First, a cover by Grace Potter and Joe Satriani:
Then, the original by Mr Young himself:
Cortez The Killer, by the Dave Matthews Band:
Neil Young and Crazy Horse in 2003:
Your preference?
Mine is clear. Only Mr Young, with Frank Sampedro (rhythm guitar), Billy Talbot (bass) and Ralph Molina (drums).
BZ
P.S.
“Cortez The Killer”
He came dancing across the water
With his galleons and guns
Looking for the new world
In that palace in the sun.
On the shore lay Montezuma
With his coca leaves and pearls
In his halls he often wondered
With the secrets of the worlds.
And his subjects
gathered ’round him
Like the leaves around a tree
In their clothes of many colors
For the angry gods to see.
And the women all were beautiful
And the men stood
straight and strong
They offered life in sacrifice
So that others could go on.
Hate was just a legend
And war was never known
The people worked together
And they lifted many stones.
They carried them
to the flatlands
And they died along the way
But they built up
with their bare hands
What we still can’t do today.
And I know she’s living there
And she loves me to this day
I still can’t remember when
Or how I lost my way.
He came dancing across the water
Cortez, Cortez
What a killer.
P.P.S.
Let us not forget why Mexico speaks Spanish these days and not any number of brutal Indian or Incan or Mayan or Aztec tongues: because it was conquered by Spain.
Well Young, because that’s what I learned it on, but the Satriani version is good.
but I always like me some Satriani.
Joe is, truly, simply Satch.
But the slow and lengthy notes are what I love.
BZ
as a musician, let me just say ALL the intros are far too long….and that as much as I liked the Dave Matthews Band soloist, and I LOVE Neil Young, I thought the Satriani version was my favorite.
And, as a musician, I’m very ashamed to say I have never heard of Satriani before! ???
Are you frakking KIDDING me?? Never heard of Joe Satriani? Surfing with the Alien??
And NO, the intros are NOT too long. . .you gotta get some Satch, sir!
BZ
As a musician also, I never thought much of what Neil Young did.
Must be Canadian thing. . .
BZ
Santarini version… The intros on the others are WAY too long…
It’s prep work.
There you go.
BZ