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Neil Young and Crazy Horse, 'Clementine' -- Exclusive Video Premiere

Danny Clinch

For Americana, Neil Young's first album with the band Crazy Horse in nearly nine years, the singer-songwriter revisits classic American folk songs and delivers the tunes, which encompass familiar protest songs, murder ballads and campfire songs, with electrifying ferocity. In spite of -- or perhaps because of the approach, the universal appeal of the songs is neither lost nor diminished and they retain their relevance in these challenging times.

"Clementine," the oft-sung tale of a grieving miner, which has become a popular children's song, is believed to be based on a 1863 song titled "Down by the River Liv'd a Maiden," by H.S. Thompson. However, Neil writes in the Americana liner notes that the song is usually credited to Percy Montrose or Barker Bradford from about 1884.

"The Americana arrangement extends the folk process using many of the original words and a new melody," explains the music icon. "The song tells the story of either a bereaved lover recalling his lost sweetheart, or a father missing his lost daughter. In both cases the daughter has drowned in an accident. The verse about Clementine's sister has been omitted from most children's versions. This verse has different meanings depending on whether the point of view of the singer is taken as the lover or the father."

The video for "Clementine" -- and for all of the clips produced for Americana -- is authentic "found" footage, adding a unique visual element to a project steeped in our nation's rich, lyrical history.

Americana marks the first time the complete Crazy Horse line-up of Neil, Billy Talbot, Frank 'Poncho' Sampedro and Ralph Molina have worked together since 1996's Broken Arrow.

Americana will be released June 5.

Watch Neil Young & Crazy Horse's 'Clementine' Video


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| Pre-order Americana


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Jeannie Lauti

Please come to New Zealand

May 19 2012 at 6:15 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jeannie Lauti

Please come to New Zealand

May 19 2012 at 6:15 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sharee Marymee

Great song and love the footage....reminds me of family photos and stories. I can't wait for the album

May 18 2012 at 7:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Louis Edmund Filosa

I can't wait! pls come to Phoenix when you tour!!!

May 18 2012 at 6:32 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
raidersetc

I don't mind the pace of this, I don't think the vocals are delivered too quickly as in "Oh Susanah" ("B-A-N-J-O on my knee") . I also like Neil's guitar tones/phrazing for this track and also the Crazy Horse back up vocals .

May 18 2012 at 3:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mark Fisher

Smell the Horse...........

May 18 2012 at 3:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Down by the river

There is no one like Neil Young! Wish I could meet you in person!!! *flowers

May 18 2012 at 2:33 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
Bob L

Neil and Crazy Horse, perfect.....

May 18 2012 at 12:40 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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