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Donna the Buffalo — If You Only Could
Album: Live from the American Ballroom
Avg rating:
7.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1721









Released: 2001
Length: 9:14
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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If you only could see what you have got
If you only could be who you are not
If you only could love the things you know
If you only could let the spirit flow

Walking talking too far from the light
Living breathing in colorless black and white

If you only could feel the strength in dreams
If you only could hear the voice of truth
If you only could get up and stand out in the center
If you only could stop thinking only of you

Hey there you
What's your claim
While you're out there
Running in circles you don't understand

Hey this world's got you down
Hey this world's got you down
Comments (313)add comment
Why wasn't this cut in my jammy playlist? It is now.
Posted 1 year ago by chinacat    [ Reply ]
Oh no, not this again. Seven minutes too long. 
Posted 2 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
I really like this song. So fun. Mellow, flowing.  They are a wonderful live band too if you like this kind of music. 
Posted 2 years ago by Tippster    [ Reply ]
What I great live set
Calexico Minas de Cobre
Bob Marley Trenchtown Rock
ABB Trouble no More
Derek Trucks Band Already Free
Donna The Buffalo If Only You Could

Thanks BillG, I really like it when you go into the vault and pull out a string of live cuts.


Posted 2 years ago by eyke    [ Reply ]
Sitting here on a Monday evening running statistics and over RP I hear the faint intro to this song and knew exactly what it was. Only place I have ever heard this band, or even heard of this band. It pops up occasionally and is a pleasure to hear. 
Posted 3 years ago by bam23    [ Reply ]
thank you
Posted 3 years ago by utkarshsingh    [ Reply ]
Now see what y'all did here? So many comments comparing Tara Nevins to Natalie Merchant that BillG feels compelled to follow this track with 10K Maniacs.
Compare away . . .
Posted 3 years ago by mread    [ Reply ]
Nice, trippy vibe for a cool August nite
Posted 3 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
Love them; Their live shows are very very cool
Posted 3 years ago by avereaiii590    [ Reply ]
Watch this band live and you can watch Jeb's eyes flutter up into his skull as he plays
Posted 3 years ago by Hey_Porter    [ Reply ]
What a groove!
Posted 3 years ago by Crispy_one    [ Reply ]
Really love this, such a lovely feel...  
Posted 3 years ago by nelamvr6    [ Reply ]
I'm seeing a lot of comments about the singer sounding like NM. There is a resemblance, but this singer seems to actually hit the notes. NM's voice is richer, but she sings under the note *all the time* and never strikes purely, making her the single-most irritating singer on the playlist. I am enjoying this. 
Posted 3 years ago by maggierob    [ Reply ]
 jirvin8387 wrote:

Loved them at the festivals on the East Coast each summer.



Are you familiar with the Lucky Dawgs, I know some follow DTB.
Posted 3 years ago by eyke    [ Reply ]
 Hogtownmike wrote:
What Natalie Merchant might sound like if she took a happy pill...
 
I agree -- and I love Natalie -- well her voice anyway.
Posted 3 years ago by coppergarden    [ Reply ]
Posted 3 years ago by sunflowerbee    [ Reply ]
Song grows on you bump to a 8
Posted 3 years ago by jp33442    [ Reply ]
Posted 4 years ago by scubasteve    [ Reply ]
Loved them at the festivals on the East Coast each summer.
Posted 4 years ago by jirvin8387    [ Reply ]
I'm dancing whenever I hear this.
Posted 4 years ago by deedubya    [ Reply ]
 Jelani wrote:
five minutes too long.
 
*too short, depending on your state of being.

Love DTB.  Put a smile on my face every time I hear them  That ain't bad, right?
Posted 4 years ago by Tippster    [ Reply ]
 eileenomurphy wrote:
Great voice! 
 

Reminds me of Natalie Merchant!
Posted 4 years ago by eileenomurphy    [ Reply ]
Great voice! 
Posted 4 years ago by eileenomurphy    [ Reply ]
Love this band, love her voice from western NY. More, more please. 
Posted 4 years ago by AZJeff    [ Reply ]
sounded great at the beautiful little stage out at Spirit of Suwannee in the early 2000's. Was a great little venue. I saw some great music there, including James Brown. This band was like a local fave ad it always makes me reminisce about living in the swamps of Florida. 
Posted 4 years ago by niseywee    [ Reply ]
Loved this band in the late 90s living in Western NY. Great story about the origin of the name of the band told at a live show: Was first proposed during an “altered” gathering of band members as “Dawn of the Buffalo”, yet was interpreted by one as “Donna the Buffalo”. And so it was. Also, the Horseflies should be played here. Excellent, weird, wonderful. Please?
Posted 4 years ago by mrbox    [ Reply ]
five minutes too long.
Posted 4 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
In fact, a lot more😎
Posted 4 years ago by iloveradio    [ Reply ]
Bill, more of this band please.
Posted 4 years ago by iloveradio    [ Reply ]
This just swings beautifully - great track!
Posted 4 years ago by TheElephant    [ Reply ]
 kingart wrote:
They out-Dead the Dead. A nice nod-your-head-and-dance-along-while-drinking-a-lot-of-beer tune. 
There several acts with 'buffalo' in the name. Donna the. Grant Lee.  According to the RP website, there's Tom and Norton. Gee, a run on the city or the animal. 
 
Ahem.
Buffalo Springfield, apparently named after a brand of steamroller.
If that is also part of a 'run', it'll be a slow one.
Posted 5 years ago by ce    [ Reply ]
Mais oui!
Posted 5 years ago by fraserji    [ Reply ]
OMG...finally some DTB!
Posted 5 years ago by mackb3    [ Reply ]
Posted 5 years ago by sunflowerbee    [ Reply ]
Yet another reason I listen to RadioParadise. Thanks Bill!
Posted 5 years ago by chinaski    [ Reply ]
This would be so great on a balmy summer evening at a music festival- just dancing away.  But it's also good on a rainy October day at work{#Smile}
Posted 6 years ago by khardog145    [ Reply ]
Wow!  Got my surprise of the day: Donna the Buffalo on RP.  
Posted 6 years ago by Hey_Porter    [ Reply ]
 
Great comment, I agree.

Tippster wrote:
I've been an avid listener and active supporter of this little corner of the music universe for quite a while.  There isn't enough Donna the Buffalo here.  

Please please please play more..
 

Posted 6 years ago by SurfDoc    [ Reply ]
I've been an avid listener and active supporter of this little corner of the music universe for quite a while.  There isn't enough Donna the Buffalo here.  

Please please please play more..
Posted 6 years ago by Tippster    [ Reply ]
Me likey. Very organic....what ever that means.
Posted 6 years ago by merobreno    [ Reply ]
Wow, first time hearing of Donna the Buffalo; love this!  Glad I had to come over to RP from The Loft.  Wonderful radio and love this song. 
Posted 6 years ago by loftrefugee123    [ Reply ]
saw this band at Spirit of Suwannee over a decade ago and haven't heard this song in ages 
Posted 7 years ago by denisecerniglia    [ Reply ]
reminds me of Marshall Tucker Band
Posted 7 years ago by LaurieinTucson    [ Reply ]
I like it. It's pleasant. Good car driving music.  But it jams on and meanders and loses its momentum and starts tweakling like the Grateful Dead. 
Tweakling? Is that word?   It is now.  
Posted 7 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
That's some dandy music right there
Posted 8 years ago by dt12101    [ Reply ]
What Natalie Merchant might sound like if she took a happy pill...
Posted 8 years ago by Hogtownmike    [ Reply ]
Ace!
Posted 9 years ago by matadorsuns    [ Reply ]
If You Only Could...figure out what the deal is with this band's name?  {#Eh}

Good tune though.
Posted 9 years ago by LowPhreak    [ Reply ]
just what i wanted to hear  thanks!!!
Posted 9 years ago by oofus521    [ Reply ]
Tasty!
Posted 9 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
 kingart wrote:
They out-Dead the Dead. A nice nod-your-head-and-dance-along-while-drinking-a-lot-of-beer tune.
 

