Hi Neil,
I am adding my name to the long list of unhappy fans who won’t see you this summer but I totally get it. In the last videos I saw of you I had the feeling you needed to take it easier on you, so I was already fearing this tour might not happen. I am a bit younger than you but I can already feel the toll of aging, and I can only imagine how tiring a European tour must be. Having said that, I remember seeing Cab Calloway in his 90s playing live and he still had it, so I hope there will be another chance to see you in Italy. I’ve already seen you six or seven times, but I am still counting on some other chances.
Be well, take care, do long walks and eat well and we’ll see each other again someday, hopefully in my beautiful Milano.
Ciao
Claudio
Claudio,
I appreciate your message and will return to Italy in the future.
Thanks for your thoughts
LOVE,
NEIL
be well
Dear Mr. Neil Young,
What can start as something not cliché, not bland, yet not wild? I do not know, this early morning. I will just present my ”agenda” in somewhat fear it sounds too plain and formal, as the ”Are you Passionate?” album is pumping on the stereo in the background. Here goes.
My name is Isak and I live in Sweden. I lived in America between ages 8–22. I saw you in concert in Tinley Park 2000; The Pretenders opened. I own many of your albums. I have quoted your (hopefully, this, ok) music many times; including in poems, essays, and the like on a Swedish poetry site; I write for. This introduction, does, sound much bland. I was wondering if you wanted to comment on a piece I wrote where I look at the lyrics of ”My My, Hey Hey’.’ Would you? I can send the piece.
Warm regards,
Swedish-American fan
Sure
Send the piece.
LOVE,
NEIL
be well
What drew me to NYA was an urgent desire to listen to your song, “Are You Ready For the Country.” That title has now assumed a visceral/concrete, symbolic/metaphorical, and metonymic quality for me. Just sayin’…
Regards,
Trayce L Foster, aka Wordfreak
Hey Word
i still feel ready!!!
LOVE,
NEIL
be well
Hey Neil,
Your confession to liking spiders was a sweet coincidence. I have been talking to Terry Erickson a fair bit recently, planning on getting an interesting story or two from the early days in Fort William and Toronto for an article for the Members Column in the Times-Contrarian. He loves to chat. He remembers it all with great affection, and sends you his fondest regards.
Man, has he had a colourful life. A real Canadian Ernest Hemingway. From a fully ordained Buddhist monk in India to a fisherman on the Mexican Pacific coast. He is still playing a lot at 82 (and collecting beautiful acoustic guitars). He is living in a retirement home in Medicine Hat, Alberta, and although he has some health problems, he is in very good spirits and seems to be enjoying life with his buddies down at the pool hall.
Spiders? Well, I asked him if he could remember any of the songs you were working on at the time back in 1965. The one he does remember was an impromptu song while you were all still stuck in Blind River waiting on Mort. You both noticed a spider crawling across the floor of your room: “And before it had reached the other side, Neil had made up a song about it, a view of life from the spider’s point of view!” I doubt if you will remember, but Terry certainly hasn’t forgotten. He also wrote his own version of a song back then called Blind River Blues. I’m getting the lyrics written down and will let you know! I assume it has nothing to do with the one listed in the NY Archive for April 1969. I believe you get a name check in his version. He is now a member of NYA and says he is reveling in all the great music. Such a positive guy. Always a chuckle in his voice. A real pleasure to chew the breeze with.
LAOL
Robert (Broadfoot)
Broadfoot
I remember Terry!
Thanks!
LOVE,
NEIL
be well
Hope all is well. Any plans to re-press Fillmore ’70 or Massey Hall on vinyl? I’d love to have those. Also would love to have a full show on vinyl from the ’96 or ’97 club shows if I had my pick haha. Broken Arrow album is too good live
No plans for those right now, but if i can, i may start pressing some vinyl for NYA.
LOVE
Neil
be well
Dear Neil,
Thank you for answering my question about hosting.
You are very consistent in your approach, for which I have great admiration and respect!
I wish you, your loved ones, and the NYA team all the best.
Karl-Heinz
Thanks Karl
Be well
Love, Neil
Greetings Neil!
My family was disappointed to learn of the cancellation of your European Tour this summer. My wife and I and our three adult children and their significant others purchased tickets to your Nimes France show on June 22, which happens to be our youngest son, Patrick’s 32nd birthday. We still plan on vacationing in France, but we’ll do so without the highlight of seeing you perform with the Chrome Hearts. We did receive refunds on our purchased tickets, so no issues there.
Needless to say, we’re all huge Neil fans! I’m 65, grew up listening to your music and passed that on to our kids and their friends. They’re all equally in love with your music and passion for improving our world. We all saw you last summer in Denver. Great show!!
Anyway, I hope you are healthy and doing well.
Take care of yourself,
Greg Klaiber
Golden, CO.
Thanks Greg
i feel pretty good. Just not up for the pressure of a tour this year.
LOVE
and Be well
Neil
Dear Neil,
I’m writing to you from the Isle of Man, a small hidden gem of an island in the middle of the Irish Sea. I’m a singer-songwriter trapped in the body of a middle-aged man, forced to work a career I hate every day just to provide for my family.
I’ve found myself caught in the rat race, fighting to keep my soul from being swallowed by the machine.
I wrote and recorded a song a few years ago called ‘Moonlight Sky’; it’s a piece about the Trail of Tears that has been sitting in my own ‘archives’ while I’ve been busy surviving. The Chorus captures the truth that even though the natives lost the fight, they remain eternal—their spirit is forever linked with the mountains and the rivers.
I’m not bothered about the fame or the modern digital music world. I don’t care for the ‘business.’ I just feel the emotion and the message in this song needs to be heard.
Your music—the honesty, the tempo, and the way you let the song breathe—was the inspiration for the style and the heart of this piece.
It’s just me, the guitar, some light percussion and keys, and that ancient connection to the earth. I’d be honoured if you’d listen to this piece of my soul when you have a moment between the trees.
I see that others are posting a link into this forum, so i have done the same, I hope that is acceptable.
Thank you kindly for your time,
Peace, love, Earth.
Lain
thanks for sending this.Sounds good man…..
Keep playing and you will feel relief form the rat race you mention.
LOVE Neil
be well
Dear Neil
I hope you’re happy and healthy these days. Things are strange and difficult. All across earth. ICE killing and deporting. Fascists ramping up. More bombs being dropped. It’s hard to comprehend. Your songs are truly essential listening for these times. We are living with war, and we need to throw our hatred down.
I heard you cancelled your upcoming tour. I hope you’re okay. If you need to take time, take the time. Look after yourself as best you can.
I’m Irish, but I’m living in Japan right now. I met the love of my life here, she’s from the UK. We’re doing so well. The dream is real and it’s going on!
Even so, some days are really hard. I’m not always doing the best, but I’m not hopeless or alone ever. I’m 24 and life is a dream and nightmare all in one. I’m seeing the world in all the good and the bad.
Last week I found myself on Suma Beach and staring into a lovely blue sky. Seabirds, sailboards, children on the shore. It calms me down, being in a place like that. But in that calmness I realise the absurdity of the bad things that people do. The terror in that.
I think writing things like songs and poems and even just words to oneself is a means toward a kinder world, because you’re actually doing it in the now, articulating the important moments of what you’re experiencing. If we can do that, we can realise that everybody’s got that going on. That we actually need to be there for each other. I worry that too many people don’t know or care for that kind of thing.
Makes me think of ‘After the Gold Rush.’ That line about what the friend said and hoping it was a lie never leaves my head. Always feels relevant in some way or other. It could be so many things. It was then and it is now.
One question for you — have you ever been to Hiroshima and gone to the Atomic Bomb Dome or Peace Memorial Museum? My partner and I went in December 2025, and I’ve never been more compelled for peace in my life. We cried and cried and couldn’t believe our eyes. But I thought of you and your songs and knew and felt that peace wasn’t just some nice idea. It’s a necessity. It’s a love and a future we have to struggle and fight towards.
Anyway, I just wanted to send you some words. Sorry for the long ramble. You’ve done a lot of good for me through your music and your writing and I wanted to say that it means a lot. You help me face the day. Thank you.
