Search by Title

A	B	C	D	E	F	G
H	I	J	K	L	M	N
O	P	Q	R	S	T	U
V	W	X	Y	Z	#

Browse Categories Random Songfact Random Category Add to Songfacts Take the Quiz SongFAQ Get the Newsletter E-Mail Us Message Boards Full Interviews Lyrical Pursuit Song Fallacies

Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

Throughout the song, references to geological formations and farming are repeated. The song could be interpreted to be about death or the decline of rock 'n' roll, but Neil says, "Thrasher was pretty much me writing about my experiences with Crosby, Stills & Nash in the mid '70s"

The great Canyon rescue episode probably refers to an episode of one of the mid '50s Westerns. Neil has said he enjoys sci-fi films and old Westerns.

This could reflect Neil's personal philosophy about life and music, and his emphasis on being true to his own heart and soul. In a 2003 Rolling Stone article, Neil said: "That's what I know how to do (make albums) and I do that OK. Sometimes I do it and people really like it. Sometimes I do it and they get pissed off at me (smiles). Whatever." (thanks, Amy - Chicago, IL, for all above with help from Thrasher's Wheat website)

Comments:

I had this song on tape over twenty years ago and it's meaning slowly faded away untill just recently I bought the CD. A gem refound.
- Mikko, Townsville, Australia

The they were just dead weight to me he's talking about CSN
- Dan, Winthrop, MA

I also think this is one of Neil's best -- high praise indeed. Believe it or not, Grand Canyon episode refers to an episode of the Brady Bunch TV series!
- Mike, Carmel, CA

"Just another line in the field of time...." Brilliant.
- Dan, Gaevle, Sweden

Very Dylanesque in that Neil turns some really great phrases. My favourite is "I burned my credit card for fuel and headed out to where the pavement turns to sand". I first got turned onto Neil Young when I was in my early teens and this song has remained as spiritually important to me for over 25 years. When I die, I want this song played at my funeral and the phrase that I previously mentioned engraved onto my stone.
- Davis, Halifax, Canada

I like what he says about the hotels waiting for him with "heated pool and air condition bar". It seems kind of out of place in the verse. Its a long phrase. It makes me laugh to hear it.
- Joni, New York, NY

The song is aptly named as Neil is giving a good thrashing to CS&N.
- Steve, Fenton, MO

An amazing and evocative lyrical excercise, very Dylanesque, but with Young's unique signature style. This song (along with "Powderfinger") was an utter breath of fresh air in a musically bleak 1979 - a very unexpected revival of 1960's songwriting in the era of disco and pompous heavy metal supergroups. Such imagry - I have never been able to get the phrase "aimless blade of science" out of my head!
- Paul, Sacramento, CA

I just heard this for the first time and I believe it's about Neil Young becoming lost and bored in CSN&Y and nothing left to do there.
- Johnny, Los Angeles, CA

My favourite Neil Young song.I get very melancholy when I hear this song. It reminds me of a Canada of my past, before factory farms,and mass consumerism of block stores and urban sprawl.
- Gerald Mueller, Woodstock, Canada

This is the best piece of writing in Music. Danielj
- Daniel, Cape Breton, Canada