"There were fewer people, fewer things going on, less distraction," he said "I just tried to focus right in on the core and get back to the roots of what we do." The first song to emerge was "Devil's Sidewalk," a two-chord rumination on the state of humanity: "There's a garden growing and a million weeds/There's no way of knowing who has done which deeds," the song observes. "I didn't even know what it was," Mr. Young said. "I said, what the hell is this? What is that? What am I talking about?" Then came another song, "Falling From Above." And another, "Double E." For the first time in Mr. Young's career, they both mentioned the same characters: Grandpa, his son Earl and Earl's wife, Edith, and a granddaughter. Neil Young New York Times/Jon Pareles June 15, 2003