Letters submitted by NYA Members for Neil
A wonderful collection of deep feelings from so many folks! I read all your letters so don’t worry about me seeing them!
I DO!
love Neil
I have copies of just about all your albums. I have loved the run of albums from Colorado on. I have really enjoyed the previous two albums with the Chrome Hearts. I’m not sure what I was expecting or hoping for with Second Song but it wasn’t this. It has blown me away. It is so good.
Thank you.
Neil Sidebotham.
Thanks Neil! Keep enjoying the magic of music!
LOVE
Neil
Be Well
Mr. Young, I feel I want you to know that you, sir, have been my fav artist for many many years. I have no doubt that You will continue to always always be my fav for the remaining years I have. My son just showed me how to bring you and Your amazing words, voice, and instruments to my TV screen to enjoy! And I do! Sitting. Reflecting. Chilling.
Thank You Sir!
You have Added So Much BEAUTY to my ears, mind, soul ♥️ 🙂
PLEASE RELAY THIS NOTE OF GRATITUDE YO MR. YOUNG.
I read every note myself. If I ever stop I will let you know!
I am so happy you enjoy this music and any music!
LOVE
Neil
Be Well!
Hi!
I would just like to inform that my small publisher has published this cartoon about Neil Young! Made by Daniel Østvold and written in English.
I would be glad to send it to you, either by post or as a pdf.
Very best wishes,
Ann-Turi Ford
Ann – Super Cool version of the On The Beach cover!
LOVE
Neil
Be Well
You are always an inspiration. For the second time I have been banned from all US Military bases around the world for being bad for morale. The last time for three years. This time not sure how long. I do work on military bases and sometimes they don’t pay. So this is the second time I had to threatened to file a UCC, The JAG took a lesson out of their play book and banned me again. See: www.PHASE4.us/ Funny. I started collecting money door to door in Compton at age 16, so I feel sorry for the military. I always get my money. PS: Do you have any deals on them toy trains. I have a grandson. (I am a 71 year old AARP member.)
No deals on trains yet
LOVE
Neil
Be Well
Nobody knows you
But we feel you my friend
Cause you’re part of our lives
Singing for me
Just for me
And we All
Between the lines of age
I see so many People
You know
So many People
Like you and me and the Ocean
There’s a place
everywhere
We have a place
Everywhere
With The sound of your Life
That Shines
As the sun shines
As the moon and stars shine
In the darkness of the night
with all my love
Gianluca
Thanks Gianluca!
LOVE
Neil
Be Well
HEY NEIL, THANKS FOR THE SECOND SONG RECORD! IT’S A GREAT ONE, I CAN PLAY IT OVER AND OVER!
PEACE ON YOU, LOVE LOVE, ANTHONY
Thanks Anthony
LOVE
Neil
Be Well
Hi Neil!
I just wanted to thank you for your very lovely new album “Second Song.”
I’ve gotta say, some of your words on this album made me feel sad, at first. But after several listens, I find the songs to be as healing and soulful as ever.
And your voice sounds strong, man!
So, here’s to the next one!
Love,
Rheon.
Thanks Rheon
LOVE
Neil
Be Well
Neil,
This past weekend, I watched the 1978 Brian De Palma film The Fury. What struck me very early on is that the movie is basically a who’s who in the love life of Mr. Neil Young. First, I saw the lovely Carrie Snodgress, and soon after, the enchanting Daryl Hannah! This was the very same weekend that your awesome new album came out, so it really got me thinking. Because the tracks on Second Song and also your previous album Talking to the Trees are so personal and revealing, I felt you’d have no problem spilling some additional tea for your dedicated fans. As I watched The Fury unfold, I started to wonder who else from the film, besides Carrie & Daryl, may have experienced the romantic stylings of Neil Young. Of course, the delightful Amy Irving immediately came to mind. Was there maybe a dreamy walk on the beach with Miss Irving? Perhaps you two enjoyed a stroll along the coastline of Lake Ontario (I refuse to call it Lake America). Or was there perchance a tender moment shared with a more unlikely cast member? I could imagine Charles Durning’s rugged, candle-lit profile weakening even the sturdiest of knees. Was there such a moment you’ve discreetly been keeping deep inside your heart all these years? Neil, now that you have proven yourself to be the definition of a wise and forthcoming octogenarian, it’s time to unload ALL the beans.