All love from here in Kobe, JP.
Peace in all tomorrows!
Keilan
Keilan
Keep writng and keep faith in others being good. They are.
LOVE
BE WELL
Neil
Greetings Neil, Here again to touch base with you on a few issues. First up—I just read your front page news on how you are back in the barn writing some new art. Something connected to me when I read that. I have been quite active politically—always the weight of the world kind of stuff—and so many hard luck stories—I do feel we are caught in some kind of crazy world right now. Ultimately it is our historical reality and as much as we can point to this random act or this stolen vote or that unjust outcome—we have been moving closer to this edge since 1980 or thereabouts. Hacking away at the post war compromises that instilled a bit of hope after so much human-organized violence at levels that the last few generation in the West—missed living through. Most of us were spared the stench of working-class folks’ flesh rotting on a battlefield. The trees in those long-forgotten graves know of the carnage—the trees just doing their thing did a great job hard to cover up the past and bring a renewal—seedlings and soil. I do wonder if the trees had not cooperated with history—how we might be organized. I do blame leaders a lot—in fact, living through this period it does reveal something profound about our history—it fails to record just how much blame has got to be placed on politics and the leaders that come through those gateways. We need better gatekeepers—for sure. As you know quite well, art is bound up so tightly inside that space of entertainment. It can be a vehicle for change or it can be a vehicle for distraction. Before the concept of fake news, we did have music and entertainment that specialized in creating the one-dimensionalism of living and being subservient to the powers that be. You and a few others tried hard over time to create the critical and counter to these forces and organized efforts of control.
To my point—you saying you are returning to the studio is a sign to me that you are back in the trenches and you are still doing it! So when you say to me, “I can’t do it anymore”—you are doing it! I feel the same with this global methane emission detection project (yeah—it is me again, bugging you!), I graduated with an advanced degree in political economy—and studied and generated policy and data for this world for many years. I have been active on the streets and trying to influence the wallpaper overlooking every kitchen table. It is me sitting here with science trying to find those emissions—that is my barn—and it’s that way right across the Western world. We can have leaders, but if at some point we could get more and more people with their guitars, their data detections, their pens, their hammers, their ambulances, their stethoscopes, their shovels, their voices, their cameras—all working in a new direction. It is our work and our home time that matter—and I do think we’ve seen something huge in Minnesota that scares the fuck out of those powers that be. Something happened in Minnesota—that impacted every second of every day for everybody in that city. It is that human coming together through work, home life, street life, etc. that fuels up every song worth singing. We all need to find that Minnesota in our work, in our walks, in our drives, and in our storytelling.
By the way—the global methane project is coming along—we are moving in on measuring and helping turn policy into strategic investment in to methane emission from landfills, large cattle operations, leaking oil and gas infrastructure, and waste water treatment. Amazing seeing the entire planet from millions of images in the sky. Recently was scanning images going across Uganda and studying the pastoral rural folk and their quest to secure food. Sadly we can see where climate warming has been and will continue to impact these vulnerable populations. The first large-scale victims of climate change. Their cattle are the family corner store—and supermarkets—amazing watching a woman make ghee from souring milk. Yet as the planet heats, these ecosystems are quite delicate. It is ironic that the US under Elon cut emergency food from the USAID to some of the most dire of these peoples. It will be these climate refugees that move first in waves of mass migration because they can no longer survive the heat. (It is already happening, as we know.) The data shows it-—now to get that data out into the world! I need a much bigger amp! As stated before, have been working with Al Gore’s climate group—potentially you and l can meet up and plan some art and climate change gatekeeping?
P.S. I did get to see you to see your concert at Lakefield—brought my partner, son and his GF. Generational Neil! It was magical sitting in among all those trees and green and finding all that music and the memories made. It is such a nice area—reminds me of north of Superior my old homestead. Sorry for all the Neil lines! Lol You are a mensch! and looking forward to your new music—and also that one you mentioned from a recording with the Horse from days gone past.
Paul Tulloch
Hope all at the archives are doing well! great work folks- this site is awesome!
