there.
Omar
Thanks Omar
LOVE Neil
Be Well
Hi Neil,
it looks to me that, apart from many other roles (like father, musician, husband, technician, Earth saver, etc) you are also a collector and an archivist. You keep track of most of your performances, even from the very early beginning. That made me wonder if you also keep track of all the articles, written about you, in music magazines and papers. And do you perhaps collect magazines where you are on the front cover? I ask this, because I collected some magazines like Mojo and Uncut, with your face on the cover. Looking at these front cover pages I realized that they reflect the time line covering the phases in your life you went through. Pretty cool to see that! It might be a great idea to have those cover pages on your timeline of NYA, but that will be hard because of copyright I assume.
Greetings from Germany, Jan (and what a surprising gem is Second Song!)
Thanks Jan
I collect model trains too
LOVE Neil
Be Well
Hey Neil
Great interview with Rick Rubin on his podcast. Thanks for for doing that, you seem very relaxed and open talking with him.
Any luck in finding that version of Change Your Mind you talked about?
Thanks
Ian
Not yet
Thanks!
LOVE Neil
Be Well
Indoors vs Outdoors
What follows is a genuine question & in no way intended to irk you…!
Since Covid, you’ve played the vast majority of your live performances in outdoor arenas. You explained on many occasions your reasoning—the safety of you, your crew and those of us coming to the shows, the perception being that outside = less risk of sickness.
There have been exceptions (Paris in 2025 for instance—you said something about it being OK at the end of the tour as folks would have time to get better!) but the overwhelming majority of shows have been outside.
However—global warming is now doing things that are not good for people’s health too.
When it’s hot, it’s really hot and that’s a danger to crowd members standing outside for sometimes hours, especially if you want prime spot, on the rail—with no shade. Of course it’s not every show that has been played in baking heat, but it’s a reality that we are enduring more hot weather than ever before & it is surely something to consider, to go back indoors, should you feel the desire to get on the road again for future shows. The ambient temperature in the Paris arena was perfect whilst the city baked outside….
Just this week, there was a news story on NYA about the current heatwave in southern California, temperatures north of 100 degrees. My friend Adrian and I saw a POTR show at the Santa Barbara Bowl in 2015 (I just checked it was 11 years ago to the day, October 10 2015) and that was an unseasonably hot day in Santa Barbara. Now, that is the new norm….
If a few shows here and there did appeal, or that potential tour to Europe did came good, please could I ask that you and your management team at Lookout consider indoor venues if summertime was in your plans.
We’re teetering on the edge of the point of no return for our overheating planet, so indoors may become the safest option once again (should new shows become reality).
Respectfully yours,
Mark
Hi Mark
Outdoors .
Thanks!
LOVE Neil
Be Well
Greetings and Happy Canadian Thanksgiving Neil,
ALBUM Of The YEAR—Congratulations on Second Song, it is definitely one of your best this century. It is just the soothing balm we need during these troubled times. I can’t get Earth Girl out of my head, I keep on singing it throughout the day. I listen to the album every day. I received it from Warners Canada in three days.
Russian BLOOD DIESEL—Once again, Trump has sold out America’s previously held principles, ideals and values to drop the price at the pumps for a few cents a gallon. Is this really worth sacrificing innocent Ukrainian lives and prolonging the war? I thought Russia was the enemy and Ukraine an ally?
Trump has praised Putin and denigrated Zelensky again.
It is as if he wants Ukraine to capitulate to Russia. This would be disastrous for the whole world. He blames Zelensky for the high fuel prices instead of Putin, who invaded Ukraine, and of course himself, for the prolonged war with Iran. If Trump really wanted to win the Nobel Peace Prize, he would kick Russia out of all of Ukraine and end the war with Iran. Not to mention the three-year-plus conflicts in the Middle East with Israel.
CANADA —Trump continues his political, cultural and economic war on Canada. The American Administration is interfering in our internal affairs and trying to destabilize our country so that they can eventually annex Canada. Historically, we did not interfere in each others’ domestic affairs. Trump just doesn’t recognize our sovereignty as an independent country. Trump keeps saying that America doesn’t need Canada—if so, why is he so obsessed with us? He is trying to destroy our steel and automotive industries. Doesn’t he know that Canada is America’s largest customer for vehicles? We will stop buying from the USA and have EU, Japanese, Korean and Chinese car companies fill the void.
Looking forward to Archives IV hopefully in the very near future.
The True North Strong & Free,
Peace and Love
Cheers,
Fred
Thanks! Fred!
ARCHIVES 4 IS WELL UNDERWAY!
LOVE Neil
Be Well
Hi Neil,
I am a longtime fan. My big brother, Scott, is an even longer-time fan!
I’m writing about a project I’m doing for a class at Hunter College. I am 55 years old and just started the Animal Behavior and Conservation graduate program at Hunter this fall (I am the oldest student!). I’ve taught children, my own and others, for the majority of my life, and now hope to pivot from a career in childhood education to one in animal advocacy.
For the assignment I referenced above, I’m going to create a poster to be displayed on NYC subways and buses that supports the banning of carriage horses in NYC. I am envisioning a carriage horse on the left side of the poster walking towards the right side—losing his carriage, harness, blinders, headdress and reins as he walks towards a meadow unencumbered. The title I want to use is Keep On Walking In The Free World….
