Cowboy Junkies - Powderfinger

The Cowboy Junkies performing the Neil Young cover Powderfinger in Dingle, Ireland

[@jamespriest9658]

Then, now, forever.. greatest interpretation of a perfect song. Just is.

[@BigDogBlues]

No point arguing kids! There's enough Neil and Junkies for everyone! Neil is God and has written and performed amazing music for many decades. I saw him in Vancouver Nov. 11/12 and guess what was second song out of the gate? "Powderfinger", and it was as great as ever. The unique thing about Neil is that his music is timeless, there's so much of it and he's never ashamed of pulling any of his tunes out of his bag of musical delights at any time. How many other artists can match him? I'd say none

[@smmurphy05]

Neil Young is one of the best there is when it comes to a singer "painting a picture of life" but Margo's cover is over the top emotionally.

[@alecsiglin8149]

Covering Neil Young is almost an automatic ace.

[@wlgj1341]

He didn’t write this one nevertheless

[@JoeSaidso]

One of Neil’s best

[@beeonthyme5760]

The incredible mournful sound of Margo's voice coupled with the ominous mandolin trilling it's prediction of doom...this interpretation is golden.

[@wlgj1341]

Prediction of what ?.. it’s about one of Lincoln’s yankee gunboats raiding defenseless confederate women and children on the Mississippi

[@agcons]

@@wlgj1341 Another "heritage" supporter, are you?

[@wlgj1341]

@@agcons I probably am already convinced of your ignorance, but for the log book it was the Hermitage, not the Heritage ( that’s a golf tournament in S Car) I am transcendent the owners of that:

[@wlgj1341]

@@agcons I am reproachable to the extent I can amend it was not entirely Lincoln, he was scapegoat for northern industrialists like Sheridan and Sherman , both mere products of privateering and equally as hideously murderous and fucking ugly…

[@wlgj1341]

@@agcons but get back to what provoked your despairing shortness of knowledge bubble to burst…my being the author of this storyline…

[@ducketh72]

The feel of this song to me always seemed to be related to Civil War times. Don't know why but sounds like it from the words and melody.

[@killayking]

Always took it as referring to the Vietnam war myself; - the fact that the big boat's got 'numbers on it's side', bring to mind the picture of a US gunboat coming up the river.

[@sandrosandri1763]

Malcolm King Not sure there would have been any white painted gunboats or gals named Emmylou in Nam.

[@mauricewalshe8234]

Or a post apocalypse scenario but I got a ACW vibe but back then boats where not numbered but named

[@godzillasmother]

Neil Young and Margo Timmins, two of my favorite artists. His music and lyrics, her sultry soulful voice. Magic.

[@wlgj1341]

Nah, you’re guessing

[@JoeSaidso]

Great song by a great artist and she nails it.

[@gordonm7038]

Neil is a brilliant writer. He took a while to write Powderfinger. The verses are great and the coda is haunting. This is the best cover. Great band. Long may we run...

[@wlgj1341]

Neil didn’t write even the musical meter, probably Ryan Adams did because he got the content from my portfolio and also worked with that band with the song I wrote, ‘200 More Miles’

[@wlgj1341]

There are so many controversies waiting clarification where that Label hovers…?

[@JoeSaidso]

Great song. Great version.

[@cherylbreuer8388]

Her voice and interpretation of others songs are deeper with a so much feeling she justs grabs you and puts me in a trance when she sings. the muscisians are always right with her with the intensity.

[@ekaminar]

@TheHughLundy I dont think the behavior in this thread is indicative of Neil Young fans at all. This IS youtube afterall. So I'm just going to ignore the flaming, and I'm sorry that happened to you. But being a fan of Leonard Cohen myself, I'm surprised that you don't appreciate Neil Young songs like Heart of Gold, Old Man, The Needle And The Damage Done, etc. If you haven't heard those, give them a listen (not that they resemble Cohen at all, but it seems like they'd be closer to your taste.)

[@ChromeThorns]

Margo,such a beautiful voice!

[@lynchola]

Terrific version of a great song. Lovely vocals and beautiful accordion. Neil would approve, no doubt!

[@madkitchenscientist1633]

I'd lve to sing back up with Margo..my dream come true...

[@vronica84]

I wrote a song about this, it’s called Margo T & Me.

[@poughkeepsiejohn1]

I've been a Cowboy Junkies fan for a while. But I didn't know they did this song. They know a great song when they hear one. Just check out their cover of Bruce Springsteen's "State Trooper".