 
Yes, they do - if the Grateful Dead were this good, I'd be a fan.
Posted 9 years ago by NeilBlanchard    [ Reply ]
I have really enjoyed picking up DtB tunes after hearing this from the live album. Hoping to catch them here in NC this spring.

Family Picture and some others are also great from Live from the American Ballroom. 
Posted 10 years ago by macmonster    [ Reply ]
 Dana_Montroy wrote:
Thanks for playing this RP!  I've been sitting working at my desk for three hours straight and this tune really hits the spot for me!

 
I think I've been sitting at my desk listening to this song for three hours, wondering when Natalie Merchant ever jammed with the Dead.

Pretty groovy.
Posted 10 years ago by MassivRuss    [ Reply ]
Thanks for playing this RP!  I've been sitting working at my desk for three hours straight and this tune really hits the spot for me!
Posted 10 years ago by Dana_Montroy    [ Reply ]
 kingart wrote:
They out-Dead the Dead. A nice nod-your-head-and-dance-along-while-drinking-a-lot-of-beer tune. 
There several acts with 'buffalo' in the name. Donna the. Grant Lee.  According to the RP website, there's Tom and Norton. Gee, a run on the city or the animal. 
 

 
The wings.  {#Propeller}
Posted 11 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
 kingart wrote:
They out-Dead the Dead. A nice nod-your-head-and-dance-along-while-drinking-a-lot-of-beer tune. 
There several acts with 'buffalo' in the name. Donna the. Grant Lee.  According to the RP website, there's Tom and Norton. Gee, a run on the city or the animal. 
 

 
I'm guessing the animal, but you never know.
Posted 11 years ago by jim1964    [ Reply ]
They out-Dead the Dead. A nice nod-your-head-and-dance-along-while-drinking-a-lot-of-beer tune. 
There several acts with 'buffalo' in the name. Donna the. Grant Lee.  According to the RP website, there's Tom and Norton. Gee, a run on the city or the animal. 
 
Posted 11 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
 mread wrote:

You are correct.  Point is, they could care less, but they don't.  That's what's implied.
More here: https://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-ico1.htm
But, returning to topic... does this jam go on too long, or not?  Do you care for more, or less?


 
Goes on too long for me. I love a good jam but this one goes past the peak and drifts down the other side.
Posted 11 years ago by kentbigdog    [ Reply ]
First saw them at Telluride Bluegrass some )(*&*&^%$#@@!@# years ago.......AWESOME!!!! Only CD I bought from the whole show. Will follow Donna and her Buffalo forever!! Thank you RP for sending them out! G
Posted 11 years ago by gzachman    [ Reply ]
second time hearing this on RP and I have decided that this song JAMS
Posted 11 years ago by grant    [ Reply ]
LOVE me some Donna! check out their new album too!
Posted 11 years ago by marcc    [ Reply ]
A mesmerizing effect.
Posted 11 years ago by steeler    [ Reply ]
 d-don wrote:
Amen on all counts!
 

Amen again...  this song be groovy...  love it...
 
Posted 11 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]
 mread wrote:

You are correct.  Point is, they could care less, but they don't.  That's what's implied.
More here: https://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-ico1.htm
But, returning to topic... does this jam go on too long, or not?  Do you care for more, or less?

 
Kewl post!  I never thought of it that way.  BTW, I gots to gets me that Pinker book mentioned in your link (The Language Instinct).  The Blank Slate by him is a must read. 
Posted 11 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
Nice jam!!!
Posted 11 years ago by shellbella    [ Reply ]
{#Music}
Posted 11 years ago by miamizsun    [ Reply ]
jeez every time I hear this track  I think gotta buy this Album trouble being I shall have to save me pennies for quite a period. And as others have commented such similarities to The Dead.
Posted 11 years ago by Toke    [ Reply ]
A fantastic concocture of folk, the blues and a little of the Dead.
Posted 11 years ago by IndyDoug    [ Reply ]

Tara Nevins by Fran Ruchalski
https://www.flickr.com/photos/photoguyofai/

Tara Nevins of Donna The Buffalo at Magnolia Fest 2010.

