Neil Young - Carmichael Lyrics






Silk scarf and a napkin
Hidden in a drawer
Two hundred bucks in an envelope
Labeled lenore

"maybe she shouldn't see this
She should never know,"
Said the widow's best friend anne,
"i'll just take it and go

I'll give her the money later
Say it was in his shoe
That way she'll never find out...
That'll do"

"carmichael was a credit to the force
In everything he did
It's like we got a big hole in our side
Where he fit

If any of you officers
Would like to say a word
Now would be the time
To be heard"

"thank you chief, i sure would
He was a partner of mine
He was always very careful
And played it straight down the line"

One by one the officers spoke
And the service drew to a close
He had no living relatives
But his wife who never showed

She just couldn't face the men
They all understood
They got in their cars and drove home
As directly as they could

"carmichael you asshole,"
The new widow sobbed beneath her veil,
"shot down in the line of duty
Is this how justice never fails?

I wish that things were better
When we said goodbye today
But we had our share of good times though
Along the way

Remember
'hey mr. las vegas
You used to be so cool!!'
We met wayne newton down at pebble beach
And you acted like a fool

But we both just couldn't stop laughin'
It seemed so funny to us
We left our luggage back in the room and almost missed the bus

That was a great vacation
Maybe the best of all
But goddamnit carmichael you're dead now
And i'm talkin' to the wall"

The force got back to normal
Carmichael was replaced
For one year nobody parked a car
In carmichael's space





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Neil Young Carmichael Comments
  1. C.... S....

    What else can you say about neil he is a legend

  2. U.... K....

    Great Album!

  3. A.... B....

    This album reignited my true love of Mr Young........

  4. M.... ....

    When I first heard this on release, I wasn't sure. Solid piece per Neil & holds.

  5. T.... O....

    One of. My favs

  6. E.... b....

    Was so privileged to have been a part of this. Was a camera operator on tour with him, and was Carmichael's partner. Great days indeed.

  7. P.... F....

    Perché quando inizio ad ascoltare una canzone di Neil Young non riesco a fermarla?

  8. P.... F....

    I love you Neil😍

  9. C.... G....

    This is my go-to dishwashing/chores music, aside from Sublime's 40oz to Freedom, of course.

  10. O.... P....

    Why is the video , connected to this song , been removed from YouTube or the web...? The film that was created behind the songs of Greendale are the best video's I ever saw and gave the album an extra dimension ... It dissapeared a few month ago ... That felt very strange ...

  11. t.... ....

    Hey Mr Las Vegas!

  12. r.... p....

    Chilling to Vis wiv a few beers 😁👍❤️

  13. R.... W....

    reminds me of the time when I lived in Colorado Springs.

  14. C.... A....

    Neil Young is soo amazing on many levels, but all because he's genuine and true to himself which is music, if that makes sense. Last time I saw him live was like a spiritual experience, he came on stage and just owned the music., he WAS the music. People left the gig crying, totally moved. That's whats possible when someone follows their course and really makes an impact. Hes never sold out and made shit for money or popularity god bless him !!

  15. A.... S....

    greendale is a superb album

  16. M.... F....

    After this song I'm going to start talking to walls

    M.... F....

    Neil's rock opera was always special to me.Saw it at The Greek when it first came out. Neil's version of Tommy. What a GENIOUS!!

  17. T.... W....

    It's brilliant. Narrative delivered with multiple POV's, raising questions - why couldn't the widow face the men, the $200, etc. Killer high quality cheesy guitar work. Up there with Cortez.

  18. J.... K....

    one of the greatest rock songs ever recorded

  19. d.... ....

    This song stands alone but this could be one of the greatest most believable concept albums of all time or maybe I'm just a crazy horse.

    d.... ....

    LOL great Album, saw the show at RCMH in NY Great show

    d.... ....

    im a crazy horse just like u hahaha

  20. v.... w....

    beloved my presence.

  21. f.... ....

    saw this in the poconos. it was spiritual

  22. K.... g....

    thanks for amazing song ;)

  23. S.... ....

    This is groovy.

  24. z.... l....

    this track recalls the Gift, by the Underground.
    Both musically and in the vocal patterns of the storyteller.

  25. I.... S....

    great song the drumming is brilliant and the bass also

    I.... S....

    I can listen to this vibe all day. It's very cool.

  26. J.... G....

    Only Neil would play that Les Paul in such a way that it's both a rich beauty and a squonking ugly instrument of destruction. What a soulful master. That doesn't count in the lyrics, vocals, and storytelling. Headed to next Neil song, "Pocahantos"

    J.... G....

    James G Yes Ol Black got a good workout on this album .

  27. H.... S....

    there's that nuts ponies groove... love it!

  28. J.... N....

    WOW this track is ace .Greendale in my mind is astounding .

    J.... N....

    @Jimmy Newark Best one on the the disc, well and Sun Green.

    J.... N....

    @digsy2025 Agree..

    J.... N....

    +Jimmy Newark I was blessed to go see this concert. Remember, it was an opera, a rock opera. And it was astounding. He played live on an old pump organ and did it masterfully, which is hard to do. Just phenomenal.

