Neil Young Reveals Love for Daryl Hannah Through 'Earth Girl' on Album 'Second Song'

Neil Young has once again drawn public attention with his latest album, Second Song, officially released on Friday (September 18). On the album, he includes a song titled Earth Girl that specifically depicts his love for his wife, actress Daryl Hannah. The song is one of the highlights because Young rarely openly reveals his personal side in his music.

In an interview with MOJO magazine, Young revealed that Earth Girl has a unique structure with two overlapping melodies. "One melody has fast lyrics, while the other is softer," he said. He added that the song is one of his favorites because it captures the essence of his relationship with Hannah. "I know this song depicts my love for Daryl quite well," Young said.

Young and Hannah's love story began in 2014, shortly after his divorce from his second wife, Pegi Morton. The couple later married in 2018. Young admitted it took a lifetime to find his true love. "I feel there are no significant worries when I'm with her," he said. "We are very close in life experience. As artists, we understand each other's need for space and time to create."

Besides Earth Girl, Second Song also includes several old songs that Young pulled from his archive and re-recorded with his band, The Chrome Hearts. One of them is I'll Love You Forever, which Young wrote as a teenager about puppy love. According to The Chrome Hearts drummer Anthony LoGerfo, the song remains relevant today because of Young's love for Hannah. "He wrote that song as a teenager, about teenage love, but now it applies so strongly to his life. Their love is pure like teenage love. Their love is real," LoGerfo explained.

"The feeling in that song is like it was just yesterday. I was young when I wrote it, but that doesn't matter, because it was only my body's age. I could have written it tomorrow," Young said.

Young added that he does not tie the song to a particular time frame. "The song is great if you are present when creating it and don't force anything, let it flow, then the song will stay with you forever," he concluded.

For music fans in Indonesia, the release of this album can serve as a reminder of the power of music as a medium for expressing love that transcends age. Young's legendary works, such as "Like a Hurricane" and "Heart of Gold," remain references for folk-rock musicians in Indonesia. Second Song also confirms that senior musicians like Young are still capable of delivering fresh work without losing their identity.

Going forward, it will be interesting to see how the album is received by the global market, including in Indonesia, and whether songs like Earth Girl will become a new standard in Young's concert repertoire. With personal lyrics and distinctive arrangements, Second Song has the potential to strengthen Neil Young's musical legacy on the international stage.