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Annie Lennox — Don't Let It Bring You Down
Album: Medusa
Avg rating:
7.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1260









Released: 1995
Length: 3:34
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Old man lying by the side of the road
With the lorries rolling by
Blue moon's sinkin from the weight of the load
And the buildings scrape the sky
Cold wind nippin down the valley at dawn
And the morning paper flies
Dead man lying by the side of the road
With the daylight in his eyes

Don't let it bring you down,
It's only castles burning
Find someone who's turning
And you will come around

Blind man running through the light of the night
With an answer in his hands
Come on down to the river of sight
And you can really understand

Red lights flashing through the window in the rain
Can you hear the sirens moan
White cain lying in the gutter in the lane
And you're walking home alone

Don't let it bring you down
It's only castles burning
Find someone who's turning
And you will come around

Dont let it bring you down
It's only castles burning
Find someone who's turning
And you will come around

Old man lying by the side of the road
With the lorries rolling by
Blue moon's sinkin from the weight of the load
And the buildings scrape the sky
Cold wind nippin down the valley at dawn
And the morning paper flies
Dead man lying by the side of the road
With the daylight in his eyes

Dont let it bring you down
It's only castles burning
Find someone who's turning
And you will come around
And you will come around

Dont let it bring you down
It's only castles burning
Find some one who's turning
And you will come around
Comments (173)add comment
Sometimes it takes a cover from the right source to remind you how good a song is.  I appreciate hearing this.  Plus, knowing Bill, it means Neil is coming up next.
Posted 2 years ago by Typesbad    [ Reply ]
If I didn't know better, I would think this was the original and Neil's version was him trying hard to mimic Annie's vocals.   
Posted 2 years ago by Relayer    [ Reply ]
 westslope wrote:

I love the original, I love Neil's affected style.

But Annie Lennox as a singer in is another class altogether.  She flatters the song.

If I was Young, I would be hugely flattered by the cover. 

Flattens it in my view. She can do emotion excellently but this has turned it into a lullaby. 

Posted 2 years ago by kbs    [ Reply ]
 rhlrstn wrote:

Lol, I had to check out what was playing because I was wondering why NY wasn't annoying me as much as usual...


You're not the only one...
Posted 3 years ago by smartn1    [ Reply ]
"Starts out slow and then fizzles out altogether." Neil Young
Posted 3 years ago by zenhead    [ Reply ]
Always brilliant.
Posted 3 years ago by deniseperry    [ Reply ]
A beautiful version of a truely great song - I can honsetly say I love both - Annie Lennox gets a 9.5 and Neil Young  will always get a 10
Posted 3 years ago by prs    [ Reply ]
One of the great female vocalists of our time. 
Posted 4 years ago by DJ_Gizzard    [ Reply ]
Several exquisite covers this afternoon.  First Sophie Hunger and now Annie Lennox.
Posted 4 years ago by xkolibuul    [ Reply ]
I detest when people try to imitate Neil's voice! There is only one Neil Young! His voice may be flawed, but it works! ...and it works VERY WELL! .........Annie did a GREAT rendition of this song!
Posted 4 years ago by eileenomurphy    [ Reply ]
 bimmerfan739 wrote:
I'll probably be ostracized for saying so but David Clayton-Thomas did a credible version of this on a solo album several decades ago.
 
LOL! ...Bill should play more Pere Ubu!
Posted 4 years ago by eileenomurphy    [ Reply ]
Annie may be the better singer but still Neil's original gets the highest rating here.

