It's got my father in it, but I think it's about everybody's father, everybody's parents. It's like taking a look at these old folks who have lost their mates, or who've gotten a divorce years ago, like my parents. And it's about kids hoping that their parents will get back together again. It's a hope all kids in that situation have, I think. Neil Young Reprise Silver & Gold promotional piece 2000

It's not my father or your father. It's just fathers. It's not so much about them, it's like, you look at these old folks who have lost their mates or maybe they've gotten divorced years and years ago, like my parents. And then one of them dies, and then the other one is still here and with a new mate. But the kids think they're going to get back together again - that the real parents are going to get back together. Is this something you want? You want to see your parents together. So, even if your parents aren't together maybe they will be someday. I lived in this place called Omemee, which is outside of Toronto about 100 miles way out by a lake. A really funky, beautiful little town - Canadian town, 700 people. That's really where I grew up. We had 2 acres behind the house with a little barn, and then a garage and a loft. And out behind there I'd walk through the grass and we had a little creek that went through and we used to catch frogs and stuff. There was a railroad track back there where are the trains used to go by and steam engines and everything. And we'd put the coins on the track and put your ear down. You could hear the train coming on the rail before it came around the corner and all that kind of stuff. So that's part of it. And then the last time that I visited my dad, who lived in Ireland for a while, he took us for a walk out on these fields. And he let us through all this stuff. And we're going through all these brambles and over wire fences and all this stuff. And that's in there too. Neil Young Neil Young Words + Music promo release for Silver & Gold May 2000