Crazy Horse is best known for its long association with Young, despite having released five albums of its own over a 19-year span. It has been co-credited with Young as Neil Young and Crazy Horse on 15 albums, "Americana" and "Psychedelic Pill" from 2012 being the latest.
The band recorded a concept album entitled "Greendale" (2003) that told the story using metaphors of murder and crime to represent the destruction of a small town community. The final song "Be The Rain" is one of Neil's classic epics, pleading for the world to be like the rain -- recycle and conserve to save our planet.
Discography: the studio albums "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" (1969), "Zuma" (1975), "Rust Never Sleeps" (1979), "Re-ac-tor" (1981), "Life" (1987), "Ragged Glory" (1990), "Sleeps With Angels" (1994), "Broken Arrow" (1996), Greendale (2003), "Americana" (2012), Psychedelic Pill (2012) and live albums "Live Rust" (1979), "Weld" (1991), "Year of the Horse" (1997), "Live at the Fillmore East" (2006)
F!#in' Up
Neil Young & Crazy Horse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Carry such an easy load
It's how you look, and how you feel
You must have a heart of steel
Why do I keep fuckin' up?
I can see you on a hill
Curves beneath your flowing gown
Only I could bring you down
Why do I keep fuckin' up?
Dogs that lick and dogs that bite
Hounds that howl through the night
Broken leashes are all over the floor
Keys left hanging in a swinging door
Why do I keep fuckin' up?
Keep fuckin' up!
The lyrics to Neil Young & Crazy Horse's song "F!#in' Up" describe the thoughts of a mindless drifter who is carrying an easy load on the road. The drifter is struggling with his own inadequacies and wonders why he keeps messing up. He sees a comatose figure on a hill, who is walking mindlessly but yet her gown is flowing with curves that entice the drifter. The drifter feels like only he could bring her down from that hill.
The drifter then describes the dogs that lick and those that bite, how they howl through the night, and the broken leashes that scatter across the floor. The scene creates a metaphor for the drifter's own behavior, as though he's just as uncontrolled as those dogs, in need of restraint, and he sees the keys left hanging in the swinging door as a symbol of his inability to leave his current situation behind.
The repeated phrase "Why do I keep fuckin' up?" shows the frustration and self-blame the drifter is grappling with. Despite this struggle, there is an underlying sense of hopelessness in the lyrics that suggests the drifter's flaws may be too deeply ingrained within him to overcome.
Line by Line Meaning
Mindless drifter on the road
I am aimlessly traveling through life.
Carry such an easy load
I don't have many responsibilities or burdens to bear.
It's how you look, and how you feel
My appearance and emotions dictate my behavior.
You must have a heart of steel
I need to be emotionally strong to endure my lifestyle.
Why do I keep fuckin' up?
I keep making mistakes and I don't know why.
I can see you on a hill
I can envision a graceful and peaceful image of you.
Comatose but walking still
You are physically present, but emotionally distant.
Curves beneath your flowing gown
Your feminine and alluring figure is revealed by your clothes.
Only I could bring you down
I am the only one capable of causing you harm or distress.
Dogs that lick and dogs that bite
There are friendly and hostile people in the world.
Hounds that howl through the night
The sounds of the night can be ominous and unsettling.
Broken leashes are all over the floor
People often fail to control their impulses and actions.
Keys left hanging in a swinging door
Opportunities are available and easy to access, but often neglected or abandoned.
Why do I keep fuckin' up?
Despite my observations and experiences, I am plagued by my own mistakes.
Keep fuckin' up!
I am frustrated and repeating my mistakes, but can't seem to break the cycle.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Silver Fiddle, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Frank M Sampedro, Neil Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Miaou Pha
The first time I heard this on the album "Ragged Glory" was such a revelation, this sound, the rawness, it was so alive and angry and soft at the same time...
Jackie Latini
So many of us have been waiting for this one......Thanks to Neil, Billy,Ralph, Manuel (poncho), The video included!!!! 💖💖💖💖 Jackieblue(L.A.)✌
Mindy Broffman Takara
So great to hear live performances by Neil and CH... I f#@k up too...not as often as I did when I was a young gun😂🤣✌️✌️🎶🎵
bevis25
I was there! Looking forward to the official release. The Catalyst is a nice small place that Neil has rocked hard many times.
Dodger16
this is another song I would love to jam with ya Mr Young
Klaus Ochs
;-) of corse :-)
Damien Faure
Great performance!
slow roll
I liked the song, its apart of life.😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎Be wiser, to yourself.
Richard Lynch
👍😎❤🖖
Love brother
Dodger16
My favorite song is your rockin in the free world Mr Young would love to jam with ya in person or online