Annie: 7.2
Neil: 7.7

And so it should be. Neil is king.
Posted 4 years ago by justin4kick    [ Reply ]
I'll probably be ostracized for saying so but David Clayton-Thomas did a credible version of this on a solo album several decades ago.
Posted 5 years ago by bimmerfan739    [ Reply ]
 moodfood wrote:
I think Neil Young shoulda hired Annie back in the day to be his lead singer.. {#Cheesygrin}
 
Lol, I had to check out what was playing because I was wondering why NY wasn't annoying me as much as usual...
Posted 5 years ago by rhlrstn    [ Reply ]
"Old man take a look at my life, ...."
Posted 5 years ago by MrStatenIsle    [ Reply ]
Nah.  Too weak.  Not much emotion.  Back to the orig.
Posted 5 years ago by bruceandjenna    [ Reply ]
 aaronm wrote:
Much better than Young's version for me. ::ducks under tomatoes being thrown amidst a chorus of boos::
 

Boooooo!!!  Hahahahaha!
Posted 5 years ago by bruceandjenna    [ Reply ]
{#Devil_pimp} zesty ! love the whole album great covers would love to hear more from it maybe " cant get next to you "
Posted 5 years ago by primm    [ Reply ]
 westslope wrote:
I love the original, I love Neil's affected style.

But Annie Lennox as a singer in another class altogether.  She flatters the song.

If I was Young, I would be hugely flattered by the cover. 
 

What he said ^^^

It is a great cover, and I can say this even though I had my ears burned with too much Eurythmics by my ex.
 
Posted 6 years ago by Sam_Chucklestone    [ Reply ]
Annie Lenox is amazing, but somehow this does not work for me.  The gravity of the original is unmatched.  I do like the gospel-like chorus at the end, however.
Posted 6 years ago by khardog145    [ Reply ]
I just melted into my office chair. This album takes me back to the late 90s or whenever that was. I just remember listening to this album, camping on the other side of the lower peninsula, off Lake Huron - by a fire. 
Posted 6 years ago by Jenny.lendrum1    [ Reply ]
 ri_shelton wrote:
My vote is with Mr. Young's original, but this version by Ms Lennox certainly played well in the film "American Beauty" (one of my five favorite films).  
 
Love this version from American Beauty, but it wasn't included on the soundtrack album, unfortunately. 
Posted 6 years ago by Carl    [ Reply ]
Outstanding cover, Fabulous Artist
Posted 6 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
I love A.L., but this cover doesn't deserve to live; quite sucko-barfo
Posted 9 years ago by joelbb    [ Reply ]
Much better than Young's version for me. ::ducks under tomatoes being thrown amidst a chorus of boos::
Posted 9 years ago by aaronm    [ Reply ]
 westslope wrote:
I love the original, I love Neil's affected style.

But Annie Lennox as a singer in another class altogether.  She flatters the song.

If I was Young, I would be hugely flattered by the cover. 

 

I agree with everything you said. I love Neil Young and his unique voice and here she has turned this into a classical piece.  Intriguing!
And then...RP, why would YOU NOT segue to Neil the master.  Thank you for that! 
Posted 9 years ago by AhhtheMusic    [ Reply ]
My initial reaction - "Who's making fun and mocking Neil Young?" I didn't recognize Annie Lennox's voice and had to double-check the playlist. The sum was less than the incomparable refulgence of its parts - Neil Young: an extraordinary giant of an ax-man, performer and songwriter. Annie Lennox: a certified diva with a glorious set of pipes. I like my Guinness and I like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. I'm just not sure I like them together, but then again I know someone who does. And maybe I would too upon repeated partaking.
Posted 9 years ago by ThirdRail_33    [ Reply ]
Pretty bland vocals but otherwise nice.
Posted 9 years ago by dragon1952    [ Reply ]
Could not agree more! That scene came rocketing to mind as soon as the first strains of this distinctive song drifted over, broke into my conciseness and tore me away from the work I was concentrating on.  

Great set this morning... Thanks RP!

schayler wrote:
Love this cover.  Brilliantly used in American Beauty. Makes me think of the movie every time I hear it.

 


Posted 9 years ago by gofishbish    [ Reply ]
My vote is with Mr. Young's original, but this version by Ms Lennox certainly played well in the film "American Beauty" (one of my five favorite films).  
Posted 9 years ago by ri_shelton    [ Reply ]
Leave it to NY please Annie
Posted 9 years ago by pcc    [ Reply ]
I actually like this better than the Neil Young song
Posted 9 years ago by jocelynsart    [ Reply ]
I love the original, I love Neil's affected style.

