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Buffalo Springfield — Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing
Album: Buffalo Springfield
Avg rating:
6.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 580








Released: 1966
Length: 3:22
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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 in 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
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

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
Comments (41)add comment
Anyone known who Clancy is?
Sounds like an Irish folk ditty.
Not much better than the previous song.
Holy crap, Bill!  You have such an extensive knowledge of music.  I had totally forgotten about this gem.  Thanks so much!
reminds me of the monkeys and....
 unclehud wrote:
One of my least favorite from this Supergroup, but only because I usually can't tolerate the constant tempo and key changes, nor the faux Irish lyrics.  Today, however, it sounds fine.

Another example of set and setting, eh?
 
Sure.
One of my least favorite from this Supergroup, but only because I usually can't tolerate the constant tempo and key changes, nor the faux Irish lyrics.  Today, however, it sounds fine.

Another example of set and setting, eh?
 westslope wrote:


Well, I am simply happy that occasionally the Leviathan DJ changes his mind.  
 
Bill and Rebecca rejected this song?!!? JFC it's one of the best tracks Buffalo Springfield did.
I love Buffalo Springfield, they were my very first concert but I didn’t like this song back then and I still don’t.
Great song from a great group.
 Dave_Mack wrote:

Yeah, it's those major seventh chords...

 
Good call Dave and dave.   I would not have recognized the chords but did recognize the similarity with Ventura Highway.  

Thanks for the comments.
 DaveInVA wrote:
Buffalo Springfield - Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing (By Neil Young)sorry0/0 (0%)320

 

I uploaded this years ago and it got sorried...



 

Well, I am simply happy that occasionally the Leviathan DJ changes his mind.  
WOW, this takes me WAY back...  SO great to hear this as I am currently spending every waking moment preparing to sell my Mom & Dad's house where I grew up; listening to this and so much else in my room for several of my young and most pliable years.  I am experiencing the end of an extended and very meaningful almost-60 year era of my life, and my family's...  Many thanks to RP for keeping me grounded.
wow great song (it's got me freakin' : )
"Freakin' brilliant"?  Maybe.  Definitely non-conforming to the folk songs and rock songs of the period.  

By the way, what is that album cover?  Doesn't look like either of my two copies of this LP.

<edit, 2 months later>  The reason this album cover looks different from mine?  I have this on their "Retrospective" greatest hits LP.
 Proclivities wrote:

No, actually there's nothing wrong with anyone for simply disagreeing with your personal tastes.

 
Yep....this is freakin' brilliant. Maybe not for 20 somethings for sure, but for the period...freakin' brilliant.
 GeorgeMWoods wrote:
There's something wrong with RP listeners when a song like this gets only a 7.1 average rating.

 
No, actually there's nothing wrong with anyone for simply disagreeing with your personal tastes.
smooth, i like this atmosphere 
 dave_porter wrote:
Find myself wanting to cue up "Ventura Highway" next...

 
Yeah, it's those major seventh chords...
The chorus reminds me of Freddie and The Dreamers. A bit.
Listening skills and sponge in the bells ring, it's proven again and again.
Nice — but they kind of ripped off their own Broken Arrow with the song structure. Or maybe vice versa.
Classic stuff, awesome!
Furay's writing ability (along w/ high harmony) was his ticket into B.S.  "The Hour of Not Quite Rain" is another great Richie Furay tune.
I actually prefer Fever Tree's version, but nice find either way.
 GeorgeMWoods wrote:
There's something wrong with RP listeners when a song like this gets only a 7.1 average rating.

 
I'm surprised it doesn't rank higher.
Weird fun fact, Neil Young was set to record an album with Rick James, their band had been signed to Motown, but Rick James got busted for draft evasion. Neil Young and Bruce Palmer headed west to hook up with Stephen Stills and Richie Furay, and the rest is history.  Meanwhile, Rick James... spent a year in prison.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_Springfield#Origins
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_James#Early_life_and_career 
 On_The_Beach wrote:
Thanks for playing this relatively obscure gem.

 
Bump
This song brings back so many memories. {#Cheers}
Awesome piece, gets me ready for some Velvet Underground, or even Hot Tuna, coooooollll
There's something wrong with RP listeners when a song like this gets only a 7.1 average rating.
{#Sunny} quite a nugget, tho neil rarely could......( sing, he wrights a few gooduns')
What a group. Richie Furay at his very best.
Thanks for playing this relatively obscure gem.
this is why i love rp i haven't heard this song in decades but i recognized it from the opening tom fill what a great old gem
Wow, have not heard this is decades maybe, but remembered it right away. 
 DaveInVA wrote:
Buffalo Springfield - Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing (By Neil Young)sorry0/0 (0%)320



 

I uploaded this years ago and it got sorried...



 
Sometimes I wonder if there's a bit of dart throwing involved in the song approval process...Beautifully evocative song. You almost wonder if you could build a movie around it.
Buffalo Springfield - Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing (By Neil Young)sorry0/0 (0%)320



 

I uploaded this years ago and it got sorried...


"Putting Sponge in the bells I once rung" - I'll give it 5 points just for that line!
Nice to see more Buffalo Springfield here {#Music}
Find myself wanting to cue up "Ventura Highway" next...