Cripple Creek Ferry
LIVING ROOM - Neil Young Lyrics
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Butting through the overhanging trees
Make way for the Cripple Creek ferry
The waters going down, it's a mighty tight squeeze
All alone the captain stands
Hasn't heard from his deckhands
The gambler tips his hat and walks towards the door
And you know he hates to lose
Hey, hey Cripple Creek ferry
Butting through the overhanging trees
Make way for the Cripple Creek ferry
The waters going down it's a mighty tight squeeze
Hey, hey Cripple Creek ferry
Butting through the overhanging trees
Make way for the Cripple Creek ferry
The waters going down, it's a mighty tight squeeze
Neil Young's "Cripple Creek Ferry" is a fun, upbeat song that captures the essence of cruising down a river in a ferry that is just barely squeezing through the overhanging trees. The song is more than just a literal description of a boat ride, however. The lyrics evoke a sense of adventure and risk-taking, as the captain navigates his ship through treacherous waters, while the gambler onboard is more concerned with his own profits.
The first verse sets the scene, as the Cripple Creek ferry pushes its way through trees that hang low over the water, making for a tight squeeze. The second verse is where we meet the cast of characters: the captain who is standing alone, not knowing where his deckhands are; and the gambler, who is more preoccupied with winning than with the risks they are taking. This sets up a playful and lighthearted tension between the two, as Young suggests that while the captain may be responsible for the ship, it's the gambler who is really in control.
The refrain of "Hey, hey Cripple Creek ferry" is repeated three times and emphasizes the exhilaration of the voyage. The song's lyrics suggest that life is a journey full of unexpected twists and turns, but that it's still worth taking chances and exploring new frontiers.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, hey Cripple Creek ferry
An excited callout to the Cripple Creek Ferry boat.
Butting through the overhanging trees
The boat is pushing its way through the dense trees that hang over the waterway.
Make way for the Cripple Creek ferry
A request for other boats or obstacles to give way to the Cripple Creek Ferry.
The waters going down, it's a mighty tight squeeze
The water level is low and the passage is narrow, making it difficult for the boat to navigate.
All alone the captain stands
The captain is operating the boat by himself, without any assistance.
Hasn't heard from his deckhands
The captain hasn't received any communication from his crew members working on the deck.
The gambler tips his hat and walks towards the door
A gambler on board the boat prepares to leave, showing a polite gesture by tipping his hat.
It's the second half of the cruise
This refers to the second leg of the boat's journey.
And you know he hates to lose
The gambler is competitive and hates to lose.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, Broken Fiddle Music
Written by: Neil Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind