Frankly I think the lads in the tribute band play mandolins and fiddles when they're back in their gaffs and were therefore channeling The Dubliners, who brought it to the attention of Thin Lizzy.

I covered the 'tallica' version with the band on numerous occasions from the time it was released ('98 - Aged 14) for 2 or 3 of years. It was a handy number for the end of a set. I considered it a Metallica cover but everyone who touched it over the years has had a hand in creating that version. It feels like a rock tune but its spirit remains traditional if ya dig??

Thin Lizzy I'd say as they originally (maybe not) rockified the mutha. Have never heard the Metallica version, do they do the intro lead akin to the Thin Lizzy version? Moshing, happy days. Caught Therapy? a few weeks ago , sober moshing. PQ

Posted By Idiot Kid on 24 Jun 2009 01:44 AM

I suppose it becomes more an interpretation than a cover doesn't it? Although, thinking about it, seeing as they were a Metallica tribute band, it was must be a Metallica cover, no? Maybe it's one of those songs, like Hallelujah, that each person who covers it adds something different to the original (both different good and different bad).

All songs are covers (or interpretations) of the original (which in this case would be a folk tune) regardless of whether the person covering realises it or not. It actually sort of irks me that people refer to it as "Jeff Buckleys Hallelujah" these days. Stupid I know, but it does. It's a spine tingling vocal performance, but in hindsight it's actually a terrible version in some ways. His ecstatic delivery is totally out of context with the lyrical content of the song, which is the downbeat defeated tone of the guilt-ridden. The David referred to in the song is the biblical King David and it's essentially a narrative of him commiting adultery with the wife of his army chief, whom he later plotted to have killed and then felt terrible guilt about the whole thing, it obviously has another level above that basic narrative, but Buckleys version is too uplifting. John Cales version is probably the best reflection of the emotional tone of the lyrics. Then again, maybe I'm interpreting it wrong... ;)