Powderfinger

Pearl Jam and toast

By Neil Young..

Pretty Pretty song, I really don't know how I lived without it for so long,..

It's pretty clearly and vividly telling a story but anybody have ideas on the purpose or message of the story?

Pearl Jam and toast

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.

2-feign-reluctance

Powderfinger the band is much better. I like Neil Young and all, but check out these guys.

Pearl Jam and toast

2-feign-reluctance wrote:

Powderfinger the band is much better. I like Neil Young and all, but check out these guys.

mmhmm, right, there's a band better than Neil Young and Crazy Horse.. :rolleyes:

Androgynous Mind

Pearl Jam and toast wrote:

mmhmm, right, there's a band better than Neil Young and Crazy Horse.. :rolleyes:

Yep, and they're name is PEARL JAM

Perceptual

I think the message of the song is mainly about dying young and standing up for your freedoms, even if it means death. I also have a feeling it's showing the flip side, how wrong it is to die young for a cause that is already lost or something. I'm probably wrong, cause I suck at deciphering meaning in anything.

Powderfinger are a really great band. (Australian too) Pearl Jam is easily my favourite band but Powderfinger are definitely a close second. Their music has a lot of mood and they are another set of greatly professional musicians. Check out the CD 'Double Allergic' if you're interested.

Pearl Jam and toast

I've actually heard a lot about the band Powderfinger but i've never heard a single song.. might have to check them out. *nods*

- That's the kind of interpretation I've been pondering too, but really I've been trying to figure out exactly what Neil's talking about with the imagery. What's this boat about? Where is this kid? etc.

lucylespian

Pearl Jam and toast wrote:

I've actually heard a lot about the band Powderfinger but i've never heard a single song.. might have to check them out. *nods*

- That's the kind of interpretation I've been pondering too, but really I've been trying to figure out exactly what Neil's talking about with the imagery. What's this boat about? Where is this kid? etc.

I couldn't get into Powderfinger, but I bought the DVD "These Days" for someone as a pressie, and ended up keeping it, and it is VERY GOOD !!
New music often makes more sense to me if I can see it being played, and some bands, eg PJ as well, are just so much better live than in the studio.

2-feign-reluctance

One Night Lonely pressed to silver vinyl! Did you see that @Natashapearljamfan & @goldrush

Natashapearljamfan

2-feign-reluctance said:

One Night Lonely pressed to silver vinyl! Did you see that @Natashapearljamfan & @goldrush

Yes I did. Very exciting. Thanks for letting us know. I also believe @goldrush did too, he posted in the other Powderfinger thread 😃