Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing

About Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing

"Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing" is a song by the American folk rock band Buffalo Springfield, released as the group's debut single in 1966. Neil Young wrote the song in Yorkville in 1965 shortly after returning from a series of performances in Toronto, during a period when his bid at a solo career had been met with little positive response. The lyrics reflect metaphorically on Young's frustration toward his stalled career in music, and was inspired by Ross "Clancy" Smith, an aberrant classmate who incited awe in his school. Commentators recognize "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing" as one of Buffalo Springfield's signature songs, as well as a milestone in Young's progression as a songwriter. The song was the lead single to Buffalo Springfield's self-titled debut album, bubbling under the Billboard Hot 100 at 110. Buffalo Springfield played "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing" at many concerts during their stay in Los Angeles where it found regional success. Young's original demo recording for Elektra Records was included on the compilation album The Archives Vol. 1 1963–1972 (2009), and a live version, from his 1968 solo tour, appears on Sugar Mountain – Live at Canterbury House 1968 (2008). The band's rendition appears on Retrospective: The Best of Buffalo Springfield (1969) and Buffalo Springfield (1973). In 1968, Fever Tree arguably was the earliest artist to cover a Young song with their orchestrated pop interpretation of "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing"; another version was recorded by the Carpenters. more »

Year:

2009

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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.

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com

Neil Young

Neil Percival Young,OC,OM (born November 12, 1945) is a Canadian singer-songwriter. more »

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