"We seem to somewhat be behind an eight ball, and what I mean by that is we're constantly waiting for a call from Neil as to whether he wants to do CSNY"
About this Quote
The subtext is governance, not nostalgia. CSNY is supposedly a supergroup of equals, but Nash’s sentence makes the power structure plain: “we’re constantly waiting for a call from Neil.” That “constantly” isn’t just temporal; it’s emotional labor. The others are suspended in a state of readiness, unable to plan, unable to close the book, stuck in a limbo where reunion is always possible and therefore never settled. He’s describing a kind of soft captivity that long-running bands know well: the brand keeps everyone tethered, even when the relationships don’t.
Context matters because Neil Young’s reputation for independence is part of his cultural capital. Nash doesn’t attack that; he translates it into a practical consequence. The careful phrasing (“as to whether he wants to do CSNY”) keeps the door open for fans, promoters, and legacy, while still airing a grievance: the group’s future is effectively one person’s mood. It’s a musician’s version of diplomacy - disappointment delivered in the language of professionalism, with just enough irritation to make it believable.
Quote Details
| Topic | Music |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Nash, Graham. (2026, January 17). We seem to somewhat be behind an eight ball, and what I mean by that is we're constantly waiting for a call from Neil as to whether he wants to do CSNY. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/we-seem-to-somewhat-be-behind-an-eight-ball-and-74528/
Chicago Style
Nash, Graham. "We seem to somewhat be behind an eight ball, and what I mean by that is we're constantly waiting for a call from Neil as to whether he wants to do CSNY." FixQuotes. January 17, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/we-seem-to-somewhat-be-behind-an-eight-ball-and-74528/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"We seem to somewhat be behind an eight ball, and what I mean by that is we're constantly waiting for a call from Neil as to whether he wants to do CSNY." FixQuotes, 17 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/we-seem-to-somewhat-be-behind-an-eight-ball-and-74528/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.