Curious in Clawson,
David
PS I hope your 2026 Farm Aid experience is a blast!
Thanks Curious
I spilled the beans
LOVE
Neil
Be Well
Dear Neil:
Love the new record. I saw the Bridgeport, Connecticut show last night (had great seats up front), and wanted to let you know what a great show it was. In addition to two new songs that had never been played live before, the duet with Willie on “Are There Any More Real Cowboys,” and the “Living with War” and “Rockin’ in the Free World” protest combo were real highlights. The energy was fantastic and the setlist a crowd-pleaser for sure. I wanted to give a shoutout to Spooner Oldham, who, like Willie, is an American treasure.
Much love to you and Daryl,
Mike
Mike
Thanks for you feelings on the music!
We are in a groove.
LOVE
Neil
Be Well
Hi Neil,
I really love your new album. I’m listening to it right now—it’s beautiful, so true and honest. What confuses me, though, is the decision to split the album’s most beautiful track in two on the vinyl. What a strange idea. Or is there an explanation that might help me understand the artistic reason for cutting it off halfway through? To me it feels just wrong.
Love your music & your attitude!
jan
Jan
I understand. Some people feel that. Here’s what I made that decision….. so… We split the song in two to make both album sides equal total length. (side duration equality greatly improves the volume and sound by allowing us to increase level on each side to max and have the consistent volume) By making the sides balanced at the same volume, then that way, we got a better sounding record.
LOVE
Neil
Be Well
Dear Mr. Young
As I sit here this afternoon anticipating your show tomorrow night at the Mann Music Center. Which I am honored and privileged to be attending with my wife of almost 32 years. Section 300 YY 312-313. Where I first saw you in 1987, after seeing you at Live Aid in ’85.
I just wanted to take a moment and say thank you.
Thank you for taking us away for a little while over many years with what you have given us in music.
I just listened to Earth Girl and WOW!!
That’s about all I can get out right now.
Thank you!!
See you tomorrow night.✌🏼❤️
Heu
Thanks!
Thanks HEU
LOVE
Neil
Be Well
Hi Neil, Bob Sagerer (The Muse) here from Boonton, New Jersey USA.
I am so sorry to share just devastating news: last month my beloved 20-year old son Charlie lost his long battle with bi-polar and depression on August 16, 2026 when he took his own life while at school.
We are just so heartbroken as a family and a community—those who knew Charlie through school or who had worked with Charlie.
Charlie was an amazing young man. He was a Junior at Drexel University studying in their Music Industry Program (MIP) program. In addition to his schoolwork, he had also been producing his own music and was actively promoting his friend’s bands (Shark Eat U, Cowboy Sex Tape). He worked on his own original music with his good friend Tobie Chau and that collaboration resulted in one duo performance where they called themselves “Scared Of Girls” at an open mic. Workwise, Charlie was recently promoted to editor at Mixdown, where he wrote music reviews and he was also working with other students from the Drexel MIP program at the “Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts.” That is “THE MANN” – the location where you will be performing tonight with The Chrome Hearts as well as Willie Nelson & Family and Ty Myers. I am so sad that Charlie will be unable to host me there for your show as he had been so kind as to take me to see Bob Dylan: Live on Stage on July 16, 2026 at THE MANN—with support acts Jimmie Vaughan and The Tilt-A-Whirl Band and Brittney Spencer too. What a great night that was—Charlie was so proud that he had earned two free lawn tickets (for me and him) by working five shows this summer. Bob Dylan closed the night’s performances with his beautiful song “I Shall Be Released,” which now carries so much more meaning for me with Charlie’s passing. That night, I met so many of Charlie’s wonderful colleagues who spoke so highly of him and as a father, it just made me so proud to hear how he was loved there and able to work but also have a great time at a venue with great live music—and to be with many friends there too. He was really blessed by his job there at the Mann.
