American Songwriter has published a short appreciation piece highlighting four Neil Young lyrics that the writer considers particularly memorable, spanning several decades of his songwriting career. The article is a personal, opinion-led selection rather than a news story, intended to showcase Young's lyrical craft and encourage readers unfamiliar with his catalogue to explore it further.

The featured songs are "Old Man", "Unknown Legend" (from 1992's Harvest Moon), "Cowgirl in the Sand", and "Rockin' in the Free World" (written in 1989). Context is given for each: "Old Man" is noted for its haunting harmonies from James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt, with Ronstadt recalling an all-night recording session that finished at dawn in a snowstorm; "Rockin' in the Free World" reportedly originated from a comment by Young's guitarist Frank after Soviet Union tour dates were cancelled.