Neil Young - Thrasher

from film "Rust Never Sleeps" (1979)

They were hiding behind hay bales,
They were planting in the full moon
They had given all they had for something new
But the light of day was on them,
They could see the thrashers coming
And the water shone like diamonds in the dew.

And I was just getting up, hit the road before it's light
Trying to catch an hour on the sun
When I saw those thrashers rolling by,
Looking more than two lanes wide
I was feelin' like my day had just begun.

Where the eagle glides ascending
There's an ancient river bending
Down the timeless gorge of changes
Where sleeplessness awaits
I searched out my companions,
Who were lost in crystal canyons
When the aimless blade of science
Slashed the pearly gates.

It was then I knew I'd had enough,
Burned my credit card for fuel
Headed out to where the pavement turns to sand
With a one-way ticket to the land of truth
And my suitcase in my hand
How I lost my friends I still don't understand.

They had the best selection,
They were poisoned with protection
There was nothing that they needed,
Nothing left to find
They were lost in rock formations
Or became park bench mutations
On the sidewalks and in the stations
They were waiting, waiting.

So I got bored and left them there,
They were just deadweight to me
Better down the road without that load
Brings back the time when I was eight or nine
I was watchin' my mama's T.V.,
It was that great Grand Canyon rescue episode.

Where the vulture glides descending
On an asphalt highway bending
Thru libraries and museums, galaxies and stars
Down the windy halls of friendship
To the rose clipped by the bullwhip
The motel of lost companions
Waits with heated pool and bar.

But me I'm not stopping there,
Got my own row left to hoe
Just another line in the field of time
When the thrashers comes, I'll be stuck in the sun
Like the dinosaurs in shrines
But I'll know the time has come
To give what's mine.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• neil
• young
• thrasher

[markre60]

Neil....the master.

[gablen23]

@markre60 I agree, and Neil said that about Dylan so :))

[huckfinn135]

If you don't have the whole album "Rust Never Sleeps" do yourself a favor and buy it today. You can't find most of it on Youtube...songs like Pocahontas, Ride My Llama, Sail Away, Powderfinger. Truly one of the all time great albums.

[dylansox]

my favourite Neil Young song nobody ever mentions this song, i love it!!

[thisisnowhere]

To jrock2264, this song was on the Live Rust movie but not incluuded on the Live Rust album. A different version is on Rust Never Sleeps.

[Mrshashanful]

Nice hair cut Mr Neil young !

[LLB61959]

What a great song.Its amazing the pictures he can draw with words .

[jrock2264]

Dang, he actually messed up at 2:46....I don't remember that on the album version.....but this IS the album version, isn't it?

[jrock2264]

@jp7794 Believe me, I know...I was 15 in 1979....

[jp7794]

@jrock2264 30 years will make you look older. :-) Trust me on this one.

[rgaleny]

I love this song. It really touches me powerfully. Neil is always good at songwriting, this is the one for me, though. It's like a post card or a letter home about the end of the '70's.

[NeilYoungLive71]

oops, neil forgot the words at 2:48, but he's adorable none the less. first time i heard this song, i was moved to tears. such poetic song

[jrock2264]

Man, he looks young....