[@markhunter7358]

I Love it ! ! Just when I thought I couldn't like Powderfinger More than I did .Excellent

[@drstevie]

IT"S A CLASSIC VERSION. GREAT BAND.

[@lostpirate1252]

Damn it all, i sure do love Maple Leaf Music

[@boulakhraskhennouf1510]

Magnifique mais n applaudissez pas quand elle chante,c est un sacrilege.

[@jbmarcelinoadvogado4334]

oui

[@toupretno1]

What a great song .Great cover by this band .Neil Young has such a personal sound that many covers of his songs don,t get near the origionals in tempo ,sound or delivery .This is a rare one that does in my mind

[@reginaldosa13]

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

[@johnbrown9183]

Yes the story gives us much to think about in our lives as we face up to becoming adults and our mortality

[@stephencurtis1504]

OMG, there are cover versions and then there COVER VERSIONS, this is just beautiful, 💟☮️💟☮️

[@sezles1]

Am sure Neil will be approving of the CJ take on his song. Superb version.

[@mavis41558]

I like their sincerity and the soft rounded plectrum sounds on the mandolin (I do know a little about music and instruments) and the accordion but the singer's shifting from the expected and proper melody notes to random harmony notes belies her attempts at intensity and comes off as poorly prepared cover chicken shit.

[@thomassyverson7561]

Masterpiece I just wish Skynyrd could have done this as originally intended

[@michaelcraig5639]

i love the way you perform this magic song ! you have made it truly the best version cowboy junkies

[@dineen7]

This is not the best version.

[@michaelcraig5639]

WHICH IS BROTHER PLEASE SHARE

[@Dikengacircle]

michael craig Margo has two brothers in the band,, the guitarist and the drummer,, Michael and Peter Timmins

[@michaelcraig5639]

hey thanks for sharing , i didn't know margo had brothers in the band ? hava wikkid day Dikengacircle

[@karmadhyana]

@cwebsterk It's about war...it's about death and dying, and the ones we leave behind. Thanks 1MiMo2. peace

[@wlgj1341]

Neil young DIDNT write this one either, I did, and I have the scratch sheets …Neil young won’t have anything except typed or copied scribble. …what does that signify ,” I saw black and my face flashed in the sky”..?

[@Bitterrootbackroads]

I don’t know or care what your claim is based on, or have an opinion on who wrote it. I’m not some big Neil Young fan either. If you wrote it, and it’s about the Civil War, can you please tell me how a white boat making big waves, with a big red beacon, a flag & numbers on the side, a man on the rail, and a gun that shoots & hits from nearly a mile away, fits into the Civil War? I’ve never heard a discussion of what the song is actually about, maybe some references to something about the Canadian Govt confiscating farm land or something? Civil War I don’t think so. The whole thing seems more like a dream that makes perfect sense while one is dreaming it, but sounds insane as soon as you wake up, assuming it doesn’t vanish all together. If someone scribbled down some fragments of a dream, and got this song out of it, I say dream on!

[@loophole1998]

Great song. Nice cover. I LOVE Dingle. I need to return there. Thanks for posting this!

[@MrTweeel]

Bravo to The Cowboy Jukies on this cover...Beautiful voice hon.

[@marcobruigom7886]

things left undone and missing your love,how much tougher does it get?

[@musicrelic8958]

One of the most recognizable opening lines in any song. Having this cover HAS to be done a little different because you just think of Neil and the Horse doing this song. Purely emotional feel to this. Very nice.

[@ronaldjaybelin520]

Neil would be the last human on earth to open with a confederate comment: that’s because I wrote it and Neil Young really never was that conscientious about anything except guitar

[@detlefpickut8310]

Great "Cover", fantastic interpretation!

[@detlefpickut8310]

peepsk771 Good morning my friend :-) This is a nice interpretation. I like it very much. I wish a nice Sunday!

[@blainemurphy2723]

I agree, Detlef. It is exquisite.

[@arlenkalifuentes]

I'm an avid Neil Young fan but this version is even than his. One of my all time favorites.

[@gerardmarques]

Bob Dylan Spanish leather

[@youtubister]

One of my favourite (Neil Young) songs sung by the great Margo Timmins and performed by the very wonderful Cowboy Junkies. A very strong rendering indeed. Simply love it.

[@jkrycz]

At the time they were the only band that could play slower than Crazy Horse. Slower bands eventually emerged but they were truly the cutting edge of playing slowly for a while.

[@oldenick]

Man these guys DO NOT ROCK. Get over yourselves

[@Namdor2012]

@cwebsterk Civil war and a Yankee boat comming down the river, death and reflection..