But Annie Lennox as a singer in is another class altogether.  She flatters the song.

If I was Young, I would be hugely flattered by the cover. 
Posted 9 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
I think Neil Young shoulda hired Annie back in the day to be his lead singer.. {#Cheesygrin}
Posted 10 years ago by moodfood    [ Reply ]
 ottojschlosser wrote:
Doesn't work for me, but I don't like the original either.
 
I'm with you—Neil's original was bad enough. Then along comes Annie to butcher the thing!
Posted 10 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
a deep song, and strong cover, positioned between King Crimson's One Time and Neil himself, I say we have an intelligent DJ expanding our consciousness

Super set! 
Posted 10 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
 steeler wrote:
Lacking the notes of desperation and despair that permeate Neil's version.

Missing emotion.  
 
Au contraire.  Ms Lennox's voice has two gears: powerful and fragile.  This song's all sung in the subdued delicate gear that makes me think of a woman teetering on the edge of a nervous breakdown.

Seems to me that she's singing encouragement to herself: "Face front; chin up! Don't let it bring you down, it's only castles burning,"
Posted 10 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]

So weird...it caught my ear, I rated it 10...listened some more, literally heard the air come out of her voice, and now Annie Lennox has my 4...only because it is a unique cover.


Posted 10 years ago by JeffGuyett    [ Reply ]
Lacking the notes of desperation and despair that permeate Neil';s version.


Missing emotion.  
Posted 10 years ago by steeler    [ Reply ]
Doesn't work for me, but I don't like the original either.
Posted 10 years ago by ottojschlosser    [ Reply ]
I like Neil a lot, but lets face it: He was born to be covered.
Posted 11 years ago by Typesbad    [ Reply ]
bad cover of a squeal tune that was un listenable itself...good song maybie someone somday will do it with a real voice....
Posted 11 years ago by oldfart48    [ Reply ]
 sirdroseph wrote:
Am I the only one who cannot stand Annie Lennox's music? All of her music is offensive to my ears, never got it....{#No}

 
Very unlikely, statistically speaking, that you are the only one who dislikes her music. I am not with you, though. Cheers! {#Cheers}
Posted 11 years ago by 4merdj    [ Reply ]
 sirdroseph wrote:
Am I the only one who cannot stand Annie Lennox's music? All of her music is offensive to my ears, never got it....{#No}
 
I like her music, but this is better by Neil.
Posted 11 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
Am I the only one who cannot stand Annie Lennox's music? All of her music is offensive to my ears, never got it....{#No}
Posted 11 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
A different take and I like it. 
Posted 11 years ago by bb_matt    [ Reply ]
Is there a little Big Sky Country (Chris Whitley) synth thing in here? or my imagination.
Posted 11 years ago by bodyschool    [ Reply ]
 Jelani wrote:
Much improved from the original.
 
We have NOTHING in common
Posted 11 years ago by ckcotton    [ Reply ]
WTF?!

Stick to your own stuff..... this is awefull and I can't "unhear" it 
Posted 11 years ago by ckcotton    [ Reply ]
Neil Young minus the edge and angst. Not an improvement in my view. YMMV
Posted 11 years ago by ncollingridge    [ Reply ]
Why?
Posted 11 years ago by chism2    [ Reply ]
Much improved from the original.
Posted 11 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
 martinc wrote:
Nice version but doesn't sound like it is coming from the same place as the original. This sounds soothing, Neil sounded down, out and in a dark space.
 
I totally agree, but have always liked Annie's voice.
Posted 12 years ago by RedGuitar    [ Reply ]
yet another fine example if Neil's songwriting prowess...

and his UTTER INABILITY to sing...

ever notice that ANYONE who can stay on pitch sounds better than Neil on HIS songs...?  {#Eh}
Posted 12 years ago by MiracleDrug    [ Reply ]
Love this cover.  Brilliantly used in American Beauty. Makes me think of the movie every time I hear it.
Posted 12 years ago by schayler    [ Reply ]
 NeuroGeek wrote:
Love, love love Annie's voice.  So pure, and always on key.  She's one of the few female voices I respect and actually enjoy listening to in pop/rock/alternative music.  Most others seem to have some sort of weirdly affected tonal quality or are only capable of mastering one or two interval jumps/vocal tricks.  
 
