Studio Album · No. 28
Living with War Songwriting Credits by Neil Young
Holds writing credit on 9 of 10 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 9 / 10 documented
Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether Neil Young carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Awards & Recognition 1
Neil Young wrote every song on Living with War except the closing "America the Beautiful," the traditional 1895 hymn by Katharine Lee Bates and Samuel A. Ward, which is sung here by a 100-voice choir. The record was a fast, direct response to the Iraq War and the George W. Bush administration, written in a burst after Young saw a newspaper image of wounded soldiers and recorded across roughly a week at the end of March and start of April 2006. Young described the sound as "metal folk protest," pairing his electric guitar, bass, and drums with trumpet and the choir, and naming Phil Ochs and Bob Dylan as touchstones. He released the full album as a free internet stream before retail, treating it as a single statement rather than a set of separate singles.
"Living with War" is a 2006 protest rock album by Neil Young, a folk-rooted record criticizing George W. Bush and the Iraq War that Young began writing after seeing a USA Today image of wounded soldiers. Neil Young produced the album with Niko Bolas and L.A. Johnson, backed by bassist Rick Rosas and drummer Chad Cromwell, with a 100-voice choir recorded in a single 12-hour session at Capitol Studios. The track listing includes "Let's Impeach the President," "Shock and Awe," "Families," and "Lookin' for a Leader." Released May 2, 2006, the album peaked at number 15 on the Billboard 200 and number 7 in Canada, and it earned three Grammy nominations including Best Rock Album. Young positioned the work as modern protest music in the tradition of 1960s folk artists, citing the absence of younger musicians addressing the war.
Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
After the Garden
|
Neil Percival Young | Neil Percival Young | Neil YoungNiko BolasL.A. Johnson | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 2 |
Living with War
|
Neil Percival Young | Neil Percival Young | Neil YoungNiko BolasL.A. Johnson | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 3 |
The Restless Consumer
|
Neil Percival Young | Neil Percival Young | Neil YoungNiko BolasL.A. Johnson | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 4 |
Shock and Awe
|
Neil Percival Young | Neil Percival Young | Neil YoungNiko BolasL.A. Johnson | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 5 |
Families
|
Neil Percival Young | Neil Percival Young | Neil YoungNiko BolasL.A. Johnson | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 6 |
Flags of Freedom
|
Neil Percival Young | Neil Percival Young | Neil YoungNiko BolasL.A. Johnson | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 7 |
Let's Impeach the President
|
Neil Percival Young | Neil Percival Young | Neil YoungNiko BolasL.A. Johnson | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 8 |
Lookin' for a Leader
|
Neil Percival Young | Neil Percival Young | Neil YoungNiko BolasL.A. Johnson | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 9 |
Roger and Out
|
Neil Percival Young | Neil Percival Young | Neil YoungNiko BolasL.A. Johnson | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 10 |
America the Beautiful
|
Katharine Lee BatesSamuel Augustus Ward | Katharine Lee BatesSamuel Augustus Ward | Neil YoungNiko BolasL.A. Johnson | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |