I got to a point in my life where I had to make some big decisions about where I was, who I was with, and what I was doing and how to move forward without hurting myself and the music and everything. I just had to make some decisions and [they] were not easy decisions, but I made them and they have repercussions forever, you know? When I left, I knew that I was turning a page, and I could either keep reading the same page over and over again and get mired down in it. Or, I could just have a new page. I decided my kids were all old enough, everybody was moving along in their lives, and I was still in good contact with all of them. I felt really good. It didn't feel good to leave because obviously when a family breaks up it's not a good thing. You know, there was a divorce and all kinds of stuff and everything, but it's all in [the] song. Neil Young NPR/Kira Wakeam September 17, 2026