So, as you and the Chrome Hearts get ready to perform at the Mann tonight, please know Charlie is there in spirit. Some of his colleagues will be there in attendance too—taking care of the fans who are going to the show. Those workers are kind people who made a “job” for Charlie actually fun and they were people who gave him great times during the last Summer of his way-too-short life.
A few of the musicians and artists whom Charlie got to call friends (mainly students at Drexel) would sometimes play/sing for various people who were leaving parties in the Drexel student housing area of Philadelphia’s University City section. They often would not be able to find a good song to sing—and would land on your beautiful song “Harvest Moon.” Charlie sent me a video of his friends (with him singing along) playing “Harvest Moon” to partygoers who were heading home after a night of hanging with their friends. That song will now always mean a lot more to me because of that connection to Charlie. If you and The Chrome Hearts do play that song at the Mann tonight, please do it in honor of “our Charlie” and in honor of “the Drexel kids who work at the Mann.” I dedicate it to them through you across the miles as I cannot be there in person.
With Charlie’s passing, so many coincidences have come to my attention over the last month during this immense grief. One coincidence was regarding the family wedding we have taking place this coming Saturday (the day of this year’s Harvest Moon). The happy couple (my niece/Goddaughter) Stevie Coladonato and her fiancé Kyler Gretz chose to have “Harvest Moon” as their wedding song! I am officiating their wedding (my first time doing that). I had not known their intended use of the song “Harvest Moon” until the Drexel kids held a vigil for Charlie. During the vigil, I had asked that they played your studio recording of “Harvest Moon” in Charlie’s honor, knowing the song was important to Charlie and to the other students at Drexel. During the vigil, the happy couple were with me and danced to the song—and also told me that they had previously chosen “Harvest Moon” as their wedding song. It was a goose-bumps moment and such a wonderful connection between a song I love, written and performed by you, used by Charlie and his young musician/artist friends and now also used by niece and her fiancé for their Wedding! If you and The Chrome Hearts do perform “Harvest Moon” at Farm Aid on Saturday, please do it in honor of Stevie and Kyler. I dedicate it to them across the miles as I cannot be there in person.
I wanted to mention two other songs from your wonderful catalog which mean a lot to me and my relationship with Charlie—and I share this with you so you know too. One was “My New Robot,” a song which is very different from a lot of your material. When I played it for him, we established a bit of a philosophical question about music that we used as a catch phrase: “Does humor belong in music?” While we always realized that of course it does, whenever we would come across a song we might think had some humorous undertones—or be a bit of a song outside of the box—or a bit “off” from the norm by using humor—or maybe just trying something different—we would say to one another “Does humor belong in music?” A very nice memory. The other song which means the world to me and my relationship with Charlie is “Red Sun.” I sang “Red Sun” a cappella to Charlie many-a-night as a lullaby when I would put him to bed. It was a song to remind him (and to remind me too) that “I’ll still be here … right by your side …there’ll not be another … In my heart but you.” And how I hope that was a song that was in his heart when he passed on.
What a beautiful, sad and living feeling your message carries.
Thanks Muse, Thanks Bob.
PEACE
LOVE
Neil
Be Well
Dear Neil,
I sent a letter at the end of August telling you a story about how our “After the Gold Rush” album cover got torn and that there were words written under the cover of the album. Did you receive my letter? What do you think about this happening?
Thanks a million!
Bobbie
Bobbie
I don’t know what that was! No one i know has said that . I am Curious….
LOVE EARTH
BE WELL
Neil
Hi
Hope you are well!
This summer me and my family went on Neil tour in Europe. We went to Locarno in Switzerland and Lucca in Italy. We had premium tickets and we missed you a lot.
So please make some stops in Sweden next summer.
The climate is perfect in July. Around 20 degrees celsius.
Southern Europe was too hot when we were there.
Dalhalla, Stockholm and Göteborg will welcome you.
Keep on rocking and be well.
/Lars
Lars, Sorry we missed playing. We hope to be back!
LOVE EARTH
BE WELL
Neil
Hi Neil,
Couple of questions, if that’s ok.
Did you ever do a studio version of After The Gold Rush in an arrangement similar to the version NYCH played in Cork in 2014?
