Big -- Yet Sad -- Neil Young Day: "Hope For Haiti", Final Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien and "Long May You Run" for L.A.

Dave Matthews and Neil Young
Covering Hank Williams’ “Alone and Forsaken”
Hope For Haiti Telethon
Screen Grab by Patricia

A very emotional day for us.

Yesterday's sudden sad news that Neil Young's long time producer, director and friend Larry "L.A." Johnson had died really hit us hard. And there have been so many, many heartfelt notes of sympathy for L.A. that touched everyone.

So after all the enormous excitement and hype of Neil Young as Conan O'Brien's final musical guest, we were struggling to find a sense of emotional balance on the upcoming broadcast. There had been so many goofy and absurd nominations for what song Neil should play like "Cough Up The Buck$", 'This Note's For You', or "Surfer Joe & Moe the Sleaze" that all of that was out the window.

Would Neil even play after learning the news of L.A.? If so, would he go ahead with whatever was planned? Or respond to the news with a song that would bring it all home?


Neil Young - "Long May You Run"
Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien
Screen Grab by Patricia



Neil Young On Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien on Final Show "Long May You Run"

Naturally, Neil came through with a stark and mellow rendition of "Long May You Run". Certainly, many interpreted this as a song for Conan and his last show. But we know better.

Long May You Run L.A.



From Telecaster Guitar Forum by elihu:

"'Long may you Run' brought a tear to my eye.

Question: has there ever been a musician with more integrity than Neil Young?

He really stands out in a business devoid of such concepts as honor, honesty and determination. The man has followed his muse for five decades, stubbornly refusing to bow to popular demand.

Inspirational is what I call it..."

From Neil Young Closes Out the Conan O'Brien Tonight Show - Associated Content - associatedcontent.com by Ron Hart:

The man known as the 'Godfather of Grunge Rock', Neil Young, closed out Conan O'Brien's tenure as host of the Tonight Show tonight with a gripping version of "Long May You Run". Young was slotted in the middle of the show, and, true to his reputation, all Young needed was a guitar and a spotlight.

Aslo true to his reputation, Neil Young did not go for the obvious. 'Heart of Gold', and 'This Note's For You', both would be more transparent selections to end Conan O'Brien's Tonight Show.

While Young looked noticeably aged, he has not lost anything off of his vocal abilities. Probably more importantly, his guitar playing is as forlorn and plaintive as ever. Neil Young is one of those older rock stars that somehow are household names while still being underappreciated.

Conan O'Brien's first Tonight Show in 2009 featured Seattle grunge rockers Pearl Jam. Neil Young was one of the biggest influences on Pearl Jam and the fact that he closed the show, at least from a "serious" musical perspective, brings a certain and special closure to the unfortunate era of NBC late night.

Conan, in living up to his reputation as a class act, gave a very gracious farewell to NBC and the Tonight Show after Young finished his song. While choking back tears, O'Brien asked that his viewers reject cynicism and work hard to achieve the best that they could.

Will Farrell, himself the opposite of cynicism, closed the show as he impersonated (scarily well) Lynyrd Skynyrd singing 'Free Bird'. Conan joined the "band', playing one of the lead guitars, all the while with a big smile.

The irony of the lyrics were not lost. The delivery of, "Lord, I cannot change", a lyrical staple of classic rock, was not lost on the millions viewing at home.

Conan O'Brien is who he is...he not only does not want to change, he will not. But as offbeat and at times marginal as his brand of humor is, this is only the beginning for Conan.

As Neil Young paid him a serious tribute in "Long May May You Run", and as Will Farrell paid him one less so in his Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute, the audience wondered what Conan O'Brien's next move would be.

And backing up in the evening, we had Dave Matthews and Neil Young perform on the Hope For Haiti broadcast.


Dave Matthews and Neil Young: Hank Williams’ “Alone and Forsaken”

(Note: Neil Young playing Hank Williams' Martin D-28 Guitar.)

And -- lastly -- this really helped lift our spirits a bit. The conclusion of the Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien went completely over the top with Will Ferrell playing Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Freebird" wearing a "Tonight's The Night" t-shirt.

Now we think that a lot of folks totally got this. If not, get the whole story on Ronnie and Neil: Lynyrd Skynyrd and Neil Young. Ferrell's performance gives lie to the whole Lynyrd Skynyrd/Ronnie Van Zandt/Neil Young feud on the bogus "a southern man don't need him around anyhow" and the "supposedly" racist lyrics, as he performs in front of a USA flag (instead of a confederate flag, as some would prefer.)

Then check this HILARIOUS clip. And -- you too -- will finally know why a southern man needs Neil Young around anyhow.


"FreeBird" meets "More Cowbell"
Will Ferrell channeling Ronnie Van Zant channeling Neil Young via Blue Oyster Cult



Ronnie Van Zant sporting Neil Young "Tonight's The Night" T-shirt
Oakland Coliseum Stadium, July 2, 1977

Photographer: Michael Zagaris on Wolfgang's Vault


Will Ferrell, Beck, Ben Harper, ZZ Top, and Conan O'Brien: Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Freebird"

Conan O'Brien - Salon.com By Mary Elizabeth Williams:

"Did Ferrell rock out with his cowbell out? Oh yeah, he did. And Conan, playing away on guitar, was smiling. I was, too, through the tears. Because it was a silly and genuine finale for one of the most inspired, ridiculous shows ever to air on a network, and the end of a strange, lovely moment in time when the weirdoes banded together behind their late-night king to say, enough with mediocrity. Enough with DVR-proof bullshit.

Give us talent and inspiration and the unpredictable."

What a day. A big -- yet so sad -- day.

If I leave here tomorrow
Would you still remember me?
For I must be travelling on, now,
'Cause there's too many places I've got to see.
But, if I stayed here with you, girl,
Things just couldn't be the same.
'Cause I'm as free as a bird now,
And this bird you can not change.
Lord knows, I can't change.

Bye, bye, its been a sweet love.
Though this feeling I can't change.
But please don't take it badly,
'Cause Lord knows I'm to blame.
But, if I stayed here with you girl,
Things just couldn't be the same.
Cause I'm as free as a bird now,
And this bird you'll never change.
And this bird you can not change.
Lord knows, I can't change.
Lord help me, I can't change.

bye L.A. You're a free bird now and long may you run.

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