Neil Young - Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing Lyrics

Never heard this Canterbury recording till tonight. Amazing!

The Carpenters have also done a version of this would you believe it ! Quite a lively version too from around 1969 !

Great song written by Neil Young, but I prefer Richie’s vocals.

Issac Miller <3

Thx isaac

I prefer the Buffalo Springfield version over this by the original songwriter. Furay is great with his vocals. Thank you Neil Young for making this great timeless tune.

I'll get you that 500th like for that.

Acoustic Neil Young doesn't get any better.

I am hearing Neil sing, "the NIGHT isn't black if you know that it's green". Also sounds like Neil sings, "Who's comin' home on that old ninety-five".


I've read that Neil though Furay hosed up his lyrics on this song.


Neil is a true lyrical genius, I am convinced, especially after hearing the history of this song. Also ironic that Eddie Vetter, composer of "Jeremy" (another playground outcast), inducted Neil into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. And shouldn't Neil have been first?

02/02/16

insertnamehere issacs bday he is such a homie

And who's all hung up on that half ass happiness thing?

I saw them perform this song back in 1966, and I want this to be played at my funeral!

Singer, songwriter and great guitar player. The ultimate package. Young, Dylan and McCartney have brought decades of joy to my ears since the 60s. I’ve been blessed !

CLANCY SANG LAST NIGHT

Possibly the greatest song ever composed. Love it!

neil young I am going to marry you:)

Issac Miller brought me here!

Cam Cam I listen everyday

I want to listen this song with Neil .

How it should have sounded. Richy was so crap.

How I wish I was back there

Probably my favourite song

My opinion on different versions of this Neil Young song: 1. The Carpenters 2. Buffalo Springfield & 3. Neil Young himself. Does anyone else have any opinion on these versions?

Shane Bain: You can't grade a classic!! I love them all.

"Who's putting sponge in the bells I once wrung?"

That could sum up Neil's life, frankly.

Clancy was a real kid Neil knew at school who got shunned and bullied but who sang pre Elvis tunes.

Rust never sleeps...

It's not Clancy life it sums? How does it sum Neil?

Fantastic title.

Wow... how did I miss this until now?  Amazing version -- clean and deep.

So much talent.

Better than a Furray flurry-(waltz)

It's not Neil's version, it's his song! Richie furay who sang it in the Springfield has received a couple of Neil's infamous death glares for messing up the lyrics on stage

Chancy was a kid Neil went to school with who was seen as an outsider because he used to sing various tunes out loud. Neil secretly admired Clancey and felt an empathy towards him and down the road wrote this beautiful song with the boy in mind. x

Who's that stomping
all over my face?
Where's that silhouette
I'm trying to trace?
Who's putting sponge
in the bells I once rung
And taking my gypsy
before she's begun
To singing the meaning
of what's in my mind
Before I can take home
what's rightfully mine.
Joinin' and listenin'
and talkin' in rhymes
Stoppin' the feeling
to wait for the times.

Who's saying baby,
that don't mean a thing,
'Cause nowadays Clancy
can't even sing.

And who's all hung-up
on that happiness thing?
Who's trying to tune
all the bells that he rings?
And who's in the corner
and down on the floor
With pencil and paper
just counting the score?
And who's trying to act
like he's just in between?
The line isn't black,
if you know that it's green.
Don't bother looking,
you're too blind to see
Who's coming on
like he wanted to be.

Who's saying baby,
that don't mean a thing,
'Cause nowadays
Clancy can't even sing.

And who's coming home
on the old nine-to-five?
Who's got the feeling
that he came alive,
Though havin' it,
sharin' it
ain't quite the same
It ain't no gold nugget,
you can't lay a claim
Who's seeing eyes
through the crack
in the floor
There it is baby,
don't you worry no more
Who should be sleepin',
but is writing this song
Wishin' and a-hopin'
he weren't so damned wrong.

Who's saying baby,
that don't mean a thing,
'Cause nowadays Clancy
can't even sing.

Issac Miller.

+Michael Mankong the edit was dope

Michael Mankong fuckkk yessss

Michael Mankong magnificent

Love you kong

skimboslic e who doesn’t.

I love this.

Never heard Neils version before, it's beautiful

Pamela Schneider It's Neil's song. The record label hated his voice, so they decided Richie would sing the BS rendition.

Lost my voice, now, too!d

Poor Clancy...

