Few musical partnerships have been as complex and emotionally charged as that of Graham Nash and Neil Young. As key members of the iconic supergroup Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (CSNY), their voices helped define an era, creating a harmony-driven sound that shaped the landscape of 1970s folk rock. Though their personal and creative relationship has seen its share of turbulence, one thing remains certain: Graham Nash holds a deep admiration for Neil Young’s artistry—particularly when it comes to the hauntingly beautiful “Only Love Can Break Your Heart.”
Written by Neil Young in 1970, the song appeared on his critically acclaimed album After the Gold Rush, and carries a quiet emotional weight that continues to resonate. What many fans may not know is that the track wasn’t just a reflective musing on heartbreak—it was inspired by the very real pain Nash experienced when his relationship with Joni Mitchell came to an end. Young, recognizing his bandmate’s sorrow, crafted a song that spoke directly to the heart of the matter.
“That song means a lot to me because Neil wrote it about me and Joni,” Nash revealed in an interview with Uncut. “It’s such a beautiful song. I knew it was about me the day Neil played it for me at Stephen’s house in Laurel Canyon.”
It’s a remarkable moment in music history—one artist writing a song for another, not as a gift or a gimmick, but as an act of empathy. “It was incredibly important for me to hear what Neil had said because he was dead right,” Nash continued. “It is only love that can break your heart. We are strong, mankind, but these love things can really trip you up. He was only 24 when he wrote that.”
For Nash, the impact of “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” was immediate and lasting. He has often referred to it as “one of the best records” he’s ever heard—an extraordinary compliment from a man who has spent a lifetime surrounded by some of music’s most influential songs and artists.
Their connection, however, stretches even further back than their time in CSNY. Long before their official collaborations, Nash encountered Young’s voice through a different channel—Buffalo Springfield. While touring Canada with his former band The Hollies, Nash brought along a portable record player and a copy of Buffalo Springfield Again. One track, in particular, struck a chord: “Expecting to Fly.”
“I’d constantly play ‘Expecting to Fly’ — it was one of the best records I’d ever heard in my life,” Nash told music journalist Bill DeYoung. “I loved his voice, but I didn’t know how it would fit in with this three–part harmony that was so strong in my soul.”
Eventually, it all did fit. With David Crosby and Stephen Stills, Nash found the perfect blend of voices to form one of the most celebrated harmonies in rock history. And while Neil Young’s presence in CSNY would often be unpredictable—drifting in and out of the lineup—the connection between Nash and Young, particularly through songs like “Only Love Can Break Your Heart,” has always run deep.
In recent years, especially following the death of David Crosby, Nash has said that he’s unlikely to reunite musically with Young. Without Crosby, he feels, the heart of CSNY is missing. Still, their intertwined musical history continues to speak volumes—and that bittersweet ballad Young once wrote for his friend stands as a timeless testament to their bond.
Because sometimes, it’s true: only love can break your heart—but great songs can help heal it.