[@peterjenner7345]

If the boat was making a big wave how could that happen in the Civil War when they didn't have engines yet

[@Fliedermous]

This rendition is amazing. Margo's voice captures the essence of the song so well. The instrumental variety is brilliant and I'm sure that Neil would nod and smile. No reason not to. An excellent tribute.

[@markcampbell4191]

One day I’ll see them live. Hopefully with my love seated next to me. Either way I shall truly weep

[@anrroma]

Sencillamente geniales, gracias. Su voz me hipnotiza...

[@warpspeed9877]

I am no Canadian...but i have tears in my eyes...

[@juliocesarpereira4325]

From my favorite Cowboy Junkies' album, 'Caution Horses'. Thanks a lot.

[@melelg]

It's on Caution Horses.

[@davyboy176]

Hey yal ive been listening to Neil young for years and this band is just superb they just have such a soft touch when it comes to this song . Brillient

[@lucassaturnino9571]

HOMELAND, anyone?

[@niharikayadav7591]

Lucas Saturnino me :) had to rewind through the entire season..in search of this song :)

[@danielguirdham3944]

100 %

[@johnbrown9183]

I'm loving their take and somehow playing this reminds me of Mr Tambourine Man It transcends time if you think of when we must face life on our own. No matter what befalls us in our journey

[@JoeSaidso]

Great song. Great version.

[@wisecracker1814]

Neil. Margo. Damn...

[@kennethcullen1904]

Great band man my friend my local Bartender put me on to them #uck yeah!!!

[@BuffaloVoice]

Anyone who says that The Cowboy Junkies' versions of the songs they cover are better than the originals, obviously has no idea what they are saying. While I agree that the Cowboy Junkies are very talented, and I love their covers because of their haunting qualities, nothing, NOTHING, will ever top Lou Reed, or Neil Young or George Harrison, or any original version, I mean it's where the cover came from...but I digress...

[@lindenwestview]

Is this at Dingle?

[@ednarodriguesdossantossant2408]

Fantástico cover, the best

[@bronzester]

I didn´t like it. This song, when performed by Neil, is full of energy. This cover is just...dry. Althouh the band is great and the singer has awesome voice.

[@rbraswellbailes4192]

This song makes my soul hurt for some reason

[@tapay220]

iNEIL YOUNG s a phenomenon

[@trexinvert]

I just clicked on Neil Young/Crazy horse to compare. This Cowboy Junkies is absolutely better. The whole pacing, arrangment and Margo's voice. Neil's great, but he has a high nasaly voice and his band is "rocking it" a little too fast. Maybe Neil singing acoustic might have been amazing.

[@johnpaulirvine5845]

Crying here

[@rbraswellbailes4192]

scroll down to comments made that it's set somewhere back in time....during some war or settlers getting hijacked by rebels or outlaws of some sort they are definitely not pulling up in their SUV haha

[@TheHughLundy]

Well my eardrums are just fine(thanks mainly to not listening to Neil Young).The last time I checked we hadn't fallen into a dictatorship where you had to like him.I'll go ahead and get into more trouble and say this & Cortez The Killer(sorry if spelling or title or not exactly right as I don't have own any for his albums) are the only 2 of his songs I like. As for beauty I get that from The Cowboy Junkies, The Walkabouts & Leonard Cohen.

[@BlindWillieJackson]

@1MiMo2 It's a song about a young man in the Civil War Era Confederate South. He is pondering his sense of duty (and imminent death) while taking up a rifle to defend his family and property / way of life from an attacking Union river boat.

[@gcstreet13]

It was simply my opinion. I prefer the Beat Farmers version, you may prefer this version. It all comes down to a matter of musical taste. Jesus Christ!

[@tracylannum8099]

written for Ronnie Van Zandt and Lynyrd skynyrd

[@jameswiglesworth5004]

AS a huge Neil Young fan, I have to say this is far superior to his recording, The slow pace suits it better than Neil's faster rock version and there is more depth and emotion

[@vigier01]

hey, this is not a cowboy happy song like the Beat Farmers used to play.I really don't like their version,cause the song and the lyrics goes deep to the heart !! like this version much better ! but neil rules................!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@thowdy]

@PavePaws I googled the B.F version and watched it for about a minute. Sounds like a really good band.. never heard of them... but I agree with you, they seem to be totally disconnected from the lyrics. They really could be singing about the price of fruit in Jamaica.

[@lgcrooks]

@cwebsterk Basically its about moonshiners and the revenuers are coming to get them. Dads away and the young man is only one to fight hem off. Dies in a gunfight. Neil Young song.