Nice to hear it sung by the songwriter. I put this one, the Buffalo Springfield version and covers by Fevertree and the Carpenters (of all people!!) in my "BS" playlist. Thanks for the upload!

Carpenters take is by far the best!

When I see Neil's picture, I immediatley think of dear, frustrated pal (and Neil Young lookalike) Hank "Startrain" Luckett. With  guitar in hand,  harmonica on his neck, w/dingo dog, sang on the streets while running for mayor of Austin, TX in 2003 (can be seen on youtube, "Hank Meets A Horse 2012"
We miss you Hank!!!

Love NY but I never cared that much for this tune... until I heard this version. There's nothing else like just Neil and his guitar.

Hi Jade H: I always loved this song but this is definitely THE version to listen to. Brilliance in simplicity!

Yeah me too. Some songs Richie sang well for Neil but this song needed Neil with his acoustic.

Listen to The Carpenters cover of this song, in my opinion the best. By the way, when Neil Young approached a record company with this song, they gave it to Buffalo Springfield, as they thought not Clancy, But Neil Young couldn't even sing....

Richie Furay's vocal, like all his vocals, was sublime, but this is very cool.

This is not Richie - it's Neil Young, the one with enormous talent.

@Oppothumbs M I have the album "Last time around" with this track on it. Vocals here on this version is different.

I believe Richie did a great job on this Neil song and many others too!!!

And he made you, that's good enough

Where can I get my hands on this version of Neil singing his own?? It is amazing!!

Prove it.

Knowing all my life that Young wrote this song, still I had never heard him sing it until today. Of course, due to the power struggle between Young and Stills, allowing Richie Furay to do the vocals on the original release was an awkward compromise.
But can I say: my favorite Neil Young song of all time, and yet I prefer the original vocals. That's just me.

Totally with you, Evan. The original Furay vocal is strong and vibrant, but it is great to have this version. I think the Buffalo Springfield producers didn't think Neil's quirky voice should be doing leads in the early going. Who's to say they were wrong?

This is a song by Buffalo Springfield, isn't it? It's one of my favurites. Thanks for uploading.

Neil wrote when he was in Buffalo Springfield, but the label didn't want him to sing it, so Richie Furay sang lead it on the debut album.

Brilliant! Never heard this version before. I'm Loving it. . .

I love neil young, but am i the only one creeped the fuck out by the pic???

Neil also mentions the inspiration in "Shakey" by Jimmy McDonough, the book I am reading now. Well that's tight dude. Has your dad ever met up with Neil?

Sorry I didn't reply months ago. Some guy just questioned whether my story was legit and I responded to him. I thought I'd respond to you too.

I don't think my dad and Neil Young were close, but they were at Kelvin at the same time. My dad was a politician for a long time in Winnipeg; he was political even in high school, so people knew of him. I hadn't heard this song before because it is not one of Neil Young's mainstream radio songs.

If you read John Einarson's book "Don't Be Denied," he mentions Neil Young's inspiration for this song. I wouldn't lie to you. :)

This is my poor old dad's claim to fame. That and being a minor league politician for a long time.

How do we know you're not pulling our leg

I'm very glad you passed on that info..One of my favorite songs ever..Young has always had a lot of empathy, that's why his sad songs are really sad...That sense of sadness coupled w/ the simple beauty of the chords always made me wonder about "Clancy" and why his good times were interrupted..I hope all is well with Clancy now..Richie in Texas..

This man is the real deal

First time I have heard this.......and I thought I loved it before. This is the greatest gem I've yet to find on you tube. Neil's voice goes right through you sometimes...

I'm WITH Clancy right now. He can sing, goddammit. He has a giant ass clit too.

This video sucks.

Marianne Chan wtf then if the video sucks why comment

So do your uploads, honey. Go makey the chow mein

that's deep

Fever Tree. For this one.

The Carpenters brought me here!

This is the first time I have ever heard this song. The "Clancy" he refers to in this song is my dad. Neil Young and he went to Kelvin High School in Winnipeg, Manitoba in the early 1960s.

yes thanks. So fine

GREAT version...

@VinceMakesItBetter yes indeed, it deserves to be on public radio, on billbards, and as a testamont to american ingenuity and talent and creativity. Such a great song! I miss the days.

even better than the buffalo springfield version which neil wasn't allowed to sing.

vince made it better

Incomparable.

Thanks for the post Vince! This is such a fantastic version of this song.