It’s a clear reference to your song Keep on Rockin in the Free World. The thing I would really love to include beside the graphics and the title is a small insert at the bottom which reads, “This poster (ad? sign?) is approved by Neil Young,” which is why I’m writing to you now, to ask for your permission. The poster is just meant for my class project but, with your approval, maybe I could share it with some of the groups who are working to end the practice in NYC, or even the MTA. And, of course, I would share it with you when it’s finished!
Please take some time to consider lending your name to this work/cause. I know it’s asking a lot, but I also know you are capable of great things—this could be one of them (at least in my eyes).
With much respect and admiration…
Sincerely,
Dana Coleman
. . .
I sent an email a couple of days ago asking if I could use Neil’s endorsement for a carriage horse poster I’m making for one of my graduate classes. I just learned that Intro 943 will be voted on next week, 10/22, which if passed will phase out carriage horses by 6/2028 in NYC.
That means my poster will only be used in the classroom, since the vote will have taken place before my project is due! I just wanted to let Neil know that if he does decide to give me his approval, the endorsement will just be viewed within my class/school.
Again, many thanks for considering!
Dana Coleman
Thanks! Dana, you can use my name.
LOVE Neil
Be Well
Hi Neil~
Hope all is well with you and yours. I’m enjoying album 50, Second Song. Thank you! And thank you for donating your time to Farm Aid. It never ceases to amaze me how many people are unaware of an awesome concert experience which is live-streamed beautifully and the funds raised go to the most basic foundational need to all, our farmers.
Learning how to navigate Lyme and AGS more effectively and continue my mission of teaching peace. My personal practice has shifted and deepened with my mother’s health changes and clearing out the family home. At least two full boxes of all the cars my dad owned and their artwork. OMG, my parents were both such artists. I brought some work to hang up in my mom’s room to brighten the space.
I continue with a private practice and further see the need to teach RELAx, my spin on the practice of Mindfulness. I applied for a small grant to enhance my online community and was denied. I applied for funding to educate doctors and patients regarding Lyme and AGS and was denied.
Whatever, I’ll continue on my mission of teaching peace. Happy to offer RELAx to all at NYA, at no cost.
As we approach the midterms, I will take the calls and such for potential candidates and learn how they will better serve the people before I vote this November.
As always, thank you for for taking the time to read my words.
Much love,
Linda
Linda
Send RELAx
Maybe we can use it at NYA TC.
Thanks!
LOVE Neil
Be Well
Another Song … or two
I wanted to share some great lyrics from Bob and Lucinda that I really love.
From “Highlands” by Bob Dylan
“I’m listenin’ to Neil Young, I gotta turn up the sound
Someone’s always yellin’, “Turn it down”
Feel like I’m drifting, drifting from scene to scene
I’m wondering what in the devil could it all possibly mean?”
From “Ventura” by Lucinda Williams
“Take the long way home
So I can ride around
Put Neil Young on
And turn up the sound
Drive up the coastline
Maybe Ventura
Watch the waves make signs
Out on the water”
I really enjoy trawling through the cabinet and am always finding a new gem or two. So I was wondering if some of these releases belong in there too from some of your collaborations over the years. There may be some rights issues, but hopefully they could at least get entries in the cabinet. I suspect there are more, but these are what I have discovered.
A couple are already in OUTTAKES. I’m sure you have fond memories of doing many of these with some great artists.
Transverse City – Warren Zevon (1989)
Splendid Isolation (NY – Harmony)
Gridlock (NY – Lead Guitar)
Bob Dylan – The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration (1993)
Just like Tom Thumb’s Blues
All Along the Watchtower
Philadelphia Soundtrack (1993)
Philadelphia (In Outtakes)
Wrecking Ball – Emmylou Harris (1995)
Sweet Old World (NY – Harmony vocal, Harmonica)
Twang! – A Tribute To Hank Marvin & The Shadows (1996)
Spring Is Nearly Here (NY & Randy Bachman)
Bridge School Concerts Vol. 1 (1997)
I Am a Child (1986)
No Boundaries – A Benefit for the Kosovar Refugees (1999)
War of Man (Live)
America – A tribute to Heroes (2001)
Imagine (Live) (In Outtakes)
Last Man Standing Jerry lee Lewis (2006)
You Don’t Have to Go (with Jerry Lee Lewis)
Goin’ Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino (2007)
Walking to New Orleans
The Bridge School Concerts 25th Anniversary Edition (2011)
Love and Only Love (NY & Crazy Horse)
Country Feedback (with REM)
Déjà Vu (CSNY)
Cheers
Collector Tim
Australia
Tim
Thanks for the ideas.
LOVE Neil
Be Well
Dear Neil,
The Second Song album is truly a great album! You are not holding back anything this time around. Nothing is hidden. You have created a timeless flight of connecting lyrics and melodies between the four Big Songs (TFEOT, DAD, SS and SIMBG).
The other three songs fit in really well and are the icing on the cake for the whole album!
Our memories keep us going and can’t be taken away from us. In my opinion this is your best songwriting since Mirror Ball.
Recently I watched the new ‘East of Eden’ with all its victories and failures … Bittersweet viewing….
I can’t imagine what you have for us next….
Many thanks
Gareth
. . .
Please can you pass on to Billy Talbot that his songs ‘The Way It Is’ and ‘Security Girl’ are fantastic songs. They are on the 2005 album Alive In The Spirit World.
I can almost hear them on a NY&CH album.
I hope this album makes it to the Friends and Family section sometime soon.
Gareth
Thanks Gareth
LOVE Neil
Be Well