  29. J.... ....

    How can any of you who claim to be fans have negative opinions,sure your entitled to it but a true fan if he wasn't to impressed with some the master's work would keep it to themselves knowing that Neil is going to do what Neil is going to as always,he doesn't give a fuck about what you think,a true fan would know that!

    J.... ....

    +JakorJas this is a douchy and illiterate opinion

    J.... ....

    i agree i have several albums of neils that arent my fav but i still love what the guy does

    J.... ....

    +JakorJas Shaky is flawed, ya dumbfucks. That is his brilliance. If you don't get it, get the fuck out. He could give two shits.

  30. Y.... A....

    I like this album. ;) 
    Bit of diversity from the storyteller...I recall the concert here in Melbourne, standing in the rain under a bushies hat with the gorgeous tones ringing up the banks of the Sidney Myer music bowl. Unforgetable.

  31. h.... ....

    Unusually for Neil, the shorter songs work better on this album. There's just not enough musical variation in the longer ones like this to sustain interest. I'm a Neil fan, but with the exception of perhaps Bandit and Be The Rain, this album is a stinker.

    h.... ....

    @hairymarx
    Sorry but i don't agree. Carmichael is a killer, Neil's guitar is great, feelings everywhere. He's the leader and our opinion doesn't mean a thing...

    h.... ....

    @hairymarx You listen through your nose?

    h.... ....

    I'm a huge fan of Young, and this is easily one of my favorite albums of his.

    h.... ....

    Yep,gotta say am fan of the man,the music,and this record

  32. K.... W....

    Everyone is entitled to their opinion Dennis Lyons opinion, in my opinion is fucking pure SHIT! 

    K.... W....

    Kerick Walters Opinions are like arseholes...everyone's got one 👍

  33. D.... ....

    I cant believe that anybody would like this SHIT!!! Pure Shit!!! It sounds like Neil is having a seizure playin this crap!!! I saw this concert and I never felt so robbed from a concert!! Half the people got up and left before it was over!! Im sorry but this song is fucking pure SHIT!!

    D.... ....

    wahhhhh, he's not playing Southern Man!

    D.... ....

    Dennis Lyons You are crazy!!!!

    D.... ....

    Eye of he beholder thing, eh ?

  34. K.... d....

    Anyone remember the website when this was released? The loop that played while you scrolled around, it haunts me and I have to find it,

    K.... d....

    The website is www.nygreendale.com. 

  35. D.... M....

    The more I listen to this I'm wondering if this isn't Neil's greatest track ever. I don't say that lightly because for me he's got dozens of absolute masterpieces, but this is just sublime and grows and grows on you the more you listen to it.

    D.... M....

    This album slipped under my radar.STUPID ME for depriving myself of this work of art,David.

    D.... M....

    Not bad for only 2 chords!

    D.... M....

    Brilliant Jimmy Mac person 👍👍

    D.... M....

    They're all great

  36. N.... ....

    "That was a great vacation, maybe the best of all, god dammit Carmichael you're dead now and I'm talking to the wall"

  37. m.... ....

    Ya mine too, although not initially. That's how this album pulled me in- one favorite at a time, first Double E, then Sun Green, Leave the Driving, then finally this song. Though the last son, Be the Rain could be my fav....lol

  38. m.... ....

    Ya thx for uploading, I loved this ablum yrs ago but kinda forget about it when i wanna hear some Neil- there's just so much, Tonight's the Night, Rust Never Sleeps, Harvest, Ragged, Freedom, After Goldrush-- I forget how his "newer" stuff is also awesome!

  39. J.... ....

    Love the Album, the Story...I think of this as my favorite song from the collection. Accompanied me through some hard days.

  40. r.... ....

    no one gives a fuck if you think the song goes too long

  41. m.... ....

    For one year, nobody parked a car in Carmichael's space. Genius.

  42. l.... ....

    nice song, it was a tough time in the family; great emotive guitar work

  43. S.... M....

    People often have a dig or two about sites like you tube but if wasnt for these sites we wouldnt be able to hear these timeless classics. there be lost to a celler somewhere collecting dust.

  44. M.... W....

    Epicly long Young songs are the best ones. The Dead Man soundtrack is some of the finest. It kind of sucks when a theme has to be limited to some mainstream radio top 40 slot. drone and trance out to it, that's what you get with this cheap ticket.

  45. J.... ....

    I LOVE the guitar solos in the intro! Brilliant!!!!!!!!!

  46. P.... S....

    totally awesome

  47. P.... S....

    ONLY SUPER SONG , WHEN YOUR HEART IT'S CONNECTED WITH THE MUSIC, GOD IS , WHO'S WIN

  48. h.... ....

    just brilliant, nothing wrong with this song.

  49. D.... C....

    I like it basically, great overall sound. Classic Neil Young sound. Personally, for the most part, I think when songs go over six minutes there's a risk of repetition fatigue. When a song is three to five minutes long, I'm more likely to listen to it again and again. I know that sounds ironic and even hypocritical, but it works for me.