JM: How important are lyrics? NY: Well, it depends on the song. JM: What about an abstract song like “Cowgirl in the Sand“? NY: The words to “Cowgirl in the Sand” are very important because you can free-associate with them. Some words won’t let you do that, so you’re locked into the specific fuckin’ thing the guy’s singin’ about…. This way it could be anything. NY: The thing is, as long as there’s a thread that carries through it, then when you imagine what it’s about, there’s gonna be a thread that takes you to the end, too. You can follow your thought all the way through if you happen to have one—or if you don’t, you realize it doesn’t matter. Neil Young "Shakey" by Jimmy McDonough 2002