[@rlawing2]

Neil has never said what the real meaning of this song is...there are many interpretaions you can find via Google...

[@MrPoodleguy]

I first saw the Cowboy Junkies in 1989 on Johnny Carson & was instantly mesmerized with Margo’s voice & still am!

[@Attercop47]

the powers that be left me to the think'in , now I'm think'in may be I should have tried to negotiate

[@robertbelair5041]

Daddy's rifle in my arms felt reassuring He told me Red means run Son, , and numbers don't add up to nothing.

[@deadenear]

Forget it only Neil can do this song. Should be a law against bands doing covers and making money on them.

[@dontbringmedown1900]

@cwebsterk I always figured, as someone you'd never figure, it was about a woodsy sort of dope growing family getting an unexpected visit from the "authorities" on the tributary they inhabited

[@flavioluisnoronha5382]

Minha banda favorita de folk!

[@flavioluisnoronha5382]

Great song ,great singer!

[@Shelley_D]

That's an interesting image! Haha.

[@gcstreet13]

You need to check out The Beat Farmers version of this song if you want to hear it done the right way.

[@LOVELYTRAVELSTV]

I love the cowboy junkies but yes the beat farmers did it the best the beat faarmers are my all time favorite groups country Dick what can I say but a true music legend and I miss you and enjoyed the times I did meet you !

[@trexinvert]

Totally agree. Listen to Cowboy Junkies cover of Lou Reed's "sweet jane". It's 1000x better.

[@valverdista]

Just like me Neil Young should drop a tear after this touching moment.

[@alex1paglia]

Could it be about a American Indian slaughter during the XIX century?

[@TheJefreez]

nobody does this song better than the Beat Farmers. hands down. miss ya country dick.

[@inbredjed07]

dude, for sure. i hung out with Dick, just days before he died...the way Jerry and Joey slung those guitars, and the impact of Dick's drumming...man, what a wall of sound.....thanks for mentioning these lost giants of the west coast....

[@cwebsterk]

Help...I've always loved this song, but I have no idea what it's about.

[@hifives4219]

It is simply mint. If Neil was a girl unbeatable but margo jesus it is better and more real

[@davidphillips945]

boy no praise the original, that was much like this one, Young's version is sad and slow as well.

[@marcobruigom7886]

conflicts in arab countries,africa,so well caught in this song.

[@boulakhraskhennouf1510]

Que pense neil young de cette prestation , j aimerais le savoir oncle neil si tu vois mon message repond moi ,merci

[@TheHughLundy]

@ekaminar Thanks for the songs I might like have to admit you're right about The Needle And The Damage Done I really like it & Heart Of Gold isn't bad.Maybe I misjudged Mr Young by the few examples of his songs I've heard before.Still not 100% sold on his voice but as a writer yeah I'm changing my mind.

[@jameshannagan4256]

He is one of the best song writers ever but his voice takes some getting used to it has a vulnerability to it that can be very endearing. Some well written songs are Pardon My Heart,Dont Let It Bring You Down,Old Man,After The Gold Rush and the acoustic version of Cowgirl In The Sand just to name a few he has a ton of really well written songs along the lines of Dylan.

[@TheJefreez]

dude, i'm obviously listening to the Cowboy Junkies, right now. but i totally agree, nobody, and i mean, nobody, does this song like the "Beat Farmers"! i miss them, and R.I.P. Country Dick, what a trip he was. "shelter me from the powder in the finger". i'm off to listen to them do this.

[@stephenredfearn6071]

Not better than this by a long shot

[@lbrod]

The first song I ever heard the Junkies play. The FFQ in fine form.

[@BumperMorgan]

I always figured it was about revenuers or something along those lines.

[@marcobruigom7886]

powderfinger,strong song,hard to do it better,but nice.

[@eeelz1]

@Hannibu better than neils???? your off ya head!

[@angryjohnny1]

i love the beat farmers version but margo is way sexier {:-)

[@1MiMo2]

@cwebsterk search thrasherswheat

[@deabajo]

@marz92107 I think it refers to indian skin...

[@rebeccamaker3084]

Thanks & 🙏 blessings...

[@rlawing2]

Makes you believe she is really the character in the song...love it

[@peteguard3571]

Everything Margo touches turns to magic

[@SphincterPratt]

TheJefreez is absolutely right. Miss ya Buddy Blue!!

[@1MiMo2]

@cwebsterk search on thrasherswheat

[@karinannamaria2514]

what a marvellous cover