Lyric discussion by headlessparrot 

It's about the janitor/custodian guy on his ranch. Sad character, and a real sad, melancholic number. Haunting.

yup, i am watching "heart of gold" right now on netflix and he just said that when he first became a rich hippy and bought the ranch he still lives on that he wrote that song for the old man who lived on the property with his wife and took care of the place. Neil young is one of the guys that make me proud to be a canadian, he has so much diversity has done so much for so many young performers in the music industry it just inspiring.

Absolutely correct. I recently saw an old BBC special on Youtube where he refers to this song a 'new'. (WOW!!!). Before he performs the song he says he bought a Ranch and the song was about the old ranch-hand that was running the place when he bought it.

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