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Look out Mama, there's a white boat comin' up the river
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
| mach-hog (wild blue...) | Posted: Jun 11, 2005 - 22:44 Wow... The Beat Farmers! I haven't heard of them since 1989 in Irvine, CA at MCAS El Torro...  holy #@$ what a flashback... I didn't even know they had ever released an album. I guess they were still "up and coming" back then. 8) |
| Pyro (Northwest Louisiana) | Posted: Apr 14, 2005 - 08:24 Not too bad, but pales in comparison to the original. I have no problems with covers, but this is too fast, and not very soulful. |
| catsoup (Euclid, OH) | Posted: Apr 14, 2005 - 08:23 Still sucks. At least it's been played less lately, and it will be over soon. |
| snorter | Posted: Apr 14, 2005 - 08:22 radiojunkie wrote: In a very bizarre way, it actually sounds like Bob Dylan doing one of those absurdly bad uptempo live versions of his own songs -- only doing it to a Neil song. Which leads to the question, why would another band want to sound like that? And, more to the RP point, where are all the usual suspects who hate both Neil's and Dylan's voices when you need them?
 can you sing better???? then shut up!!! |
| radiojunkie (a sleepy bordertown (NY/CT)) | Posted: Mar 15, 2005 - 22:36 In a very bizarre way, it actually sounds like Bob Dylan doing one of those absurdly bad uptempo live versions of his own songs -- only doing it to a Neil song. Which leads to the question, why would another band want to sound like that? And, more to the RP point, where are all the usual suspects who hate both Neil's and Dylan's voices when you need them? |
| eyelykearrpee | Posted: Feb 14, 2005 - 10:39 It's like they wanted to make a country sounding version of this song but got nervous at the last minute and just played it really fast. |
| Drummer4soul (Auburn, CA) | Posted: Feb 14, 2005 - 10:37 This entire CD takes multiple listenings without tiring. It simply rocks. The only problem is that there aren't enough songs on the CD. It leaves you wanting more. Great version of Hard Rock Candy Mountain too!   |
| coding_to_music (Marlborough Massachusetts) | Posted: Feb 14, 2005 - 10:37 I'll paraphrase the Oasis / Beatles comment: When I want to hear a bar band, I'll go to a bar  |
| stickittotheman (Ely, MN) | Posted: Dec 17, 2004 - 10:29 Red means run, son Numbers add up to nuthin'. |
| DD Avatard (High) | Posted: Dec 17, 2004 - 10:28 Arson. |
| 4999thnewuser (london) | Posted: Nov 03, 2004 - 02:53 joe1 wrote: Shocker! I second that: an execrable cover: sounds like a 2nd rate band playing in some low life boozer |
| anonymous (On a rock in the Irish Sea) | Posted: Nov 03, 2004 - 02:50 Nice to hear Beat Farmers here.  to whomever uploaded this. |
| OCDHG (10-E-C) | Posted: Oct 19, 2004 - 09:33 best version in the library...except for Neil. |
| trekhead | Posted: Oct 19, 2004 - 09:31 "Mmmmmmmmmmmmm....Butterfinger!.....Aurghhhhhhhhhhhh!!!" =P~ (supposed to be a guy drooling) |
| gilbo (Glasgow - Scotland - UK) | Posted: Oct 19, 2004 - 09:31 Wow.....This is great. would love to see this being done live. |
| JokesandJokesandJokes | Posted: Aug 21, 2004 - 12:03 joe1 wrote: If you 'love' it...what do you give a '9' or a '10' to?
I am confused...... It's OK Joe, just go back to being a tosser |
| ScopArch (9 hours later than RP) | Posted: Jul 10, 2004 - 05:29 GregX59 wrote: While I like the Beat Farmers, I really don't like this cover of this song.
In my opinion, the Cowboy Junkies do the best cover of this song. I like their's better than the original. Ditto! |
| GregX59 (Omaha, NE) | Posted: Feb 10, 2004 - 07:53 While I like the Beat Farmers, I really don't like this cover of this song. In my opinion, the Cowboy Junkies do the best cover of this song. I like their's better than the original. |
| catsoup (Euclid, OH) | Posted: Feb 10, 2004 - 07:51 I am so tired of this song, regardless of who covers it. |
| DD joe1 | Posted: Jan 20, 2004 - 11:34 If you 'love' it...what do you give a '9' or a '10' to? I am confused...... |
| OCDHG (10-E-C) | Posted: Dec 10, 2003 - 09:01 i love this song, so i gave it a six...i would love to hear the acoustic syndicate version, though, it really rocks out... |
| DD joe1 | Posted: Oct 09, 2003 - 15:18 Shocker! |
| ScottFromWyoming (Powell, WY) | Posted: Aug 19, 2003 - 15:41 DH wrote: A great bar band. Are they still going on without their lead singer? (pimp)
Dick was the drummer. And no, they quit. |
| anonymous (Isle of Man - UK) | Posted: Jul 30, 2003 - 06:00 firesign wrote: eh. give me the original neil young version anyday.
