Hi Friends,

A Big Thank You to all of you for listening to “Our Comfortable Lives” and making it the #1 song on the Neil Young, Living With War Today Music Chart. This is a song that has been steadily climbing the chart for over a year. It has risen from its starting position of #3,303 to its current #1 position. It could not have done that without people (you) listening.

I want you to know that this music chart is not without competition. There are some very good artists/songwriters on this chart. There are names like JJ Cale, Eric Clapton, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson as well as many unknown indie artists who are writing songs about the world situation as they see it. Some write in humor, some write with a seriousness. All are touched by the senselessness. These artists, like me are simply voicing our feelings about living in a tempestuous world, expressing hope for a better one. I’m privileged to be in their company as well as the company of the host, Neil Young.

I must give credit and acknowledge my Producer, Mandi Martin. This song would not be where it is without her expert production skills, musical talent and guidance. Mandi kept the production simple and poignant. This is something that I would never have achieved on my own (as many of you know I can be very elaborate in my production : ) Mandi carefully embellished the song while keeping it simple, retaining its original earthiness. Thanks Mandi. I’d also like to thank the talented musicians Mandi brought in to perform on the track. Paul Marshall, bass and acoustic guitars; on cello; and Voyce McGinley III on military snare. These musicians are successful, highly skilled players with great track records. I am fortunate to have their performances on my song.

This song continues to pick up momentum as more people around the world listen. In my last email, I notified you of an interview/live performance I did with Global Referendum TV out of Germany. As of this writing, Roz Larman, a Los Angeles radio legend from KPFK Radio who is Host and Producer of the extremely popular show, "FolkScene" is going to be playing “Our Comfortable Lives” on her radio show.

I hope that you will continue to listen. I am enclosing the link to Neil Young’s main page so those of you who are interested can read the passion in why Neil started this music chart in the first place. He was compelled in much the same way he was compelled to write and record his song, “Ohio” 40 years ago when the United States hit a very low point in American history with the deaths of four college students at Kent State. I was compelled to write a song that maybe would make us think about the injustices of war and how fortunate those of us who are not physically engaged in war are to live our lives in freedom without the pain and suffering that war brings upon so many of the other innocent people around the world who are caught in its web. We live in a technologically advanced time; a violent, harsh, cruel, unthinking time. Some of us sometimes are oblivious to it. We’re consumed with ipads, ipods, iphones, soccer games, bar-b-ques, personal trainers, massage therapists, fast food, “Sex In The City” re-runs and Remy Martin. There are wars between countries. There are wars in our streets. There are wars in our schools. There are wars between politicians. There are wars between religions. There are wars in our own minds, minds filled with hate, prejudice and selfishness….. but we continue with the hope that somehow mankind can realize how unnecessary all this violence really is…. that those of us who do live comfortably, thoughtfully realize and pay homage to those who sacrifice themselves in order for us to do so; to exist in a common goal to live in a world without fear, pain, suffering and senseless deaths inflicted on each other by other human beings.

Again, thank you all so much for listening.

All Good Things,

Barry Keenan

http://www.neilyoung.com/lwwtoday/index.html