Barn cover art

  Studio Album · No. 40

Barn Songwriting Credits by Neil Young

2021 Reprise Records 10 tracks 43 min

Produced by Neil Young, Niko Bolas  ·  Engineered by Niko Bolas, John Hanlon

Reprise Records RockFolk rock
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 10 of 10 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 10 / 10 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether Neil Young carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
10 trackswritten by Neil Young 0 tracksoutside writers
Neil Young's roles on this album

Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

10
Tracks
1
Lyricists
2
Producers
2021
Released
Data Insight

Every song on Barn is written by Neil Young, the natural fit for a Crazy Horse album where feel and groove carry more weight than polish. Young recorded the ten tracks with Crazy Horse over a few days in the summer of 2021 inside a restored 19th-century barn high in the Rocky Mountains, and the rough, unhurried room sound is part of the record's identity. The writing moves between sprawling jams such as the eight-minute "Welcome Back" and tighter pieces like the environmental "Change Ain't Never Gonna" and the closing "Don't Forget Love." "Canerican" plays on Young's identity as a Canadian who became an American citizen, a personal note among the album's broader concerns about the planet and the times.

"Barn" is a 2021 rock album by Neil Young and Crazy Horse, recorded live in a restored 1870s barn in Colorado with songs often captured in first takes to preserve spontaneity. Neil Young produced the record with Niko Bolas, the two credited as "The Volume Dealers," backed by Crazy Horse featuring Nils Lofgren on guitar, piano, and accordion, Billy Talbot on bass, and Ralph Molina on drums. The album includes "Song of the Seasons," "Heading West," "Welcome Back," "Human Race," and "Don't Forget Love." The record peaked at number 66 on the Billboard 200 and topped the Americana/Folk Albums chart. Critic Robert Christgau gave it an A grade, calling it the first worthwhile album of new Young songs since 2009's "Fork in the Road" and naming it the best album of 2021.

Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Song of the Seasons
Neil Young Neil Young Neil YoungNiko Bolas Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Crazy Horse (Backing Band)
2
Heading West
Neil Young Neil Young Neil YoungNiko Bolas Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Crazy Horse (Backing Band)
3
Change Ain't Never Gonna
Neil Young Neil Young Neil YoungNiko Bolas Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Crazy Horse (Backing Band)
4
Canerican
Neil Young Neil Young Neil YoungNiko Bolas Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Crazy Horse (Backing Band)
5
Shape of You
Neil Young Neil Young Neil YoungNiko Bolas Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Crazy Horse (Backing Band)
6
They Might Be Lost
Neil Young Neil Young Neil YoungNiko Bolas Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Crazy Horse (Backing Band)
7
Human Race
Neil Young Neil Young Neil YoungNiko Bolas Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Crazy Horse (Backing Band)
8
Tumblin' Thru the Years
Neil Young Neil Young Neil YoungNiko Bolas Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Crazy Horse (Backing Band)
9
Welcome Back
Neil Young Neil Young Neil YoungNiko Bolas Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Crazy Horse (Backing Band)
10
Don't Forget Love
Neil Young Neil Young Neil YoungNiko Bolas Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Crazy Horse (Backing Band)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 3 contributors

NY
Neil Young
Writer · Producer · Vocals
On this album10 written
NB
Niko Bolas
Producer
On this album10 produced
CH
Crazy Horse
Backing Band
On this albumGuest

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Frequently Asked Questions Barn

Who plays in Crazy Horse on Neil Young's Barn?
Barn features Neil Young on vocals, guitar, piano and harmonica, Billy Talbot on bass, Ralph Molina on drums, and Nils Lofgren on guitar and keyboards. It is the band's lineup following Lofgren's return on the 2019 album Colorado.
Did Neil Young write all the songs on Barn?
Yes. All ten tracks on Barn are credited solely to Neil Young, with no co-writers among the Crazy Horse members.
Where was Neil Young's Barn recorded?
Barn was recorded in the summer of 2021 in a restored 19th-century barn in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, at a setup Young called Studio in the Clouds. Young has said the rounded wooden log walls of the old barn gave the recordings their distinctive acoustic character.
What is the longest song on Neil Young's Barn?
"Welcome Back" is the longest track at roughly eight and a half minutes. It is a slow, brooding Crazy Horse jam and was issued as one of the songs promoting the album, with an accompanying music video.
What is the song "Canerican" about?
"Canerican" reflects Neil Young's dual identity as a Canadian-born musician who became a United States citizen in 2020. The title is his own coinage combining Canadian and American, and the lyrics touch on belonging and patriotism on his own terms.
Which songs were released to promote Neil Young's Barn?
"Song of the Seasons" came out first on October 15, 2021, followed by "Heading West" and then "Welcome Back" on December 3, 2021. These were promotional releases ahead of the album and did not chart as singles.
Who produced Barn by Neil Young and Crazy Horse?
Barn was produced by Neil Young and Niko Bolas, the pair who work together under the name the Volume Dealers. The album was released by Reprise Records on December 10, 2021.
How did Neil Young's Barn perform on the charts?
Barn debuted at number 66 on the US Billboard 200 dated December 25, 2021. It also charted in several other countries but was a relatively low-key commercial entry typical of Young's late-period Crazy Horse releases.
Is there a film connected to Neil Young's Barn?
Yes. Daryl Hannah directed a documentary also titled Barn that captures Neil Young and Crazy Horse recording the album in the mountain barn. The film was shot during the same sessions that produced the record.

Sources

Wikipedia: Barn (album) MusicBrainz release group: Barn Cover Art Archive: Barn front cover Discogs: Neil Young, Crazy Horse - Barn Genius: Human Race by Neil Young and Crazy Horse Ultimate Classic Rock: Neil Young and Crazy Horse Announce New Album Barn Cover Art Archive: Barn by Neil Young