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Neil Young — The Old Laughing Lady
Album: Live At The Riverboat 1969
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 221









Released: 1969
Length: 5:13
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Don't call pretty Peggy, she can't hear you no more
Don't leave no message 'round her back door.
They say the old laughing lady been here before
She don't keep time, she don't count score.

You can't have a cupboard if there ain't no wall.
You got to move there's no time left to stall.
They say the old laughing lady dropped by to call
And when she leaves, she leaves nothing at all.

See the drunkard of the village falling on the street.
Can't tell his ankles from the rest of his feet.
He loves his old laughing lady 'cause her taste is so sweet.
But his laughing lady's loving ain't the kind he can keep.

There's a fever on the freeway, blacks out the night.
There's a slipping on the stairway, just don't feel right
And there's a rumbling in the bedroom and a flashing of light
There's the old laughing lady, everything is all right.
Comments (34)add comment
Only now I have seen that Neil is a Scorpio. A Libra like me rarely admires Scorpios. NY is one of my notable exceptions.   
Posted 4 years ago by Pjesnik    [ Reply ]
Studio version appears on his first solo album:

Posted 11 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
Love this  song and acoustically is very beautiful. Another reason Neil is a hero to me. {#Sunny}
Posted 11 years ago by dew34    [ Reply ]
Simply love it!
Posted 11 years ago by Easyrider    [ Reply ]
"When she leaves, she leaves nothing at all..."
Posted 12 years ago by kaybee    [ Reply ]
Nice to have in the library, I suppose.  But nothing special to me in the performance.
Posted 12 years ago by ScottN    [ Reply ]

Dear RP,

you rock.

 

Sincerely,

Your Fan.


Posted 12 years ago by Mireletion    [ Reply ]
Never heard this version before.  Really nice.
Posted 13 years ago by bachbeet    [ Reply ]
Incredible!  Some truly tasty and fabulously obscure Neil!  Thanks, RP!
Posted 13 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
It's new to me too, thanks Bill!


Posted 13 years ago by Dahlia_Gumbo    [ Reply ]
Thanks for this wonderful song I had never heard before despite being an old time fan of NY.

 
Posted 13 years ago by dtatti    [ Reply ]

The artwork..
Posted 13 years ago by DaveInSaoMiguel    [ Reply ]
 ronniegirl wrote:


I have been a Neil Young fan since the mid-60s and NEVER HEARD THIS before.  It is wonderful.  Thanks RP.
 
I, a fan since early-mid 70's, and likewise have never heard this little gem from Neil.  Thanks Bill for turning me on to yet another great tune.

Posted 13 years ago by Johnny-smooth    [ Reply ]
One of my all time favorite NY tunes. I used to imagine what "the Old Laughing Lady" looked like. He painted her so vividly to me through the lyrics, vocals and the perfect guitar. 
Posted 13 years ago by gatorade    [ Reply ]
Nice!
Posted 13 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
This is a fun song to play on the guitar.  Alternate tuning.  It's been a long time.  I should get the book out.
Posted 13 years ago by Jefferino    [ Reply ]
 Poacher wrote:
This is the first time I have heard this. Like many here, it is always a wonderful moment when one hears something new that strikes a cord inside you. OK, Neil is high on my list of all time greats so I am going to be a tad influenced - but this track is just sublime. 

Thank you RP.  
 

I have been a Neil Young fan since the mid-60s and NEVER HEARD THIS before.  It is wonderful.  Thanks RP.
Posted 13 years ago by ronniegirl    [ Reply ]
 jimmyriley wrote:
So much of Neil's solo acoustic stuff is beautiful, ESPECIALLY the early stuff.
 
You're not related to Fredriley, right?  Just clarifying, because you'll probably get that a lot in the future... I totally agree with you - Neil's very introspective work is the best. It's almost scary.... (I'm still trying to perfect "Needle and the Damage Done" and I've been playing it, on and off, for twenty years...

Posted 13 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
I love the lyrics... And it's just Neil and his guitar, right back to the beginning....  I'll never not love Neil Young's music.
Posted 13 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
Wonderful version of this song...{#Music}
Posted 13 years ago by DaveInSaoMiguel    [ Reply ]
1969 - A year of great music. All kinds of scope including soem great "wooden" music.
Posted 13 years ago by martinc    [ Reply ]
never heard this stripped-down version. love it. will always love the one that i first heard back when i was a kid though - with the orchestration and back-up vocals.
Posted 13 years ago by daveesh    [ Reply ]
Nice version of this on his Unplugged album. I've never heard this one before.
Posted 13 years ago by cosmiclint    [ Reply ]

Don't give me bull - Neil!


Posted 13 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
This is the first time I have heard this. Like many here, it is always a wonderful moment when one hears something new that strikes a cord inside you. OK, Neil is high on my list of all time greats so I am going to be a tad influenced - but this track is just sublime. 

Thank you RP.  
Posted 13 years ago by SquiddlyDiddly    [ Reply ]
Takes my breath away. 
Posted 13 years ago by HudValGal    [ Reply ]
Live at the Riverboat, disc 3 in the Archives Vol 1. I don't believe that it was released separately in stores but you can buy it separately by following the Archives link at neilyoung.com.


Posted 13 years ago by pauleywalnuts    [ Reply ]
So much of Neil's solo acoustic stuff is beautiful, ESPECIALLY the early stuff.
Posted 13 years ago by jimmyriley    [ Reply ]
To me Neil's voice is heartbreakingly beautiful here. Note to the Neil haters: I am expressing my opinion.


Posted 13 years ago by Antigone    [ Reply ]
 martinc wrote:
Some things are best when simple and acoustic
 
....naked, so to say.

(Edit: and not "unplugged", which is a VERY different thing.)

Posted 13 years ago by Bleyfusz    [ Reply ]
Such a gorgeous song. Never heard this version. Thanks Bill!

Never will understand the lyrics — typical Neil — but they're not boring either. Makes a person want to guess what they mean.
Posted 13 years ago by softjeans    [ Reply ]

I haven't heard this in a very long time.  It's definitely a classic!


Posted 13 years ago by Gatlinburger    [ Reply ]
Nice to see this show up on RP!
Posted 13 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
Some things are best when simple and acoustic
Posted 13 years ago by martinc    [ Reply ]