Big Thief - Not (Live on KEXP) 

This is why I can't sleep. Hours on RU-vid watching every single version of this song out there, over, and over and over again...

NPR's #1 song of 2019. Bob Boilen said it best: "No song in 2019 felt more searing, more perfect, than "Not." It's a song of anguish. You can hear it in Adrianne Lenker's voice and her words. As the song builds to its climax, she sings a series of denials, circling a description of something essential that remains just out of her grasp: "It's not the room / Not beginning / Not the crowd / Not winning / Not the planet / Not spinning / Not a ruse / Not heat / Not the fire lapping up the creek / Not food / Not to eat / Not to die / Not dying / Not to laugh / Not lying / Not the vacant wilderness vying / Not the room / Not beginning / Not the crowd / Not winning / Not the planet / Not spinning" Then it comes, at 3:22 into the song, my favorite moment of my favorite song by my favorite band in 2019: Adrianne Lenker's anguished guitar, Buck Meek's guitar roar, the bass of Max Oleartchik and James Krivchenia's drums coalesce. You'd think as a music journalist I could tell you why, but here's where I fail. I can only tell you it's visceral and cathartic. But the very subject of the song itself, or at least the feeling of that subject, is the inability to describe what that something is, only to be able to explain what it is not. And there lies the urgency, the mystery - for me the thrill of art is when it's ethereal, indescribable and otherworldly. I feel better; I cannot tell you why."

no one is dressed for the same occasion lol i love these guys

I can't hear enough live performances of this song.

I love how despite the incredible chemistry, every member still has a really distinct and original way of playing.

It's amazing how her voice sounds exactly like it does in the original audio

I saw them last night (15 September 2021). They are the most important rock n roll band out there writing, recording, & performing. Astonishing.

One of the best songs of the decade.

The homeless guy on Drums is killing it.

Yeah this is the best song of all time IMO

Best $35 dollars I've spent this year was the hour and half I got to see them play!

They always go NUTS on this song and I absolutely love it.

This song is about the inability to describe something, which is what i feel now, but what a performance. i feel heart opened somehow. and i so love the attitude of the guitarist, the guy is now my definition of charisma.

I can only see this song getting even more praised and significant over the years Will go down in history as one of the best of its kind in both the 2010s and the 21st century ❤️

Raw full of emotion, this is possibly the best performance I've seen on KEXP

If poetry can be a song, this is what I would sing. It breaks my heart and makes me wanting more at the same time. Just genius.

Music was my life but I let I go. Wasn't strong enough to deal with one family death after another. I used to perform for anyone that asked. I gave it everything. This song took me back. Every line she sang is like a page of my life. I'm almost in tears. I'm so broke and a father of two. All I ever hear people say is, if I'm retired. It would make me so sad. They don't know I've been playing for my kids everyday. This song said everything. Thanks Big Thief

not the energy reeling Nor the lines in your face Nor the clouds on the ceiling Nor the clouds in space It's not the phone on the table Nor the bed in the earth Nor the bed in the stable Nor your stable words It's not the formless being Nor the cry in the air Nor the boy I'm seeing With her long black hair It's not the open weaving Nor the furnace glow Nor the blood of you bleeding As you try to let go It's not the room Not beginning Not the crowd Not winning Not the planet Not spinning Not a rouse Not heat Not the fire lapping up the creek Not food Not to eat Not the meat of your thigh Nor your spine tattoo Nor your shimmery eye Nor the wet of the dew It's not the warm illusion Nor the crack in the plate Nor the breath of confusion Nor the starkness of slate It's not the room Not beginning Not the crowd Not winning Not the planet Not spinning Not a rouse Not heat Not the fire lapping up the creek Not food Not to eat Not what you really wanted Nor the mess in your purse Nor the bed that is haunted With a blanket of thirst It's not the hunger revealing Nor the ricochet in the cave Nor the hand that is healing Nor the nameless grave It's not the room Not beginning Not the crowd Not winning Not the planet Not spinning Not a rouse Not heat Not the fire lapping up the creek Not food Not to eat Not to die Not dying Not to laugh Not lying Not the vacant wilderness vying Not the room Not beginning Not the crowd Not winning Not the planet Not spinning Source: Musixmatch

2019 year of Big Thief

Bro, I feel this in my bones.

