IFLTS: 'Only Love Can Break Your Heart,' Neil Young

'Only Love Can Break Your Heart,' Neil Young
From 1970's 'After the Gold Rush'

My first encounter with Neil Young was at a Pearl Jam concert in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. It was my first concert and I stood shoulder to shoulder with thousands of sweaty concert goers, braving the sweltering heat to hear the melancholy strains of 'Better Man.' The crowd roared when Eddie Veddar came out. And then he vomited. ... all over the stage.

He was quickly swept away and replaced by a wild man in a red bandana and long hair. 'Rockin' in the Free World' erupted through the park and an old hippie from the Redwoods started freaking out and pumping his fists in front of me. I made a quick break for my Mom's station wagon, confused as much by the rambunctious old hippie as I was by the onstage vomit. Years later, after this initial impression subsided, a boyfriend of sorts introduced me to what is now safely one of my favorite songs: 'Only Love Can Break Your Heart.' And like that first Neil Young experience, there was nervous nausea involved, the pit-in-your-stomach type parodied in 'South Park,' where Stan meets Wendy and attraction = sickness.

We were in the initial wooing period, and he played this song for me many times, probably aware that our time together was ill-fated. The song's sweet strumming guitar and simple lyrics still pull at my heartstrings. And yes, in this case, only love did in fact break my heart. But somehow I think I'm better off for it. And for the love of this song, I'd do it all over again.

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