Paul
I am loving the new music we are making
Enjoy the good things!
Life is good!
LOVE
BE WELL
NEIL
Neil,
After reading your post from today, 3/9, I just wanted to reach out and send you my love and thank you for all your music which has brought me such happiness. This administration is an absolute joke, as are each and every individual who are part of it. Keep preaching peace and love, my brother. I, for one, will be doing the same. ☮️❤️
Richard
Thanks Richard
Be well
LOVE
NEIL
Heya, Neil-
I’m sending huge thanks for posting my letter recently and for keeping my original song link for “Cheap Champagne” in the mix! I know I keep sharing these songs with you, but I’m just building on one idea here … bear with me for a moment.
I was just listening to “Cheap Champagne” and ain’t it funny that in YOUR band now are the Nelson boys. Wouldn’t it be a dang ol’ HOOT if the Chrome Hearts got together with Waylon’s musical boy Shooter—and y’all COVERED my song “Cheap Champagne”?! ✨🥂🍾🤠💃🏼🕺🏼🤠🤠
I’m a songwriter at the core vs. a performer, although I can hold my own just fine. It would be a DREAM come true to have the progeny of all you Farm Aid Legends coming together on a rollicking feel tune that extols the virtue in these trying times of cheap booze and whooping it up singing some outlaw country rock while barking and howling at the moon…. “… let’s sing some Willie out of tune …” and “… let’s sing some Waylon out of tune … (Hank did it THIS way!).”
Orange Juiceifer has RUINED this country, but the mother effer can’t take MUSIC away while we dance a hole right through the floor! (I wrote those lyrics in Cheap Champagne thinking like in the movie It’s a Wonderful Life where they Charleston themselves right through the gym floor right into of the swimming pool!!)
Anyhooskees, it would make this former nurse with the bad back on food stamps do a cartwheel for joy if you’d at least CONSIDER the idea.
From the wilds of Northeast Wisconsin, your latter day hippie pal Wingchick Windy Warren,
USAF officer’s daughter, nurse, and funniest songwriter no one’s ever heard of (yet!)
PEACE!!! ☮️✌🏼❤️🎶
Big Love Windy!
Neil
Be well
Dear Neil
Thank you so much for adding the 5 songs you recorded at Thunder Sound Studios in January 1971 to the Archive. The performances are beautiful!
Has there been any progress with the Old Ways/Tennessee outtakes album?
Alan
Scotland
Alan,
There has been progress.
Not done yet.
LOVE
be well
neil
I just read this article.
Why doesn’t Daryl sue for defamation of character?! I would!
Thanks,
Dan
Dan
She is wonderful person and I love her soul.
AND….What a soul she has!
Being in the public eye is not easy.
I know her. I love her.
LOVE
BE WELL
Neil
Neil, thank you for your recent response regarding differing views on what is going on in America. Your views are appreciated. I agree with you that most immigrants are not coming to America to be criminals, but it only takes a few bad apples to ruin the bunch. It only takes one bad experience to leave a bad taste in your mouth. Most immigrants, such as yourself, are here to chase that American Dream, and I welcome those who do it the right way and come to work for that dream alongside the rest of us Americans. Thank you for your time to my letter and the time to discuss your thoughts.
James, in Kansas City, MO
James
Our country has a leader looking to blame.
LOVE
BE WELL
Neil
Greetings Neil,
These are truly sad and depressing times, but so happy to see you are in the studio working on new material with the Chrome Hearts! Can’t wait to see the results.
I’m sure many are in a funk over the current state of affairs, but music does heal, and here’s something that might help.
In the early days of the pandemic, when things were equally depressing, I put a renewed focus on music, picking up an old, cheap guitar that had been a mighty fine dust collector for years.
Since then, I bought a new, cheap guitar and started figuring out some of your songs.
For others out there who are looking for some peace, give it a try. The result is amazing!
Stay well,
Al Lukowicz,
Yardville, NJ
Thanks Al
Our new music is so beautiful. Life-changing for me!
Enjoy yours my friend!
LOVE
Be happy
Sing
Neil