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The Beat Farmers — Powderfinger
Album: Glad 'n' Greasy
Avg rating:
5.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 302









Released: 1986
Length: 3:31
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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
Comments (57)add comment
 SmackDaddy wrote:


San Diego home boys

https://www.google.com/search?...

 ScottFromWyoming wrote:

Neil's is good too.

I saw the Beat Farmers several times... This one blew the doors off the place.
 
It is Neil's.
 ace-marc wrote:
Bill, you rock!
Replacements/Beat Farmers combo makes me want to crack a beer.
 
Needed to follow with Supersuckers!
 mach-hog wrote:
A SoCal alt rock outfit were they not?
 

San Diego home boys
....give the Cowboy Junkies version a spin....
A SoCal alt rock outfit were they not?
How did this end up here?
 dwsneed wrote:
kinda like Neal's better
 
Neil's is pretty good too
Oh why not! It's the holidays after all. Let's get in the spirit and TRY to say something nice, anything will truly do, about this cover. It's... OK.  
The only reason I do not PSD this is that I expect Neil's next on the playlist.
You should dust off Happy Boy! :)
Bill, you rock!
Replacements/Beat Farmers combo makes me want to crack a beer.
 dwsneed wrote:
kinda like Neal's better
 
Neil's is good too.

I saw the Beat Farmers several times... This one blew the doors off the place.
What a great cover version -- after about four 8.6 ABV IPAs. 
Although on hearing it for the first time not long ago, I rated it a 7. 
Hell, I'll keep it at that. Attempted imitation is still a sincere bit of flattery. 
 dwsneed wrote:
kinda like Neal's better
 

Definitely like Neal's better too!
kinda like Neal's better
Mmm. 13 years ago got it right.

It's too fast, sounds like a march or a gallop.


I like this only from the point of view it makes my own dodgy cover sound quite passable.
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)
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.
Still sucks. At least it's been played less lately, and it will be over soon.
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!!!
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?
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.
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!
I'll paraphrase the Oasis / Beatles comment: When I want to hear a bar band, I'll go to a bar
Red means run, son Numbers add up to nuthin'.
joe1 wrote:
Shocker!
I second that: an execrable cover: sounds like a 2nd rate band playing in some low life boozer
best version in the library...except for Neil.
"Mmmmmmmmmmmmm....Butterfinger!.....Aurghhhhhhhhhhhh!!!" =P~ (supposed to be a guy drooling)
Wow.....This is great. would love to see this being done live.
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
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!
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.
I am so tired of this song, regardless of who covers it.
i love this song, so i gave it a six...i would love to hear the acoustic syndicate version, though, it really rocks out...
DH wrote:
A great bar band. Are they still going on without their lead singer? (pimp)
Dick was the drummer. And no, they quit.
Originally Posted by (8?ยป: Aaaactually, it was... Glad I was here to clear that up. ;) (I also found them on 91x)
thanks... it's been awhile and i am getting old!
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"?
eh. give me the original neil young version anyday.
A great bar band. Are they still going on without their lead singer? (pimp)
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...
Originally Posted by noladq: 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...
that was a dog in the drawer... hubba, hubba, hubba!!!
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. :(
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...
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!!
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.
Great memories of the Beat Farmers. R.I.P. Country Dick Montana!
This was one Big-Time Rock and Roll Band! Long live Country Dick!
who the f thinks they can cover neil on this deal? bad move nice try beat geeks
love the beat farmers!