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)
The album was recorded mostly live at San Francisco's Cow Palace, accompanied by Neil's perennial backing band, Crazy Horse. "Rust Never Sleep" references Neil's ongoing attempts at musical self-renewal so as to avoid becoming irrelevant, restless experimentation a hallmark quality of his music that has become almost synonymous with his name over the years.
The" dinosaurs" referred to in the song refer CSNY - something long dead and forgotten. More explicitly, the line goes on to state: "So I got bored and left them there, they were just dead weight to me. It's better on the road without that load."
Neil Young - Rust Never Sleeps Album More Songs Lyrics