Her voice is capable of some of these 'tricks' due to her age. The body affects a lot of changes as the years pass and some voices get much better with age. As a vocal student and passionate singer, at 42 I can do things with my voice a female vocalist in her 20s could not do. 

I can't wait to hear what I sound like in 20 years :)  
Posted 12 years ago by KaiT    [ Reply ]
Nice version but doesn't sound like it is coming from the same place as the original. This sounds soothing, Neil sounded down, out and in a dark space.
Posted 12 years ago by martinc    [ Reply ]
 lshinkawa wrote:
Would love to hear more from this album. It's a good one!
 
I was just thinking the exact same thing!!! Thanks Bill!
Posted 12 years ago by Snoopy2    [ Reply ]
Would love to hear more from this album. It's a good one!
Posted 12 years ago by lshinkawa    [ Reply ]
Love, love love Annie's voice.  So pure, and always on key.  She's one of the few female voices I respect and actually enjoy listening to in pop/rock/alternative music.  Most others seem to have some sort of weirdly affected tonal quality or are only capable of mastering one or two interval jumps/vocal tricks.  
Posted 12 years ago by NeuroGeek    [ Reply ]
Neil Young Is A Hero of mine so when someone covers his stuff I tend to be skeptical. This Is a fine version from the earthy cooing of an excellent singtress!
Posted 12 years ago by dew34    [ Reply ]
 unclehud wrote:

"Awkward Juxtaposition"  definition:  Annie Lennox singing a Neil Young song.

Love her (and her voice) to the point of devotion, but singing a Neil Young tune!!!!   Like, maybe, Peter Gabriel singing Johnny Cash?

 
Or like, maybe, Johnny Cash doing Nine Inch Nails?  Oh wait - that happened!  {#Nyah}

I actually like this version as much as Neil's...and I usually like the originals waaaay more than the covers.  Good job, Ms Lennox. 
Posted 12 years ago by Stratocaster    [ Reply ]
Cool version. 
Posted 12 years ago by seven7    [ Reply ]
I like this. I especially like the fact that Annie's voice does not need to be auto tuned. 
Posted 12 years ago by siandbeth    [ Reply ]
Sorry, Annie - but this is bull!
Posted 12 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
Amazing version - a nice "yin" to the "yang"....
Posted 12 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
Annie Lennox has a perfect voice for this song, I think.
Posted 12 years ago by Carl    [ Reply ]

A Nice Version!


Posted 13 years ago by Baketown    [ Reply ]
 That_SOB wrote:

  From the Medusa album  1995  (pict. below)    Annie is one of the very few who could pull off
a cover of Mr. Young, and she did,  and I like it !
 
me too!!

Posted 13 years ago by anabel    [ Reply ]
Although the album info says, "American Beauty Soundtrack," it's really from an iTunes "American Beauty soundtrack" user playlist that includes "Songs that were or should have been used in the movie." I have the real American Beauty soundtrack CD, and this isn't on it (unfortunately because I like it pretty well).
Posted 13 years ago by Carl    [ Reply ]
That's the way to kill a beautiful song. {#Stop}
Posted 13 years ago by von_Hayek    [ Reply ]

  From the Medusa album  1995  (pict. below)    Annie is one of the very few who could pull off
a cover of Mr. Young, and she did,  and I like it !
Posted 13 years ago by That_SOB    [ Reply ]

"Awkward Juxtaposition"  definition:  Annie Lennox singing a Neil Young song.

Love her (and her voice) to the point of devotion, but singing a Neil Young tune!!!!   Like, maybe, Peter Gabriel singing Johnny Cash?