 |
| KurtfromLaQuinta (La Quinta, CA) | Posted: Jun 29, 2003 - 14:22 Originally Posted by (8?»:
thanks... it's been awhile and i am getting
Aaaactually, it was... Glad I was here to clear that up. ;) (I also found them on 91x) old! |
| stubbsz (San Jose, CA) | Posted: Jun 19, 2003 - 09:15 who the f thinks they can cover neil on this deal?
the Beat Farmers and the Cowboy Junkies do. Anyone else? I for one like all three versions. This is my least favourite of the three but it's very different and I like to hear it now and then. Why the "f"? |
| firesign (Cincinnati, OH) | Posted: Jun 19, 2003 - 09:14 eh. give me the original neil young version anyday. |
| DH (Las Vegas, NV) | Posted: Jun 19, 2003 - 09:14 A great bar band. Are they still going on without their lead singer? (pimp) |
| (8?» (ø³) | Posted: May 09, 2003 - 14:05 Originally Posted by Kurt_from_La_Qui:
that was a dog in the drawer... hubba, hubba, hubba!!!  Aaaactually, it was... My little dog Spot got hit by a car Hubba, hubba, hubba Put his guts in a box, and put it in a drawer Hubba, hubba, hubba Glad I was here to clear that up. ;) (I also found them on 91x) |
| dadofsammy (Hopedale, MA) | Posted: Feb 06, 2003 - 18:29 notice you haven't played the original on RP...neil's version has a power and poignance that isn't even approached here. Nothing against the Beat Farmers, but this doesn't come close... |
| KurtfromLaQuinta (La Quinta, CA) | Posted: Jan 27, 2003 - 19:36 Originally Posted by noladq:
that was a
Talk about a fun band live... One of my fondest memories of college. I wish I could remember more of their music. Something about a box in a drawer... dog in the drawer... hubba, hubba, hubba!!! |
| KurtfromLaQuinta (La Quinta, CA) | Posted: Jan 27, 2003 - 19:33 the beat farmers were a san diego band that i first heard on 91X fm, san diego. they were a roots rock band from the early 80's and were a breath of fresh air for me. they had a great sense of humor that was brought out through their drummer, the deep bass voiced "country dick" montana. their song "happy boy", off their first album "tales of the new west", was a classic sing along. they had some other notable cuts on that album like "bigger stones" ( i'll send it to bill someday). alas, after dick's massive heart attack, while playing a show in british columbia, the members went different ways leaving behind 7 albums. :( |
| noladq (Waldheim, LA) | Posted: Jan 27, 2003 - 13:30 Talk about a fun band live... One of my fondest memories of college. I wish I could remember more of their music. Something about a box in a drawer... |
| ghcollins86 (Santa Monica, CA) | Posted: Jan 17, 2003 - 09:09 Thank you for this!! I saw the Beatfarmers many times back in the '80's here in L.A. . . . I always loved their version of Powderfinger . . . and yes . . . R.I.P. Country Dick!! |
| lbeaton (Canada) | Posted: Jan 17, 2003 - 09:06 Interesting segue: from Neil Young covering Ian & Sylvia, to someone else covering Neil. Never heard Beat Farmers before. The lead singer's voice reminds me of Greg Keillor from Blue Rodeo. |
| Enrique (Peru) | Posted: Jan 17, 2003 - 09:06 Great memories of the Beat Farmers. R.I.P. Country Dick Montana! |
| ScottFromWyoming (Powell, WY) | Posted: Dec 17, 2002 - 17:56 This was one Big-Time Rock and Roll Band! Long live Country Dick!  |
| karen (toronto) | Posted: Dec 07, 2002 - 12:56 who the f thinks they can cover neil on this deal? bad move nice try beat geeks |
| KurtfromLaQuinta (La Quinta, CA) | Posted: Mar 15, 2002 - 21:36 love the beat farmers! |