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Neil Young — The Old Laughing Lady
Album: Live At The Riverboat 1969
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 220









Released: 1969
Length: 5:11
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Don't call pretty Peggy, she can't hear you no more
Don't leave no message 'round her back door.
They say the old laughing lady been here before
She don't keep time, she don't count score.

You can't have a cupboard if there ain't no wall.
You got to move there's no time left to stall.
They say the old laughing lady dropped by to call
And when she leaves, she leaves nothing at all.

See the drunkard of the village falling on the street.
Can't tell his ankles from the rest of his feet.
He loves his old laughing lady 'cause her taste is so sweet.
But his laughing lady's loving ain't the kind he can keep.

There's a fever on the freeway, blacks out the night.
There's a slipping on the stairway, just don't feel right
And there's a rumbling in the bedroom and a flashing of light
There's the old laughing lady, everything is all right.
Comments (34)add comment
Only now I have seen that Neil is a Scorpio. A Libra like me rarely admires Scorpios. NY is one of my notable exceptions.   
Studio version appears on his first solo album:

Love this  song and acoustically is very beautiful. Another reason Neil is a hero to me. {#Sunny}
Simply love it!
"When she leaves, she leaves nothing at all..."
Nice to have in the library, I suppose.  But nothing special to me in the performance.

Dear RP,

you rock.

 

Sincerely,

Your Fan.


Never heard this version before.  Really nice.
Incredible!  Some truly tasty and fabulously obscure Neil!  Thanks, RP!
It's new to me too, thanks Bill!


Thanks for this wonderful song I had never heard before despite being an old time fan of NY.

 

The artwork..
 ronniegirl wrote:


I have been a Neil Young fan since the mid-60s and NEVER HEARD THIS before.  It is wonderful.  Thanks RP.
 
I, a fan since early-mid 70's, and likewise have never heard this little gem from Neil.  Thanks Bill for turning me on to yet another great tune.

One of my all time favorite NY tunes. I used to imagine what "the Old Laughing Lady" looked like. He painted her so vividly to me through the lyrics, vocals and the perfect guitar. 
Nice!
This is a fun song to play on the guitar.  Alternate tuning.  It's been a long time.  I should get the book out.
 Poacher wrote:
This is the first time I have heard this. Like many here, it is always a wonderful moment when one hears something new that strikes a cord inside you. OK, Neil is high on my list of all time greats so I am going to be a tad influenced - but this track is just sublime. 

Thank you RP.  
 

I have been a Neil Young fan since the mid-60s and NEVER HEARD THIS before.  It is wonderful.  Thanks RP.
 jimmyriley wrote:
So much of Neil's solo acoustic stuff is beautiful, ESPECIALLY the early stuff.
 
You're not related to Fredriley, right?  Just clarifying, because you'll probably get that a lot in the future... I totally agree with you - Neil's very introspective work is the best. It's almost scary.... (I'm still trying to perfect "Needle and the Damage Done" and I've been playing it, on and off, for twenty years...

I love the lyrics... And it's just Neil and his guitar, right back to the beginning....  I'll never not love Neil Young's music.
Wonderful version of this song...{#Music}
1969 - A year of great music. All kinds of scope including soem great "wooden" music.
never heard this stripped-down version. love it. will always love the one that i first heard back when i was a kid though - with the orchestration and back-up vocals.
Nice version of this on his Unplugged album. I've never heard this one before.

Don't give me bull - Neil!


This is the first time I have heard this. Like many here, it is always a wonderful moment when one hears something new that strikes a cord inside you. OK, Neil is high on my list of all time greats so I am going to be a tad influenced - but this track is just sublime. 

Thank you RP.  
Takes my breath away. 
Live at the Riverboat, disc 3 in the Archives Vol 1. I don't believe that it was released separately in stores but you can buy it separately by following the Archives link at neilyoung.com.


So much of Neil's solo acoustic stuff is beautiful, ESPECIALLY the early stuff.
To me Neil's voice is heartbreakingly beautiful here. Note to the Neil haters: I am expressing my opinion.


 martinc wrote:
Some things are best when simple and acoustic
 
....naked, so to say.

(Edit: and not "unplugged", which is a VERY different thing.)

Such a gorgeous song. Never heard this version. Thanks Bill!

Never will understand the lyrics — typical Neil — but they're not boring either. Makes a person want to guess what they mean.

I haven't heard this in a very long time.  It's definitely a classic!


Nice to see this show up on RP!
Some things are best when simple and acoustic