Powderfinger
Neil Young & Crazy Horse Lyrics


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Look out, Mama, there's a white boat coming 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 making 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 wondering what to do
And 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 docks 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
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

Overall Meaning

The song "Powderfinger" by Neil Young and Crazy Horse opens with classic rock and roll imagery of a boat coming up the river with a red beacon, flag, and a man on the rail. The singer warns his mother of the impending danger, suspecting that the armed vessel is not there to simply deliver the mail. He senses that the boat, with its menacing guns and numbers on the side, has a more ominous purpose. Meanwhile, Daddy is gone, and Big John is drunk, leaving the young protagonist, who is only 22, to face the situation. He takes his father's rifle for reassurance and recalls his father's guidance that red means run and numbers add up to nothing. But as the boat closes in and the first shot hits the dock, the young man raises his rifle and ultimately meets his end as his face "splashed into the sky."


The chorus of the song then follows, asking for shelter from the "powder and the finger," and seeking to be remembered to his love.


Overall, "Powderfinger" is a powerful story about a young man confronting death and facing it head-on. It is a classic Neil Young protest song with its anti-war themes and evocative imagery. This song is a favorite among Neil Young’s fans due to the captivating story-telling and the emotional depth of the lyrics. It also showcases his talent for writing songs that paint vivid mental pictures and convey deep emotional layers to the audience.


Line by Line Meaning

Look out, Mama, there's a white boat coming up the river
I see a white boat sailing up the river and I'm alerting my mother about it.


With a big red beacon, and a flag, and a man on the rail
The boat has a red beacon and a flag, and there's a man visible on the rail.


I think you'd better call John
I advise my mother to call John because the situation seems dangerous.


'Cause it don't look like they're here to deliver the mail
It appears that the people on the boat have ill intentions and are not here for any innocent reason like delivering mail.


And it's less than a mile away
The boat is very close, less than a mile away.


I hope they didn't come to stay
I hope their visit is not a prolonged one.


It's got numbers on the side and a gun
The boat has numbers printed on its side and is armed with a gun.


And it's making big waves
The boat is causing big waves as it travels up the river.


Daddy's gone, my brother's out hunting in the mountains
My father is not around, and my brother is out hunting in the mountains.


Big John's been drinking since the river took Emmy-Lou
Big John has been drinking since Emmy-Lou was killed by the river.


So the Powers That Be left me here to do the thinkin'
I'm the only one left, so I have to think for myself and make decisions.


And I just turned twenty-two
I'm only twenty-two years old.


I was wondering what to do
I was unsure what action to take.


And the closer they got
As the boat got closer to us.


The more those feelings grew
I started feeling more and more uneasy.


Daddy's rifle in my hand felt reassuring
Holding my father's rifle made me feel safer.


He told me, Red means run, son, numbers add up to nothing
My father's advice was, when you see red, run. The numbers on the boat don't matter.


But when the first shot hit the docks I saw it coming
I was anticipating the first shot when it hit the docks.


Raised my rifle to my eye
I aimed my rifle at the boat.


Never stopped to wonder why
I didn't question my actions or intentions.


Then I saw black
I lost consciousness.


And my face splashed in the sky
I was likely shot and my face was lifted up, still referring to losing consciousness.


Shelter me from the powder and the finger
Protect me from bullets and death.


Cover me with the thought that pulled the trigger
Shield me with the idea or notion that caused my trigger to be pulled.


Think of me as one you'd never figured
Remember me as someone who was unexpected or unpredictable.


Would fade away so young
I died at a young age.


With so much left undone
I wasn't able to complete all that I wanted to achieve in life.


Remember me to my love
Pass on my love to my partner, whom I am leaving behind.


I know I'll miss her
I am aware that I will miss my loved one as I leave this world.




Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Neil Young

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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