This photo was taken on October 24, 2010 using a Nikon D200.

©Fran Ruchalski
©The Photographer LLC

photoguyofai.com/

Copyright All rights reserved



Posted 12 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
Nice!
Posted 12 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
 Otomi wrote:
Deadlike!
 

As good also!
Posted 12 years ago by QuestionMark    [ Reply ]
Deadlike!
Posted 12 years ago by Otomi    [ Reply ]
Such a fun band to see live! Thanks, Bill!
Posted 12 years ago by voicers    [ Reply ]
I'm so glad DTB play Boulder fairly often...
Posted 12 years ago by BoulderKevin    [ Reply ]
Bed... Time... Can't... Turn... Off... RP

Voice... Groove... Tune... Ohhhhhkaaaayyyy!  One more.{#Sunny}
Posted 12 years ago by kilroyjoe3    [ Reply ]
Love the acoustic.  Sounds great.
Posted 12 years ago by DigitalJer    [ Reply ]
 Such an outstanding band with great energy and a positive message, do yourself a favor and see them when they come around (easier to do in the Eastern US than elsewhere but...).

Keep on rockin Jed and Tara! 
Posted 12 years ago by icemang    [ Reply ]
I love DTB. This one of theirs bests. Great live too
Posted 12 years ago by egroman    [ Reply ]
Ah, a nice end to a Friday...
Posted 12 years ago by drictor    [ Reply ]
 Hannio wrote:
You mean they could not care less.  Sheesh.
 
You are correct.  Point is, they could care less, but they don't.  That's what's implied.
More here: https://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-ico1.htm
But, returning to topic... does this jam go on too long, or not?  Do you care for more, or less?

Posted 13 years ago by mread    [ Reply ]
 rdo wrote:


That's right, but more people say it the other way.  BTW, when's the last time you heard someone say FeBRUary?
 
Once in a while, but likely more often than I hear someone say "WED-NES-day.


Posted 13 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
I love this guitar :)
Posted 13 years ago by heven    [ Reply ]
 d-don wrote:


Amen on all counts!
 


Another amen.
Posted 13 years ago by actusreus    [ Reply ]
A singing buffalo—amazing!  {#Lol}
Posted 13 years ago by Baby_M    [ Reply ]
 kcar wrote:
Great, great jam.
 
Amen to that
Posted 13 years ago by coding_to_music    [ Reply ]
 sans wrote:
Sick of the haters song after song… find another station. DTB rocks!

 

Amen on all counts!
Posted 13 years ago by d-don    [ Reply ]
Great stuff!  Saw them at Bliss Fest (in Bliss, Northern Michigan) a few years ago when Jim Lauderdale was with them.  Truly groovy!
Posted 13 years ago by downstreamer    [ Reply ]
Sick of the haters song after song… find another station. DTB rocks!

Posted 13 years ago by sans    [ Reply ]
 michaelgmitchell wrote:
Did somebody forget to tell them it's over? I mean, this isn't exactly anthem-like.
  Ehhhh, yeah, like mebbe twenty minutes ago. It's just a double-doobie song for the crowd that kinda meanders waaayyy too far off course.


Posted 13 years ago by shutter    [ Reply ]
 Hannio wrote:

You mean they could not care less.  Sheesh.
 

That's right, but more people say it the other way.  BTW, when's the last time you heard someone say FeBRUary?
Posted 13 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
Great, great jam.
Posted 13 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
 twcarlin wrote:
Ah Donna!!!! GREAT upstate NY band. I think I might even have seen them  at the Rongovian Embassy in Trumansburg back in the day. Can't be sure- that's pretty foggy back then.
 
Chances are better than good that you saw them there. The Rongo was (and still might be) one of their regular stops.

Posted 13 years ago by copymonkey    [ Reply ]
With a name like Donna the Buffalo how could we not like them? Good hippie groove this a.m.{#Bounce}
Posted 13 years ago by d-don    [ Reply ]
Hate that I lost my DTB cds. Must find or repurchase.

