News of Farm Aid’s annual concert this weekend prompted
another look at Neil Young’s autobiography, Waging Heavy Peace, and its collection of musical insights,
shout outs to his friends and progress reports on his various causes. It’s got
a wealth of anecdotes about his collaborations, his family and friends.
Young’s musical Mt. Rushmore status gives him literary
license to write (and ramble) all he wants. It’s also given him the wealth to
own ranches, yachts, model trains and vintage Cadillacs and to support causes
from The Bridge School to electric cars.
All of which led me back to an old Kris Kristofferson song, "The Pilgrim—Chapter 33:"
He’s a walking contradiction
Partly truth and partly fiction
Then sometimes it is best to stop trying to figure out what
makes very creative people tick and just enjoy their insights (and music).
For example, in talking about his friendship with Bruce and
Bob, he notes that they don’t talk very often, but notes, “It is a silent
fraternity of sorts, occupying this space in people’s souls with our music.”
“Dylan’s words are part of the landscape, like country names
on a map.”
On musicians writing memoirs: “Writing is very convenient,
has a low expense and is a
great way to pass the time. I highly recommend it to any old
rocker who is out of cash and doesn’t know what to do next.”
On saving the album as an art form: “I think it has a future
and a past. The album cover and liner notes reached out to the music lover,
filling them with images and helping to illuminate the story behind the music,
the feeling from the artist.”
“Rock and roll is no cakewalk. It was and is a shrewd and
unforgiving business if you made some bad decisions about our representation
when you were young.”
For the most part, Neil has avoided most of those traps
although his creative control battles have become their own legends. The
stories of how his best and worst albums were created will send you deep into
your vinyl archives.
And back to the words of the Pilgrim:
He’s a poet…He’s a prophet…He’s a pilgrim…He’s a preacher…
Taking every wrong direction on his lonely way back home.
