Neil Young, one of the most iconic singer-songwriters of all time, has always been recognized for his personal, socially conscious lyrics and influential music. With an acclaimed discography loved by critics and fans alike, even Young admits that there is one song he regrets.
In an interview with Zach Sang, Young was asked if he had any regrets about his albums. He replied that while some of them weren’t very good, others were pretty good. He dismissed the current trend of focusing on a single song instead of a complete album, calling it “a bunch of nonsense” and “methodology” he didn’t like.
However, in a later interview on the Howard Stern Show, Young admitted that he regretted the cover of Joni Mitchell’s song “Woodstock,” which was included in the Crosby, Stills & Nash album Déjà Vu. Young revealed that he and the rest of the band were obsessed with getting everything perfect and recorded the song multiple times, even though the original version with Stephen Stills’ voice was already great. Young acknowledged that they had tried too hard to be good and had lost the original funky vibe of the song.
Young’s regret serves as a reminder that sometimes it’s better to let things be and embrace imperfection rather than striving for an unattainable idea of perfection. It’s a lesson that can apply not just to music but to all aspects of life. In the end, it’s not about being perfect but about being true to oneself and embracing the beauty of imperfection.