Fucking love the almost Sonic Youth-esque outro. Reminds me of The Diamond Sea. Phenomenal. Absolutely phenomenal.

How can you not love this band? I've been playing them non-stop for the past month. Can't wait for their show in LA.

Insane vocals and musical magic

It's not the past nor the future. It's not your history or the eternal. It's not your regrets or your mistakes. It's not the image you see in the mirror nor the clothes you wear. It's just... not.

An instant classic. Their album is such a masterpiece. So sincere, intense...

If there could even be an inheritor of Neil Young, it’s them

song of the year, this song has this thing with breakin my heart and i LOVE it

I'm glazed eyed, speechless, thankful. It's very evident KEXP took great care documenting that. Phenomenal vid. I think they displayed a great appreciation for this station and it's listeners with that performance. There are a lot of vids of this song on RU-vid ( I haven't watched them all), I imagine this one's a clear stand out

Never fails to make me cry

Coming back from the future to say that you're going to really need this song come April. Just sayin'...

Top Songs of 2019: - Not - Big Thief - Movies - Weyes Blood - Nights That Won't Happen- Purple Mountains - Situations- Freddie Gibbs - For the Guilty- DIIV - Walk Away- (Sandy) Alex G - Uncomfortably Numb- American Football - Jony- Faye Webster - History Repeats - Brittany Howard - The Pull of You- The National

song of the year for me

Wow….just wow! Perfection!

buck looking particularly drippy in this one I must confess

What a fantastic song. I’ve enjoyed watching other live ‘Not’ performances on You Tube where she slays that guitar piece at the end. Wow

I am very surprised at how talented they all are. Surely this a powerful song...one to remember for the road.

That comes from a place I’m glad to know about from someone else; painfully beautiful.

One of my favorite albums-song of this year 🔥♥️🙂

Watching this for the first time ever but this is a song I listen to over and over again. The most important song to me in the past year. I got divorced October of last yr. We were together for almost 9 years but would of been married 3 yrs. We were married 10/26/19. Same day this song was posted

That's the real deal right there. Best band in the world right now.

KEXP sound mixers/engineers are so good at what they do 🏆

Legendary. Absolute amazing sound quality.

Love this song so much, everytime I listen to it makes feel alive

Absolutely incredible! Best song of the year!

Amazing performance, totally in love. So glad I found this.

best solo in this version

Absolutely astonishing!!❤️❤️Most defenitely best song of 2019

Heard this on french public radio France Inter yesterday. Im hooked. This is Emmylou's children doing it with the Neil Young from Arc/Weld period. I like her voice so much.

Best live version. They are awesome. So deep. Love it

Masterpiece

so epic. love her guitar sound

this is pure gold guys, just made me felt great, whole again. hope to watch you in İstanbul one day.

It’s like Radiohead and Cranberries banged and 9 months after this was the result

This song is an instant classic

Adore this song and band.

absolutely adore this song

It gives me chills.

Man, how those vocals bounce off each other from 2:41...

perfect and brilliant ! thank you

Best performance of the best song of the year.

Not your usual youtube commenter here but I need to say it...damn, that's good. Really good.

Gorgeous. Says everything.

I watch this video at least 3 times a day

I like how Buck dances without moving.

Damn. What a song.

so powerful, so surreal

perfeitos!

Una canción así, interpretada con esta visceralidad, son las cosas que a mi me conmueven.

perfection

That moment with her voice and the drums..... gotdam

Inlove

So beautiful beautiful beautiful ... beginning to end. Heart swelling.

Is just me or do I hear a little Crazy Horse feel here!

~ Revolution beginning!!!

song of the year

Exciting

This got me

OH mY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ♥

Can't wait for the full version. Can't wait to have a chance to hear them live as well

Buck meek is immense. That is all

indie darlings

Intense !

This is so moody, I love it. First time I’ve heard this as well.

Josh Klinghoffer me trouxe aqui... obrigada

bloody hell

Thanks for Josh Klinghoffer, now i know this beautiful song

🖤

Transcendental and Neil Youngesque!!!

Damn they are very good live... wow

Feelin it 3:39

Wow

I Love her rage...seriously YT you delete that? It's called a complement. Smdh

Came here for Josh Klinghoffer 😂💜💜💜

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really hope Cheryl hosted this sess!

I can't stop. Help me

Holy shit

♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

Wow this version rips

She really looks like Christine and the Queens