Neil showed up with Farm Aid partner Dave Matthews for the Hope for Haiti Now telethon/concert.  They joined together in a stripped down haunting version of Hank Williams’ “Alone and Forsaken”.  Probably one of the most odd pairings of the evening, this song forced the viewer to pay attention.   It was just one of many remarkable performances, bringing back clear memories of the 9/11 telethon hastily organized in the aftermath of that disaster. 

A relentless, selfless performer, Young appeared last night just a day after the death of his long time collaborator and close friend, L.A. Johnson.

Alone & Forsaken (Hope for Haiti Now)

We saw Neil again later that night (although taped earlier) joining Conan on his final Tonight Show, delivering a stellar version of an apropos song, Long May You Run, which originally appeared on 1976’s eponymously named Stills-Young Band album. 

We’ll see more of Neil soon on the upcoming Grammy’s and in the Jonathan Demme directed Trunk Show concert film.

Neil can always be counted on to show up for friends and important causes, check out his contributions to The Last Waltz–The grand send-off for The Band, his searing version of All Along the Watch Tower for Dylan’s Columbia 30th anniversary concert, the 9/11 Imagine rendition on the grand piano and not to be overlooked his yearly contributions to Farm Aid. 

Long May You Run, January 22, 2010