Young wrote this in 1971 after he suffered a back injury that made it difficult for him to play the electric guitar, so on the Harvest tracks he played acoustic. Despite the injury, Young was in good spirits (possibly thanks to the painkillers), which is reflected in this song. The next few years were more challenging for Young, as he suffered a series of setbacks: his son Zeke was born with cerebral palsy, his friend Danny Whitten died, and he split with his girlfriend, Carrie Snodgress. His next three albums, which became known as "The Ditch Trilogy," expressed these dark times in stark contrast to "Heart of Gold."

This song was recorded at the first sessions for the Harvest album, which took place on Saturday, February 6, 1971 and were set up the night before. In the liner notes to his Decade collection, Young said: "This song put me in the middle of the road. Traveling there soon became a bore so I headed for the ditch."

This statement reflected Young's aversion to fame, and was not meant to demean the song. In a later interview with NME, he clarified: "I think Harvest is probably the finest record I've made."

Lyrics

I want to live

I want to give

I've been a miner for a heart of gold

It's these expressions

I never give

That keep me searching for a heart of gold

And I'm getting old

Keep me searching for a heart of gold

And I'm getting old

I've been to Hollywood

I've been to Redwood

I crossed the ocean for a heart of gold

I've been in my mind

It's such a fine line

That keeps me searching for a heart of gold

And I'm getting old

Keeps me searching for a heart of gold

And I'm getting old

Keep me searching for a heart of gold

You keep me searching and I'm growing old

Keep me searching for a heart of gold

I've been a miner for a heart of gold