Avg rating:
Your rating:
Total ratings: 2629
Length: 5:46
Plays (last 30 days): 1
With a big red beacon, and a flag, and a man on the rail
I think you'd better call John, 'cause it don't look like they're here to deliver the mail
And it's less than a mile away
I hope they didn't come to stay
It's got numbers on the side and a gun and it's makin' big waves
Daddy's gone, my brother's out hunting in the mountains
Big John's been drinking since the river took Emmy-Lou
So the powers that be left me here to do the thinking
And I just turned twenty-two
I was wonderin' what to do
The closer they got, the more those feelings grew
Daddy's rifle in my hand felt reassuring
He told me, red means run son, numbers add up to nothing
But when the first shot hit the dock, I saw it coming
Raised my rifle to my eye
Never stopped to wonder why
Then I saw black and my face splashed in the sky
Shelter me from the powder and the finger
Cover me with the thought that pulled the trigger
Just think of me as one you'd never figure
Would fade away so young
With so much left undone
Remember me to my love, I know I'll miss her
This is such a beautiful, sad, angry, bloody BRILLIANT song :)
yes yes yes! i believe it is my fav neil young tune. i turn it up every time i hear it!
adore the lyrics.
BRAN VAN 3000 - drinking in L.A. : No ??
Chorus and guitar
When I hear this song, I always think about Drinking in L.A. by Bran Van 3000. Big up Neil
9? Changing to 10. Don't know what I was thinking.
LMAO... same here! Love Neil and the guitar and his singing is so powerful!
Singer-songwritermusicianperformerfilmmakeractorauthoractivisthumanitarian I doubt many or any of us have given half as much to the human condition as this man. And his music is as distinct and real as Dylan's - another very unique vocalist.
Me too, all of the above; and yes, it's about them Blue Coats killing us Southrons 'cause we wanted rState's Rights. You could take this song and J.J. Cale's "When this war is over" and put them right next to each other. Perfect sense, to me, anyway.
Is it really about the civil war? I don't get that, but I'm not American so don't get the references. It would be interesting to know what it's about.
Having said that, I love the song, and it doesn't have to be about anything, just curious.
So play that one instead!
Is it really a 'live version'? I always thought B-side of RNS album was recorded in studio.
Thanks for the compliment. Unfortunately, Celine Dion cancels out so much of the goodness.
So play that one instead!
Some voices are just beautiful; smooth as warm chocolate pudding and they are a thing to behold. Others impress us with range or skilled technique. And then there are the voices that simply have a character of their own. They often have an everyman (or woman) quality that remind us that the emotions expressed therein are felt by and can come from any of us. I treasure such voices.
Despite your name, you type very well.
I assume you're not disparaging either song but maybe you are. I've never known anyone who was even a little familiar with Rose of England so it sort of rattled me to see it referenced here. Maybe Rose is from the POV of a man on the White Boat Comin' up the River.
Some voices are just beautiful; smooth as warm chocolate pudding and they are a thing to behold. Others impress us with range or skilled technique. And then there are the voices that simply have a character of their own. They often have an everyman (or woman) quality that remind us that the emotions expressed therein are felt by and can come from any of us. I treasure such voices.
I like Neil's singing, and I also like Geddy Lee and Lemmy. All 3 are great at what they do/did. All 3, I'm sure, annoy people at times.
Yessss....
Some voices are just beautiful; smooth as warm chocolate pudding and they are a thing to behold. Others impress us with range or skilled technique. And then there are the voices that simply have a character of their own. They often have an everyman (or woman) quality that reminds us that the emotions expressed therein are felt by and can come from any of us. I treasure such voices.
You hit the nail on the head as you can see by the numerous replies that agree with you, including me. There is a special impact in hearing an artist sing his own composition, regardless of what you think of his voice ie Dylan, Waites, Cohen etc. Pity those that can't appreciate that.
It's been 11 years since your post. I'm guessing no one could be bothered.
I've been too busy enjoying this.
It's been 11 years since your post. I'm guessing no one could be bothered.
Yep.
Double Yep
Some artists do that to me, as well. Radiohead did but then BillG's repeated playing of them made me stop and listen - thank goodness.
With this tune, Neil wrote a story that's so real that it always makes me stop and pay attention. The young man, facing something powerful and unstoppable, and dying young for no good reason. It might not make everyone get all sad, but it does it for me.
I’ve been reading the complaints below about Neil’s singing. Besides being an old complaint I find it ironic considering the point of view of this particular song. A scared young man, a kid really, tentatively doing what he thinks he has to do, which quickly turns out very badly. I think Neil’s voice couldn’t be more perfect for it.
Some voices are just beautiful; smooth as warm chocolate pudding and they are a thing to behold. Others impress us with range or skilled technique. And then there are the voices that simply have a character of their own. They often have an everyman (or woman) quality that remind us that the emotions expressed therein are felt by and can come from any of us. I treasure such voices.
Yessss....
How can this ever be background music? Love it or hate it. You can't just ignore it.
Yep.
Well said.
Thanks for playing.
Yeah, one of my hero's too.
me too. and i love it so much...
and your name, too (great song!)
I’ve been reading the complaints below about Neil’s singing. Besides being an old complaint I find it ironic considering the point of view of this particular song. A scared young man, a kid really, tentatively doing what he thinks he has to do, which quickly turns out very badly. I think Neil’s voice couldn’t be more perfect for it.
