Lyric discussion by bgogo 

Cover art for Fuckin' Up lyrics by Neil Young

To me, this is the white man talking to native Americans with remorse over his treatment of them:

"Mindless drifter on the road 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?"

First stanza, a vision of the native American with no where to get to, or searching for a new home now that the US government has forced him out. The "easy load" is no belongings or job, possibly just a bottle and little else. "You must have a heart of steel," would relate to one who has repeatedly been betrayed and mistreated.

"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?"

On a hill overlooking futile times walks the native American in her flowing gown, comatose from a lack of purpose, bewildered by loss.

"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?"

The dogs are the Indians, some that are "good injuns," some that fight back. Hounds through the night are the cries of them that we try to block out. Broken leashes, and keys left hanging in the swinging door, would refer to them being forced off their territory time after time, often with little notice. The white man had the chance to do right by them time after time, but still keeps fucking it up.

Song Meaning