We are looking for that right now.
Will there be more outtakes added to NYA? Specifically for Vol. 2 and Vol. 3 era?
We are still looking
Has Homefires been delayed until next year?
YES
Any interesting stuff that you’ve found recently?
Happiness
Thanks
LOVE EARTH
BE WELL
Neil
Neil,
New album is really good. I’m really enjoying it.
My question is if you’ve given any thought about the future of Hank’s guitar after you’re through caring for it?
Also, any idea when Archives 4 will be ready?
Regards!
Mike🙂
Hey Mike
Yes. I have thought about it. I have a plan hatching….
LOVE EARTH
BE WELL
Neil
Hi Neil! I am so freaking excited to be in Virginia Beach tonight. It’s windy, sending sand swirling in all directions, the surf is chaos, but we are in a small little oceanfront studio tonight listening to On the Beach having some fresh VA roasted peanuts from a family farm. I seriously cannot wait for Farm Aid. We watched last year and never did I think we’d be attending in 2026. I refrained from checking the playlists from CT and Philly. I just want to experience whatever you have planned for us. I know you won’t get this message before the show, but thank you for all the time, love and effort this takes. I feel the love in your newest album, but more on that later. I hope Farm Aid brings you joy too.
Love to you & Daryl always,
Tena & my forever love Bill
Your music and your message is so important to us right now. It is so easy, in these times, to lose focus on what is important. Thank you Neil. – Bill
Thanks Bill…
We are here with you!
LOVE TO ALLLOVE EARTH
BE WELL
Neil
Dear Neil,
Greetings from the UK—glad to see you’re keeping busy with a new album and playing out again.
I wrote to you in 2023 to say that our daughter Robyn was brought into the world to Harvest Moon (we had the whole album on it she arrived right in the middle of the title track!).
Now, on Wednesday, Rachel and I welcomed our son Flynn into the world (via an emergency c-section). Unfortunately, There was no chance for music with all the rush. We managed to be released from hospital today and on the drive back over the hills back to Todmorden, we saw the most amazing Harvest Moon rising. Needless to say, we put the song straight on and had a wonderful drive back to start life as a four.
Hope to see you in the UK again soon—Hyde Park was a triumph.
Love and best wishes,
Pete Dilley..
Pete, Happy for you!!
LOVE EARTH
BE WELL
Neil
Dear Neil,
Sounds like warm shows and farm aid went well? Did they?
Did it encourage you to hit the road next year?
Why focus on Europe you haven’t been down under for 13 years.
Air travel is oout because of over use of fuel in these times.
I was walking along the foreshore in Split Croatia when I heard the familiar sounds of a acoustic guitar playing the opening strumming of Slowpoke with a three-person all women doing a great job that noticed me singing along and said from stage we love Neil Young they were playing at the Ambassador Hotel lounge outdoors it was so cool.
Is Reprise Records thinking of releasing all of your recordings in one bundle? The whole collection? That would be great, especially if heavy weight vinyl used my old ones are getting warped.
Not that I know of….
I just read in some book about CSNY saying you only sang on a couple of Déjà Vu songs and most didn’t even play an instrument. Is that true? If so why?
Maybe
I’d have to listen to it.
Doubt it though.
Did you agree to the 4 Way street LP being released it’s not the greatest stuff you guys did just a little surprising it was ever decided.
I am not part of that process
I just visited Portofino. I believe you were there once with your lovely wife. What did you think? Bloody expensive there.
Italy is beautiful and deep in human history…
Anyway greetings from Porto Portugal off to Ireland next
Regards
Steve Down-under
Thanks Steve
LOVE EARTH
BE WELL
Neil
Hello Neil and support staff. I was fortunate to watch the Farm Aid concert on CNN last night. it was truly “off the charts.” I hope you are well. During your time on stage I had a very strong spiritual experience. My spirit maybe just felt the energy and I went into “healing prayer” mode. If that makes sense. It’s not something I control. Be well and hope you and family always feel the Big Love … SwiftRiver
Swift River
Thanks for your “healing prayer” feelings. LOVE EARTH
BE WELL
Neil
There’s something special about Second Song and you seem, rightly, proud of this pastoral, autumnal record.