RP, PLAY THIS BAND MORE OFTEN!
Posted 13 years ago by dwlangham    [ Reply ]
If I only could hear this song again...oh, I can. I bought it. Nice. {#Curtain}
Posted 13 years ago by nicolewe    [ Reply ]
These folks are just awesome!
Posted 13 years ago by RideMaine    [ Reply ]
 mread wrote:

My tappin' toes could care less.

 

You mean they could not care less.  Sheesh.
Posted 13 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
this band is awesome live, grrrrrrrrreat feeling!  Needed it today! 
Posted 13 years ago by elliotgoettelman    [ Reply ]
They have a fun sound.  I'd like to be at the show.
Posted 13 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
I hate to admit that I love this. I'm not a hippie. I'm not! I'm not! I'm not!
Posted 13 years ago by Photo-John    [ Reply ]
Um, let's put it this way: no sheet music required for this piece!
Posted 13 years ago by ri_shelton    [ Reply ]
Great song! It made me stop to see who it was.
Posted 14 years ago by handyrae    [ Reply ]
I absolutely LOVE this track. Never get tired of the jam. Thanks!
Posted 14 years ago by klybrand    [ Reply ]
your picture isn't helping...Tara looks like she's 80 years old. Good song. 8.
Posted 14 years ago by scraig    [ Reply ]
Ah Donna!!!! GREAT upstate NY band. I think I might even have seen them  at the Rongovian Embassy in Trumansburg back in the day. Can't be sure- that's pretty foggy back then.
Posted 14 years ago by twcarlin    [ Reply ]
This band has a song ("Life is Strange") that seriously had potential to be a "hit", but they never, ever play it in concert.

Guys, you should play your strongest number, maybe as an encore at least, every time you take the stage.

Posted 14 years ago by james_of_tucson    [ Reply ]
DTB...fantastic live band !
Posted 14 years ago by ajb    [ Reply ]
 michaelgmitchell wrote:
Did somebody forget to tell them it's over? I mean, this isn't exactly anthem-like.
 
My tappin' toes could care less.

Posted 14 years ago by mread    [ Reply ]
 lalalisa25 wrote:
Great lyrics.... :)
 
Great band name :)

Posted 14 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
 daveesh wrote:
i think they should change the name of the band to 10,000 grateful maniacs.
 


Posted 14 years ago by n4ku    [ Reply ]
Did somebody forget to tell them it's over? I mean, this isn't exactly anthem-like.
Posted 14 years ago by michaelgmitchell    [ Reply ]
 huebdoo wrote:
I see the comments of "its too long" and I think we have bought this idea that a song needs to fit our range of 2-3 minutes in length so we can stuff it between ads for male enhancement drugs and energy drinks.
 
...maybe i should upload the church's bastard universe; seventy-nine minutes in abridged form!..

Posted 14 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
...i'm dumbfounded that i recognised this as donna the buffalo, despite only ever having heard their rendition of pachelbel's canon previously...
Posted 14 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
Great lyrics.... :)
Posted 14 years ago by lalalisa25    [ Reply ]
 daveesh wrote:
i think they should change the name of the band to 10,000 grateful maniacs.
 

perfect!!!...that's funny
Posted 14 years ago by sheetsy    [ Reply ]
Thanks for playing this - I'd never heard of this band, but this song is pretty outstanding.  I love her voice..
Posted 15 years ago by fergie348    [ Reply ]
Like this song,  but that voice...augghhhhh......sounds whinny, childish, all top no bottom where is the richness?  Oh good it stopped....now I can enjoy the music.....
Posted 15 years ago by dBdwg    [ Reply ]
Her voice sounds a lot like Natalie Merchant

Posted 15 years ago by DaveInSaoMiguel    [ Reply ]
lead vocalist reminds me of natalie merchant
Posted 15 years ago by stevematic    [ Reply ]
Thanks for playing this band. I have several of their CDs but haven't listened to any in a while. This is a favorite song of mine.
Posted 15 years ago by dwlangham    [ Reply ]