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

Your rating:
Total ratings: 302









Released: 1986
Length: 3:33
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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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
Comments (57)add comment
 SmackDaddy wrote:


San Diego home boys

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

Posted 3 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 3 years ago by SmackDaddy    [ Reply ]
 ace-marc wrote:
Bill, you rock!
Replacements/Beat Farmers combo makes me want to crack a beer.
 
Needed to follow with Supersuckers!
Posted 3 years ago by SmackDaddy    [ Reply ]
 mach-hog wrote:
A SoCal alt rock outfit were they not?
 

San Diego home boys
Posted 3 years ago by SmackDaddy    [ Reply ]
....give the Cowboy Junkies version a spin....
Posted 4 years ago by bbout1967    [ Reply ]
A SoCal alt rock outfit were they not?
Posted 4 years ago by mach-hog    [ Reply ]
How did this end up here?
Posted 4 years ago by Lonestar    [ Reply ]
 dwsneed wrote:
kinda like Neal's better
 
Neil's is pretty good too
Posted 4 years ago by JckTorance    [ Reply ]
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.  
Posted 4 years ago by Grayson    [ Reply ]
The only reason I do not PSD this is that I expect Neil's next on the playlist.
Posted 5 years ago by justin4kick    [ Reply ]
You should dust off Happy Boy! :)
Posted 5 years ago by ziggytrix    [ Reply ]
Bill, you rock!
Replacements/Beat Farmers combo makes me want to crack a beer.
Posted 5 years ago by ace-marc    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 5 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
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. 
Posted 5 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
 dwsneed wrote:
kinda like Neal's better
 

Definitely like Neal's better too!
Posted 5 years ago by diannemck56    [ Reply ]
kinda like Neal's better
Posted 5 years ago by dwsneed    [ Reply ]
Mmm. 13 years ago got it right.

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


Posted 6 years ago by rout39574    [ Reply ]
I like this only from the point of view it makes my own dodgy cover sound quite passable.
Posted 6 years ago by andy.ormsby955    [ Reply ]
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)
Posted 19 years ago by mach-hog    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 19 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
Still sucks. At least it's been played less lately, and it will be over soon.
Posted 19 years ago by catsoup    [ Reply ]
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!!!
Posted 19 years ago by snorter    [ Reply ]
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?
Posted 19 years ago by radiojunkie    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 19 years ago by eyelykearrpee    [ Reply ]
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!
Posted 19 years ago by Drummer4soul    [ Reply ]
I'll paraphrase the Oasis / Beatles comment: When I want to hear a bar band, I'll go to a bar
Posted 19 years ago by coding_to_music    [ Reply ]
Red means run, son Numbers add up to nuthin'.
Posted 19 years ago by stickittotheman    [ Reply ]
joe1 wrote:
Shocker!
I second that: an execrable cover: sounds like a 2nd rate band playing in some low life boozer
Posted 20 years ago by 4999thnewuser    [ Reply ]
best version in the library...except for Neil.
Posted 20 years ago by DownHomeGirl    [ Reply ]
"Mmmmmmmmmmmmm....Butterfinger!.....Aurghhhhhhhhhhhh!!!" =P~ (supposed to be a guy drooling)
Posted 20 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
Wow.....This is great. would love to see this being done live.
Posted 20 years ago by gilbo    [ Reply ]
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
Posted 20 years ago by JokesandJokesandJokes    [ Reply ]
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!
Posted 20 years ago by ScopArch    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 20 years ago by GregX59    [ Reply ]
I am so tired of this song, regardless of who covers it.
Posted 20 years ago by catsoup    [ Reply ]
i love this song, so i gave it a six...i would love to hear the acoustic syndicate version, though, it really rocks out...
Posted 20 years ago by DownHomeGirl    [ Reply ]
DH wrote:
A great bar band. Are they still going on without their lead singer? (pimp)
Dick was the drummer. And no, they quit.
Posted 21 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
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!
Posted 21 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
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"?
Posted 21 years ago by stubbsz    [ Reply ]
eh. give me the original neil young version anyday.
Posted 21 years ago by firesign    [ Reply ]
A great bar band. Are they still going on without their lead singer? (pimp)
Posted 21 years ago by DH    [ Reply ]
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...
Posted 21 years ago by dadofsammy    [ Reply ]
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!!!
Posted 21 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
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. :(
Posted 21 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
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...
Posted 21 years ago by noladq    [ Reply ]
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!!
Posted 21 years ago by ghcollins86    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 21 years ago by lbeaton    [ Reply ]
Great memories of the Beat Farmers. R.I.P. Country Dick Montana!
Posted 21 years ago by Enrique    [ Reply ]
This was one Big-Time Rock and Roll Band! Long live Country Dick!
Posted 21 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
who the f thinks they can cover neil on this deal? bad move nice try beat geeks
Posted 21 years ago by karen    [ Reply ]
love the beat farmers!
Posted 22 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]