Neil Young returned to Glastonbury this weekend at age 79, headlining one of the festival’s most iconic slots — but the night proved as surprising as it was bittersweet.

The Canadian rock legend, known for classics like Heart of Gold and Old Man, took to the Pyramid Stage in front of what many described as a noticeably thinner crowd compared to past headliners. While thousands still gathered to see the folk-rock pioneer, the audience was far smaller than the record-breaking numbers drawn by younger acts like Taylor Swift and Coldplay in recent years.

Adding to the intrigue of the night, Young was spotted using lyric cheat sheets throughout the two-hour set, occasionally glancing down at papers taped to the stage floor and on music stands beside him. For some, it was a poignant reminder of the passage of time — a living legend leaning on small aids to keep the music alive. But for others, it only reinforced the authenticity and rawness that has always defined Young’s performances.

“Neil forgetting a line and laughing about it is more rock ‘n’ roll than half the acts out there,” one fan posted on X (formerly Twitter). Another wrote: “79 years old, still giving us that voice, that guitar tone, and those songs. Who cares if he needs a lyric sheet?”

Perhaps the most unexpected twist of the night was Young’s decision to finally allow his Glastonbury set to be broadcast on the BBC. For years, the singer has famously resisted having his live performances televised, citing concerns about audio quality and control over his work. But on Saturday, festival-goers at home were able to tune in for the full show — a major U-turn that thrilled fans who couldn’t make it to Worthy Farm.

A BBC spokesperson said: “We’re delighted Neil chose to share his headline set with our audiences. It’s a piece of music history, and we’re proud to have broadcast it.”

The setlist leaned heavily on Young’s classics, including extended jams on Like a Hurricane and Cinnamon Girl. He also offered quieter, acoustic renditions of Harvest Moon and After the Gold Rush, which drew some of the loudest singalongs of the evening.

While the crowd may not have matched the sheer scale of younger headliners, those in attendance described the atmosphere as “intimate” and “emotional,” with many reveling in the chance to see one of rock’s great survivors still commanding the stage.

For Neil Young, Glastonbury 2025 may not have been about proving himself to new generations, but about closing a circle — sharing his music on his own terms, even if that meant leaning on a lyric sheet along the way.

As one fan summed it up online: “Legends don’t need perfection. They just need to show up. And Neil showed up.”