Powderfinger

Neil Young, 1978

(Note: Neil Young went on record in the early 2000’s stating that this song is about the American Civil War)

 

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 thinkin'
And I just turned twenty-two
I was wonderin' what to do
And the closer they got,
The more those feelings grew.

Daddy's rifle in my hand
felt reassurin'
He told me,
Red means run, son,
numbers add up to nothin'
But when the first shot hit the docks
I saw it comin'
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
Think of me
as one you'd never figured
Would fade away so young
With so much left undone
Remember me to my love,
I know I'll miss her.

 

That’s okay. According to Lynyrd Skynyrd, Southern Man didn’t need Neil Young around (despite the fact that Young liked dressing like a Reb)… - Jonah

 

 

---