The Possible Meanings of Neil Young's "Powderfinger"...

Don't disturb me, I'm still doing extensive searches. I'm just not quite convinced there isn't a thread open about this subject from around 2003.

 

Thanks for joining us!!

 

Drugs, maaan.

Or yknow. Civil war.

The civil War on drugs?

 

Great phrase, capturing the idea that the war on drugs is a war against your own citizens. Are you saying that is part of (even the crux of) the meaning of this song? hmmmmmmmmmmmm

 

Very true...if we all share our ideas and theories...we all learn and grow together.

 

There could be......what was I thinking?!?

 

Right on!

 

Point taken, but the lyrics he's posted here seem to relate, somehow. I'm ok with this. Got me thinking a little, although I don't know what song it's from.

 

Sorry, it's "Pink Flag" by Wire:

 

Wouldn't it be nice if life in general was more like this?

 

This is a very compelling analysis...

 

Well, it's your thread- sorry for stepping on your toes...

But he's already started a dedicated thread, as I'm sure you saw upthread. I checked it out, since I like his contributions in this thread, but being totally unfamiliar w/ the band, I didn't participate.

 

I almost got killed at a Dead concert there. the one door didn't open and was starting to get pinned between people, luckily our screaming got them to stop piledriving.

 

I see this thread as ALL of us sitting around a fire, passing the feather (and maybe something else )...and taking turns talking about our ideas and thoughts...no fighting or arguing...just existing in peace and keeping the fire burning.

 

Whoa- almost another Cincy Who situation. Sounds scary. What year was that? I saw them there in '80.

 

I missed all of that ...I worked all day, then went to the gym before I could come home and catch up to this thread! I'm working my way through everyone's posts! Thanks for participating...that's what this is all about, and you've been here all the way so far!

 

Beautiful imagery, great scene. With a strong Neil vibe! (and I'll have some of that something else)

Love this thread- thanks for starting it.

 

That's a testament to the high quality of the thread, its participants and the posts.

I've actually NEVER been so active on here as I was last night (and early AM). What a flurry! When I checked back in a little bit ago, I had 32 alerts! And they just keep coming. Finding it hard to keep up and hoping I don't miss something good.

 

Native Americans watched many white settlers shooting buffalo by the millions...from trains...wagons...you name it. Neil wrote stoned usually, so he likely just lumped Pocahontas and buffalo in with the white man's slaughter of the Native American culture.

 

Kitty corner from the riverbank...that's always how I saw it in my head.
Yellowstone River...?

 

wow. never once thought it was a modern tale....I always thought it was at least 1940's or older....don't know why. but yeah...'red mean run'.

 

The 'White Boat' is a shipment of Cocaine. The 'Man on the Rails' is Crosby. The red beacon represents the Fuzz. It's about a drug deal going down, what else?

 

Interesting thread! For some reason, I always assumed it was about moonshining in the southern US. This thread really has me thinkin' about it now

 

How so?

 

Exactly...he may have just put himself in the shoes of (imaginary) person and "Westernized" the names and events.
Hard to say for sure!