Posted 13 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
I love Annie.  But she's doing neither herself nor Neil Young justice here.

Posted 13 years ago by Detlaps    [ Reply ]
Nice turn, Annie!
Posted 13 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
For some reason, she seems to miss on this song (beautiful song, but misses.)  It's like she lost her sense of soul or timing, and sounds like Annie Lennox signing with Neil Young's brain inside. 
Posted 13 years ago by Rafter101    [ Reply ]
I love Neil.  Wouldn't it be something if he could sing like Annie?
Posted 13 years ago by allenrudd    [ Reply ]
This is a very good cover of a great song. (8, original-10)
Posted 14 years ago by anotherlistener    [ Reply ]
Wrong artist with very nice song!
Posted 14 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
Genius lyrics paired with angelic voice - this song wins

Posted 14 years ago by adamdbenson    [ Reply ]
Sweet as sugar candied rose.
Posted 14 years ago by Rafter101    [ Reply ]
Medusa
Posted 14 years ago by anabel    [ Reply ]
The album Medusa was a collection of Annie Lennox's favorite songs written by others.
I think she has done more than enough of her own original work to earn the right for some self indulgence.

I find it an enduring album that I've never tired of because of the variety of sources she chose.
Posted 14 years ago by daedalus    [ Reply ]
 Rozsa wrote:
Definitely makes me want to change channels. {#Headache} And I tend to like both Neil and Annie...
 
I agree. Just not sure what is added to this. I hate covers for the sake of covers.
Posted 14 years ago by scraig    [ Reply ]
Wow, as soon as this song came on I was immediately transported to the scene of American Beauty where I first heard it. I guess I never realized how impactful it was in the movie until now!
Posted 14 years ago by annie_fannie    [ Reply ]
Definitely makes me want to change channels. {#Headache} And I tend to like both Neil and Annie...

Posted 14 years ago by Rozsa    [ Reply ]
Generally not a fan of covers, but I really like this one.

Posted 14 years ago by brander    [ Reply ]

I've never heard another cover of this song.  I love Annie Lenox and Neil Young - well, let's not even go there (the man is an icon).  The pair just don't seem to fit, but yet the song is a fair attempt at evoking the same feeling.  To follow it up w/ Neil's "A Man Needs a Maid" seems to reconcile the oddness of it all.  Weird!  Then came Shawn Colvin's "This must be the Place."  OK, it seems to work...


Posted 14 years ago by Gatlinburger    [ Reply ]
LOVE her voice.
Posted 14 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
transcendent ...
Posted 14 years ago by plaice3    [ Reply ]
i've always liked this song and the whole album.  NY's original is of course without comparison, but when you've heard it repeatedly since it came out, it's nice to hear a cover that breaths some new life into the piece and allows you to enjoy it again.
Posted 14 years ago by dctrpunda    [ Reply ]
A fantastic interpretation of a great song!!!

LIke everything else, there are good covers and crap covers, this is one of the best!!!!
Posted 14 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]
Excellent!
Posted 14 years ago by Manbird    [ Reply ]
Love this cover.  Also love the original.
Posted 15 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
 tg3k wrote:
I'm not much of a Neil Young fan, but I like his version of this song much better than Annie's. She's a very talented singer, but this is the wrong song for her, IMHO.
 
Yes, you are right!!

Posted 15 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
{#Meditate}
Posted 15 years ago by Deadwing    [ Reply ]
I'm not much of a Neil Young fan, but I like his version of this song much better than Annie's. She's a very talented singer, but this is the wrong song for her, IMHO.
Posted 15 years ago by tg3k    [ Reply ]
goosebumps! -> 8
Posted 15 years ago by Verpeiler    [ Reply ]

i like this version. i like the original much more but this is more than worthy.
 
Women Artist covering Neil give his music a whole different texture. ( ex.Nicolette Larson )

Posted 15 years ago by tom-kenna    [ Reply ]
Listenable, but barely.  Can we hear the Neil Young version now?
Posted 15 years ago by woodchuk    [ Reply ]
 Shimmer wrote:
Annie Lennox has a very distinct voice, but here it sounds like she is not just covering Neil, but also trying to imitate his voice.
 

