The song centers on a young man, headed to war (presumably Vietnam) hoping that he can fulfill the role of a soldier. In his fearful state he thinks back on his father Captain Kennedy, who failed at the very thing the young man is on his way to do. Captain Kennedy spent the rest of his life determin...
[Verse 1]
I am a young mariner headed to war
I'm thinking about my family and what it was for
There's water on the wood and the sails feel good
And when I get to shore I hope that I can kill good
[Verse 2]
My father was a sailor named Captain Kennedy
He lost his wooden schooner to the Germans on the sea
Exploded on the water for everyone to see
And humiliate that American Captain Kennedy
[Verse 3]
I saw him in Nassau in 1971
His strength was failing but he still ran a run
He worked 'til his fingers wore to the bone
To buy that wooden schooner and sail on his own
[Verse 4]
He was known in the islands as Hundred Foot Iron
That steel hull freighter was passing its time
And time flew by faster with life on the sea
And the days grew shorter for Captain Kennedy
[Verse 1]
I am a young mariner headed to war
I'm thinking about my family and what it was for
There's water on the wood and the sails feel good
And when I get to shore I hope that I can kill good
Captain Kennedy was written by Neil Young.
Captain Kennedy was produced by David Briggs & Neil Young & Richard Kaplan & Tim Mulligan.
Neil Young released Captain Kennedy on Wed Oct 29 1980.