I’ve a question. If you were to think of a (final?) tour, would you consider a run of indoor shows where you perform the Second Song song cycle, in order, with Chrome Hearts, just as you did with Greendale and Prairie Wind, and play a second set too?
The delicate Second Song songs probably won’t work in an outdoor environment, they’d be lost in the ether, drowned out by the chatter of those wanting Cinnamon Girl, Cortez, Heart of Gold…
These songs deserve a life beyond the record & it would be great to see you and the Chrome Hearts weave some gentle magic.
(You could go for the full Bob Dylan and ban phones from the arena, pick ’em up & unlock them at the door).
There are beautiful, intimate venues across the UK, Europe and certainly North America where a tour of Second Song could blossom.
Thanks
Mark
Mark
I can’t see performing those songs now. I am looking forward….
LOVE EARTH
BE WELL
Neil
Hi Neil,
My wife, daughter and I just returned from our first Farm Aid and was I inspired to drop you a quick note.
The entire day was amazing, with one of highlights being the incredible people we met from across the country. People, who despite their backgrounds and beliefs, all wanted the same thing: a better world now and for those who come after us.
Thanks to you, Willie, all the performers, and the workers and volunteers who made the day one to remember. Also, thanks to Mother Nature for holding off the rain until the end, and even giving us a peek at the harvest moon. (Nice call including that in your set.)
Stay well, and we’re planning on making it to Farm Aid 42.
Al Lukowicz,
New Jersey
Al
That’s why I love Farmaid.
Thanks Mother Nature indeed!
LOVE EARTH
BE WELL
Neil
What’s up Neil I saw both your shows in Bridgeport & Philly both were great!!
Random thought … how did you deal with the hangovers from the bad tequila quality back in the day from the Tonight’s the night sessions?
Much Love
Dave Bklyn NY
I don’t remember hangovers Dave.
LOVE EARTH
BE WELL
Neil
Hello … I am hoping someone is reading this and will deem it to be worthy of sharing with Mr. Young.
I read and answer all this mail, so don’t worry about that….. – neil
I tried to talk to Neil in the VIP section at the Lakefield concert but he had many people wanting to speak with him. I kept saying “sir” but he was inundated of course. It was a magical night, with the rain pouring down replenishing the land while Neil (solo) performed. I was so glad he played After the Goldrush on the piano he has had all this time. It was truly a hilghight of my 58 years of life.
That’s how long I have had that piano!
Neil’s music has saved me from periods of being numb with depression since I was 11 years old. I listened to my parents’ stereo while lying on the living room floor in the ’70s, with headphones on, learning every single word to every song on “Comes a Time.” Then I did the same with “After the Goldrush.” This has continued throughout my entire life, as the music came out, and I am now 58.
I was the one “hoping for replacement” and the “sun that burst through the sky” was Neil’s music. He has allowed me to feel and live when I didn’t really want to.
I love his integrity and grit and respect his messaging so much as well. Earth as his t shirt says.
I would do anything to know that Neil was given this note, literally thanking him for his life sustaining impact on me.
I am still here….reading…..neil
I am so very grateful 🙏 that despite his early polio, heartache, epilepsy, friends passing and other things that he has endured, that he continues to put out music with The Chrome Hearts at the age of 80 … almost 81 on Nov 12. I loved seeing him playing with Willie at Farm Aid this past week. Sitting in a chair right beside Willie in his chair. So very aware of his old friend and his age and showing him love by also sitting.
Indeed, I have seen him in concerts many times and every single one left an imprint on my heart.
I want him to know how much he matters to another human being. I know, of course, that I am not the only one.
So Neil, if you happen to get this note, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your genius writing and music with the world, while staying true to your beliefs, and I love to see you happy, in love, and still playing. 50 studio albums full of love and important messaging in a world that is going crazier by the minute.
Love and peace to you and yours always!
So gratefully,
Heather Hillen (Hamilton, Ontario).
LOVE to you Heather, Hamilton is a great old town!
LOVE EARTH
BE WELL
Neil