Long May You Run

The song "Long May You Run" by Neil Young holds a special place in his catalog, serving as an elegy for his first car, a 1948 Buick Roadmaster hearse nicknamed "Mort," which famously died in 1962 when its transmission failed in Blind River, Ontario. This nostalgic tribute was written during a period of collaboration with Stephen Stills, initially recorded for their 1976 album as the Stills-Young Band, but its roots trace back to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s 1974 tour, where it was performed as a duet. Interestingly, the version on the Decade compilation, released in 1977, features a unique mix with harmonies from the full Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young lineup before David Crosby and Graham Nash’s contributions were removed from the final Stills-Young Band album. Young has shared in his memoir, Waging Heavy Peace, that he lived on a houseboat in Coconut Grove, Florida, during the recording sessions at Criteria Studios in Miami, adding a quirky backdrop to the song’s creation. The track’s emotional resonance was further highlighted when Young performed it at the closing ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, accompanying the extinguishing of the Olympic cauldron, and on the final episode of The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien in 2010, cementing its status as a poignant anthem of endurance and loss.

A 2023 post on X by user @paranoiacs described "Long May You Run" as a “fractured-memory travelog” blending “sadness, mercy, and resilience,” capturing its bittersweet reflection on the post-’60s era. The song’s lyrics also nod to Young’s earlier days, with some interpreting its imagery as a metaphor for his journey from Canada to Los Angeles in that same hearse, which played a pivotal role in the formation of Buffalo Springfield. Another tidbit from the recording process reveals tension during the Stills-Young sessions; roadie Guillermo Giachetti noted in the biography Shakey that Stills and Young’s schedules rarely aligned, with Stills working late nights and Young arriving fresh the next day, creating friction but also a raw, authentic energy in the track. The song’s title has also inspired fans, with some on the fan site Thrasher’s Wheat speculating it reflects Young’s lifelong mantra of perseverance through his eclectic career.

Neil Young’s musical journey began in Winnipeg, Canada, where, as a shy teenager, he was inspired by icons like Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, and The Shadows. By age 10, he was strumming a plastic ukulele, and in his early teens, he formed his first band, The Jades, while attending Earl Grey Junior High School. Later, he joined The Squires, a high school band that gigged around Winnipeg. In 1965, Young briefly played with the Rick James-fronted Mynah Birds, which signed to Motown but dissolved when James was arrested for being AWOL from the Naval Reserve. Undeterred, Young and bassist Bruce Palmer drove to Los Angeles in Young’s converted hearse, a 1948 Buick Roadmaster, where a chance encounter with Stephen Stills in a traffic jam led to the formation of Buffalo Springfield in 1966. The band’s 1966 debut, featuring Stills’ hit “For What It’s Worth,” marked Young’s entry into the American music scene. After Buffalo Springfield’s breakup, Young signed with Reprise Records, releasing his self-titled solo album in 1968 and soon forming a lasting partnership with Crazy Horse, which fueled classics like Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere in 1969.

Fans can explore Young’s extensive career on his official website, Neil Young Archives, which offers high-resolution streaming of his entire catalog and rare recordings. His social media presence includes Facebook, Instagram, and X, where he shares updates on tours, releases, and causes like Farm Aid. For dedicated fans, Thrasher’s Wheat provides news, reviews, and community discussions, while Facebook groups like Neil Young Fans and Rusties – Neil Young Fans offer spaces for Zoo Freaks to connect over their love for Young’s music, from “Long May You Run” to his latest works.