Out On The Weekend
Neil Young & Crazy Horse Lyrics


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Think I'll pack it in and buy a pick-up
Take it down to L.A.
Find a place to call my own and try to fix up
Start a brand new day

The woman I'm thinking of, she loved me all up
But I'm so down today
She's so fine, she's in my mind
I hear her callin'

See the lonely boy out on the weekend
Trying to make it pay
Can't relate to joy, he tries to speak and
Can't begin to say

She got pictures on the wall, they make me look up
From her big brass bed
Now I'm running down the road, trying to stay up
Somewhere in her head

The woman I'm thinking of, she loved me all up
But I'm so down today
She's so fine she's in my mind
I hear her callin'

See the lonely boy, out on the weekend
Trying to make it pay




Can't relate to joy, he tries to speak and
Can't begin to say

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of the song, "Think I'll pack it in and buy a pick-up, take it down to L.A.," suggest a desire for a fresh start and a change of scenery. The singer wants to leave behind whatever troubles he's facing and head to Los Angeles in search of his own place where he can start anew. This is reinforced by the line, "Find a place to call my own and try to fix up, start a brand new day." The image of fixing up a place and starting fresh implies a need for self-renewal after a tough time.


The second verse brings in a female figure who "loved me all up" but the singer is "so down today." Despite this, she's still on his mind, and he hears her calling. The bridge of the song, "See the lonely boy out on the weekend, trying to make it pay, can't relate to joy, he tries to speak and can't begin to say," focuses on a "lonely boy" who's struggling to communicate what he's feeling or find joy in his life. This could be a reference to the singer's own experiences, or it could represent a wider sense of disillusionment among young people.


As a whole, "Out on the Weekend" is a song that captures a sense of restlessness and yearning for something better. The singer is looking for a fresh start, but there's a sense that even if he finds it, he'll still be haunted by his past and the people he's left behind.


Line by Line Meaning

Think I'll pack it in and buy a pick-up
I am considering giving up and starting over by purchasing a truck


Take it down to L.A.
I will travel to Los Angeles with my new truck


Find a place to call my own and try to fix up
I will search for an abode that I can renovate to my liking


Start a brand new day
I want to begin again and start anew


The woman I'm thinking of, she loved me all up
I am remembering a woman who gave me her all


But I'm so down today
However, I am feeling sad and disheartened at the moment


She's so fine, she's in my mind
Despite my mood, the woman is still beautiful and constantly on my thoughts


I hear her callin'
I can hear her voice in my mind, beckoning me to come back to her


See the lonely boy out on the weekend
There is a solitary boy trying to make the most of his weekend


Trying to make it pay
He is attempting to earn money or have a good time


Can't relate to joy, he tries to speak and
Although he strives to express positive emotion, he cannot seem to do so


Can't begin to say
He is unable to articulate his thoughts and feelings adequately


She got pictures on the wall, they make me look up
The woman I think of has images posted on her wall that capture my attention


From her big brass bed
These pictures are located near her large metal-framed bed


Now I'm running down the road, trying to stay up
I am wandering around, struggling to keep my spirits elevated


Somewhere in her head
My image exists in her mind as well




Contributed by James R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Wearing 7 Bells

Anyone? May 2017? GOT to share this!
going to try to post Lyrics to this amazing song
heard it 40+ yrs ago. Yep ya heard me right. He is as young as I am or one of us is younger. NY still as amazing as he was and will always be. TY for the post here! Lyricss? Correct me if wrong! Puleaze

Think I'll pack it in and buy a pick-up
Take it down to LA
find a place to call my own and try to Fix up
start a brand new day
The woman I'm thinking of she loved me all up
but I'm so down today
she's so fine she's in my mind I hear her calling...
See the lonely boy out on the weekend
trying to make it pay
he can't relate to joy he tries to speak and can't begin to say...
She got pictures on the wall
they make me look up... from her big brass bed
Now I'm running down the road trying to stay up
somewhere in her head
The woman I'm thinking of she loved me all up
but I'm so down today
she's so fine she's in my mind
I hear her calling
See the lonely boy out on the weekend trying to make it pay
can't relate to joy
he tries to speak and cant begin to say...



All comments from YouTube:

Patrick Harwood

Still the best of them all. God bless Neil Young.

jonnylag

Opening line to one of all time favorite albums - Harvest. I rushed home with the album from the record store, the needle hit the vinyl then out of the radiogram came Neils crackly voice "See the lonely boy, out on the weekend". Still send chills down my spine!!!!! Man I am old or what?...lol

Terry Brown

Yes

cayogator

one of my all-time favorites fro Mr Neil Young !!!

Βασίλης Κυριακίδης

I don't know if you're old but you sure know what the real music is.

Wearing 7 Bells

Nope not old at all
did bring back memories to hear your of your excursion though
sounds so familiar to me. Thank Heavens for YouTube and what I- we- get to hear again. Not same as vinyl but omg and damn almighty is better than not hearing NY at all !
See The Lonely Boy Out on the Weekend

Dori Vee

One of my first albums when it came out. I was 13 or 14 yo and I was in love with Neil

Bandog Betty

Simply, love this song ... always have ... always will ....

Al Lagoon

What a fine rendition of a fine song. Don't hear this one live too often.

Tim Allsopp

amazing version love it

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