I agree - sounds like she's trying to channel Neil - but somehow it gets distracting.  Not a bad job though.

Posted 15 years ago by justlistening    [ Reply ]
 sfListener wrote:
Don't let this cover bring you down.
 
   No way it's gonna do that!{#Jump}
Posted 15 years ago by HazzeSwede    [ Reply ]
 Proclivities wrote:

Do you mean "The Unbearable Lightness of Being"?  I haven't seen many similarities between that and "American Beauty".  That's just me though.

 

Uhhh, yea, my bad.  "Unbearable" it is. 

As to not seeing the similarities between the two movies, you guys are kidding, right? 

In a nutshell:  protagonist struggles to find meaning in life, finds it, gets offed.  ("Gee, Mr. Obvious, I never thought of it that way before!")

Posted 15 years ago by philbertr    [ Reply ]
She makes this sound like a Coldplay cover.
Posted 15 years ago by iggam    [ Reply ]
philbertr wrote:


Really? Why do you think that would be?

(Good movie, by the way....sort of a dumbed-down American version of "Incredible Lightness of Being.")



You mean Unbearable Lightness of Being? For some reason I read at first that you meant American Pie was a dumbed down version of that book, which cracked me up.

Oh and Annie Lennox sucks.

Posted 15 years ago by vit    [ Reply ]
 philbertr wrote:


Really?  Why do you think that would be?

(Good movie, by the way....sort of a dumbed-down American version of "Incredible Lightness of Being.")

 
Do you mean "The Unbearable Lightness of Being"?  I haven't seen many similarities between that and "American Beauty".  That's just me though.

Posted 15 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
I don't see the need for this cover...it's like Rod Stewart trying to sing CCR.
Posted 15 years ago by roberth    [ Reply ]
I love Annie, but this is not her best.
Posted 15 years ago by komainu    [ Reply ]
Don't let this cover bring you down.
Posted 15 years ago by sfListener    [ Reply ]
Annie Lennox has a very distinct voice, but here it sounds like she is not just covering Neil, but also trying to imitate his voice.
Posted 15 years ago by Shimmer    [ Reply ]
 philbertr wrote:
re: American Beauty

(Good movie, by the way....sort of a dumbed-down American version of "Incredible Lightness of Being.")

 I never would have thought to compare the two.

What are you finding similar between them?

Posted 15 years ago by The_Enemy    [ Reply ]
 monikra wrote:
It reminds me of Kevin Spacey in American Beauty  :-)
 

Really?  Why do you think that would be?

(Good movie, by the way....sort of a dumbed-down American version of "Incredible Lightness of Being.")

Posted 15 years ago by philbertr    [ Reply ]
thanks Annie, you made clear that Neil is a great singer!

Posted 15 years ago by bobcat1963    [ Reply ]
It reminds me of Kevin Spacey in American Beauty  :-)
Posted 15 years ago by monikra    [ Reply ]
I was at the grocery store today and heard not one, but two, country artists covering alt-rock tunes. One of them sounded just like Carrie Underwood doing The Stone Temple Pilots. And now this - bleh. It has not been a good day for hearing cover songs today, at least for me.

Posted 16 years ago by cayenne    [ Reply ]
 ArbiterOfGoodTaste wrote:
Why bother? The lyrics lost all of the sensitivity and the instrumentation is just cheesed-out synth. Boooring.  
 
Agreed on the sensitivity point. . . 7


Posted 16 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
unbelievably wonderful (to me).
first time i heard it i was blown away -  terrific cd also

{#Cowboy}
Posted 16 years ago by k_trout    [ Reply ]
Very cool cover of a very cool tune. Thanks Bill.
Posted 16 years ago by HarrO    [ Reply ]
I'm a big fan of the original but this cover is amazing.
Posted 16 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
I'm an Annie fannie!
Posted 16 years ago by tonypf    [ Reply ]