Some voices are just beautiful; smooth as warm chocolate pudding and they are a thing to behold. Others impress us with range or skilled technique. And then there are the voices that simply have a character of their own. They often have an everyman (or woman) quality that remind us that the emotions expressed therein are felt by and can come from any of us. I treasure such voices.
WAY too overrated. There. I said it. His voice is easily the most whiny voice that has ever sold a decent number of albums. I just don't get it.
Yes. You. Don't.
WAY too overrated. There. I said it. His voice is easily the most whiny voice that has ever sold a decent number of albums. I just don't get it.
40 plus years on I still get that tingle when I listen to him (them) - just how many of those on X Factor etc.etc. wil be around in another 40 years and be able create that feeling!
Some people just don't get it. We can't help you. You should just hit PSD, we don't care. Neil Rocks......
Even though this excellent post was just bumped, I'm gonna bump it again, because it so perfectly articulates my own feeling on the subject. Since when does one have to sound like Josh Groban to be considered a great singer? This is rock & roll, people. It's all about emotion and feel, not who has the prettiest voice. This goes for Dylan, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell and all the other greats who are constantly being dumped on here.
Thank you, Typesbad!
Here, here! Throw good ole John Hiatt in there too.
...
Thank you, Typesbad!
Seconded.
I’ve been reading the complaints below about Neil’s singing. Besides being an old complaint I find it ironic considering the point of view of this particular song. A scared young man, a kid really, tentatively doing what he thinks he has to do, which quickly turns out very badly. I think Neil’s voice couldn’t be more perfect for it.
Some voices are just beautiful; smooth as warm chocolate pudding and they are a thing to behold. Others impress us with range or skilled technique. And then there are the voices that simply have a character of their own. They often have an everyman (or woman) quality that remind us that the emotions expressed therein are felt by and can come from any of us. I treasure such voices.
Even though this excellent post was just bumped, I'm gonna bump it again, because it so perfectly articulates my own feeling on the subject. Since when does one have to sound like Josh Groban to be considered a great singer? This is rock & roll, people. It's all about emotion and feel, not who has the prettiest voice. This goes for Dylan, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell and all the other greats who are constantly being dumped on here.
Thank you, Typesbad!
I’ve been reading the complaints below about Neil’s singing. Besides being an old complaint I find it ironic considering the point of view of this particular song. A scared young man, a kid really, tentatively doing what he thinks he has to do, which quickly turns out very badly. I think Neil’s voice couldn’t be more perfect for it.
Some voices are just beautiful; smooth as warm chocolate pudding and they are a thing to behold. Others impress us with range or skilled technique. And then there are the voices that simply have a character of their own. They often have an everyman (or woman) quality that remind us that the emotions expressed therein are felt by and can come from any of us. I treasure such voices.
I’ve been reading the complaints below about Neil’s singing. Besides being an old complaint I find it ironic considering the point of view of this particular song. A scared young man, a kid really, tentatively doing what he thinks he has to do, which quickly turns out very badly. I think Neil’s voice couldn’t be more perfect for it.
Some voices are just beautiful; smooth as warm chocolate pudding and they are a thing to behold. Others impress us with range or skilled technique. And then there are the voices that simply have a character of their own. They often have an everyman (or woman) quality that remind us that the emotions expressed therein are felt by and can come from any of us. I treasure such voices.
Weld's right up there with it.
Rockin' storyteller. Good stuff!
"Big John's been drinkin since the river took Emmy Lou."
That's some great songwriting, there. No sarcasm.
Add Santana and Dylan to this well-spake rant and I'm right there with you. As much as I adore RP, and constantly recommend it to friends, I feel I need to apologize each time for the constant Dylan/Young/Santana bent. All wonderful and lovely bands, but none deserving the level of rotation they get here. Over and over, Bill, bravo for a station that challenges and expands its listeners, but really... when have I heard Powderfinger enough? Today.
Totally agree. Love me some Neil Young.
Indeed I agree
Indeed.
Neil's songs are consistently highly-rated by RP listeners.
Quit whining like a baby and go find a Top 40 station.
Everybody is free to change the station. Bill loves him and a lot of listeners too. So he will going on play neil youngs songs.
Yep, it is still one of my fave albums of all time.
So glad I have seen Neil live. Just once, at Glastonbury, and he nailed it. I don't need to see him again, that gig is still with me and hearing this reminds me of that amazing time watching and hearing him perform.
Perhaps in your high school music exam but give me emotion and feeling to technical compadrnce any day. I'd also suggest a colosaly successful carreer spanning decades suggest to me that Neil knows a thing or two about singing and playing.
I’ve been reading the complaints below about Neil’s singing. Besides being an old complaint I find it ironic considering the point of view of this particular song. A scared young man, a kid really, tentatively doing what he thinks he has to do, which quickly turns out very badly. I think Neil’s voice couldn’t be more perfect for it.
Some voices are just beautiful; smooth as warm chocolate pudding and they are a thing to behold. Others impress us with range or skilled technique. And then there are the voices that simply have a character of their own. They often have an everyman (or woman) quality that remind us that the emotions expressed therein are felt by and can come from any of us. I treasure such voices.
Totally agree. I would add that thanks to Radio Paradise I listen to artists that I might otherwise avoid because their vocal delivery just might not be my jam. For me, Neil Young and Bob Dylan fall into that category. The more I listen, the deeper my appreciation for them.