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)
Fuckin' 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
Comatose but walking still
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!
In Neil Young's song Fuckin' Up, he presents the idea of a "mindless drifter on the road," someone who seems to have an easy time navigating through life with a "heart of steel." However, the chorus reveals a different side to the singer’s situation: he repeatedly asks himself, "Why do I keep fuckin' up?" We see a contrast between the carefree attitude of the verses and the self-doubt and guilt in the chorus. The second verse further explores this contrast, where the singer sees someone he admires on a hill, but laments that only he could bring her down. We also see a succession of dogs, which serve as a metaphor for failed relationships and shattered dreams. The broken leashes and the keys left hanging in a swinging door paint a picture of a careless and irresponsible lifestyle. Meanwhile, the singer is still grappling with why he "keeps fuckin' up."
Line by Line Meaning
Mindless drifter on the road
I am aimlessly wandering without a clear purpose
Carry such an easy load
I have very little responsibility or weight on my shoulders
It's how you look, and how you feel
The impression you make is determined by your appearance and mental state
You must have a heart of steel
You need to be emotionally tough to survive in this world
Why do I keep fuckin' up?
I am frustrated with my repeated mistakes and poor decision-making
I can see you on a hill
I have a vision of you in my mind
Comatose but walking still
You seem lifeless and unresponsive, yet you continue to move forward
Curves beneath your flowing gown
I am physically attracted to you and your feminine figure
Only I could bring you down
I am aware of my negative impact on people, particularly you
Dogs that lick and dogs that bite
There are both friendly and hostile people in the world
Hounds that howl through the night
The enduring sounds of the dogs illustrate the restlessness of the night
Broken leashes are all over the floor
There are many things that have been abandoned or disregarded
Keys left hanging in a swinging door
There are opportunities available to me, but I fail to take advantage of them
Why do I keep fuckin' up?
I continue to make mistakes despite being aware of the consequences, and I am frustrated with myself
Keep fuckin' up!
I am acknowledging my inability to change and continue to make the same mistakes
Contributed by Scarlett B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Beth
on We Never Danced
i desperately want to know who painted aunt lisa's paintings in the movie