Harvest Moon

I think TheSilverNoble is right when he says that the song is about two individuals who used to be lovers but kept in contact and are now experiencing a Harvest Moon together. The line "When we were lovers, I loved you with all my heart" says it all.

You can remain in contact with a lover even though you both have gone your own ways. That love changes from when you were both actually living together and expressing that love with each other but just because you are no longer together does not mean that love is dead. It continues on and a bond can remain for your whole lives.

This song is about when your paths now cross again and the memories of your love together rises to the current moment. They are dancing under the Harvest moon knowing that when the moment passes they will still go in separate directions, either that evening or the next morning but when they do part that love between them will still be tucked away in their soul's back pocket.

First came across this song in the early 90's when my now wife had first got together. Our 13th year to together hit an all time low with us very nearly splitting up. I was looking through CD's which have and came across this track again, the lyrics seem so right about how i feel for my wife now and with with 3 lovely children and 1 great stepson our 14th year looks to be the best yet. This song is for you Mary x

My wife LOVES to dance to this tune... and I have to admit I do too. We've been married 23 years, and I think it's become OUR song. The sound is so INCREDIBLE, the lyric is so honest and simple... it exudes ROMANCE. Definitely one of Neil's best!

I agree with the above comment by lazyesq. "When we were lovers, I loved you with all my heart" clarifies that the relationship is in the past.

This song is not about a marriage or couple, but rather an all-consuming (perhaps unrequited) love that still exists. I believe the harvest moon parallels a calendar year to the seasons of life...suggesting that his life is soon ending. He is reflecting upon this intense love that he still feels in his older years for a person he wishes to be with again, even if briefly for a single evening/dance.

Another line: "Just like children sleepin', We could dream this night away" is also being interpreted too literally. I feel that this just also correlates to the fact that years have passed between their being together, and he wants their reuniting to be wondrous, ethereal - such like childlike dreams.

I understand this song as a deep love that will always exist, though the two involved were separated and probably always will be. I do not think the separation is particularly desired by either party.

What makes the song heartbreakingly beautiful is his desire to "dance in the light"...what little light they have left. Moonlight is not as bright as the fire of the sun (i.e.,the fires of passionate love, the fires of youth) but it reflect the sun's light back to us when we are in darkness; even if it can't warm us, it reminds us the sun once shined.

And there is definitely the melancholy of missing someone, even if you still sleep in the same bed with them. With "I want to see you dance again" he is saying it has been too long since she danced, smiled, or enjoyed being alive. He wants her to be happy again, as happy and carefree as they were years ago. If he just wanted to watch her and adore her grace and beauty one last time the words would be "I want to see you dance once more" or "some more."

this song speaks for itself... it just makes me feel all warm and nostalgic...very awesome song.

I love the sweetness and simplicity of this song...the soft sweeping of the broom in the background..the tenderness in Neil's voice. Neil Young is my husband's favorite singer, and as we were dating I learned more of Neil's songs. We picked this song as "our song". It was the first song we danced to at our wedding, and I must admit, three years into our marriage, the song still brings tears to my eyes when I hear it. Almost as if Neil wrote it for little ol' us. :o)

If you have never been in love before and want to know what it feels like, imagine yourself and that special person in the scene that Neil paints in this song, get the imagry in your head, and by god, it's the closest to the real thing.

I was from the east coast. He was from west coast. We met in a restaurant in Hershey PA in 1968. He watched me from across the room. Then he came to my table and introduced himself. We saw each other every year for 2 weeks for 17 years. We never saw each other or spoke again. The last thing I said to him before he left for the last time was, "Can I ask you something?". He said yes. I said when you go home, whenever there's a harvest moon, will you look up at it and think of me and I'll look up it and think of you. For the rest of our lives? He said yes. I said, do you promise? He said, "I promise". He told me he loved me. I told him I loved him...with all my heart. And I walked away.

I found out this past March that he died three years ago. I found his grave and placed flowers. I was driving back from the cemetery and was searching for a local radio station because I forgot to renew Sirius XM. They played "Harvest Moon". First time I had ever heard the song. My career was law enforcement. Never had much time to listen to music. Worked round the clock for many years. Anyway I had to pull over and stop the car when I heard the lyrics. Because I couldn't breathe and drive at the same time. Call me crazy but I think he was communicating with me through Harvest Moon. Never again in my life will I be so deeply touched by any song Just wish I could somehow personally thank Neil Young.

I am ASTONISHED that this song has only TWO comments. This is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. Ever. It deserves so much more recognition.