Love And War

Album: Le Noise (2010)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This anti-war anthem is a track from Canadian rock musician Neil Young's 32nd studio album, Le Noise. The record was recorded in Los Angeles and produced by Daniel Lanois.
  • The song addresses the troubles in Afghanistan and Iraq as Young sings, "Daddy won't ever come home," to a child who lost his father in the conflict.
  • Young sings on this track, "When I sing about love and war/I don't really know what I'm saying." Chris Talbott from the Associated Press asked the Canadian singer if this is a confusing statement from the artist who gave us "Ohio" and "Let's Impeach The President"? Young chuckled then replied: "It's such a deep subject and there's really no one answer. There's nobody who really knows. It just seems to be a part of the human condition is to get in wars over and over again for as long as human beings have been around. So I have opinions but I'm not so sure that they're right."

Comments: 2

  • AnonymousOne of my favorite song
  • Arleigh from Toronto, OnI wonder if the line "I sang for justice and I hit a bad chord" is a reference to Southern Man and the controversy over Lynyrd Skynyrds response in Sweet Home Alabama.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Artis the Spoonman

Artis the SpoonmanSong Writing

Even before Soundgarden wrote a song about him, Artis was the most famous spoon player of all time. So why has he always been broke?

The Evolution of "Ophelia"

The Evolution of "Ophelia"Song Writing

How five songs portray Shakespeare's character Ophelia.

N.W.A vs. the World

N.W.A vs. the WorldSong Writing

How the American gangsta rappers made history by getting banned in the UK.

Martin Page

Martin PageSongwriter Interviews

With Bernie Taupin, Martin co-wrote the #1 hits "We Built This City" and "These Dreams." After writing the Pretty Woman song for Go West, he had his own hit with "In the House of Stone and Light."

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & Tears

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & TearsSongwriter Interviews

The longtime BS&T frontman tells the "Spinning Wheel" story, including the line he got from Joni Mitchell.

Boy Bands

Boy BandsFact or Fiction

From NKOTB to 1D, how well do you know your boy bands?