BLAZE FOLEY - IF I COULD ONLY FLY 

Somehow the apparently inattentive audience makes the sadness of this song even more heart breaking.

I wonder if anyone there realized they were witnessing greatness

God damn. This version, with everyone else in the background not even listening, not giving a flying shart, really nails it. But he just keeps on bleeding all over them. Goddammed gem.

Blaze Foley - just like Townes, his music reaches down hits a nerve in your soul, and sometimes, makes you cry like a damn baby.. If you've really lived, you cant help but connect with this music. This is the real stuff folks, happy to see others still love this man man and this music.

God bless whoever taped this. Thanks so much for sharing.

Glad you like it! This video is from Sharon and Lew Andre Mathews, recorded at their wedding party in 1985. I believe in Austin.

Sadly, that's all there is, I think they forgot to start the camera. I'll try to upload more from this tape, there is a good version of "Faded Love" on it. Thanks for commenting!

Imagine you're at some crummy wedding getting drunk in some crummy backyard and blaze foley walks out to play a few tunes and swill some beer. How cool would that be. All time Cool.

another example of how it matters not, to be internationally famous, wealthy and on the charts to be a poetic & musical treasure, thanks for posting !

I love the intimacy of this clip, and how you can hear others carrying on their chit chat in the background, oblivious. The noise lessens towards the end as people start to catch on to the quality and sincerity of the performer.

A Gem that wasn't discovered soon enough. What a voice the man had. RIP Blaze...

As close to Hank Williams as there ever was,Blaze Foley was the real deal,he lived it,walked it and talked it. R.I.P Blaze,You are sorely missed.

Just hearing his banter at the end almost makes me tear up. It’s so obvious how genuine of a man Blaze was. A terrific songwriter, a captivating presence, and a man who sang how he lived. Im not a religious man, but I hope Blaze is still out there seeing how loved he is by so many.

This is the song I told my kids I want played when I pass away.

I've been trucking so long I still call it long haul. This song always has reminded me of my wife when I begin my 5,400 mile rounder. 10 days gone, "if I could only fly" May God bless all who are away from loved ones.

I miss my wife

It hurts like hell relating to this song. I’m sorry if u know how it feels.

Such raw, unbridled sorrow for one man to bear...

"Dismal thinking on a dismal day" !!! What a great line among a great song full of great lines!

Ive watched this a thousand times.....tear up every time

A forever thank you to Kevin Triplett for preserving this precious song for all of us.

Can't believe this crowd talked through this iconic song.

I love this. Blaze was just an incredible songwriter and performer and his talent refuses to just fade away.

This just rips my heart out.

I almost felt you touchin me just now I wish I knew which way to turn and go I feel so good and I feel so bad Wonder what I oughta do If I could only fly If I could only fly Id bid this place goodbye To come and be with you But I can hardly stand Got nowhere to run Another sinkin sun One more lonely night The wind keeps blowin somewhere every day They tell me things get better somewhere up the way Just dismal thinkin on a dismal day Sad songs for us to bear

i would marry too, if Blaze could sing at my wedding. How lucky.

a world class musician, playing to a crowd that didn't know he was their. love the little things. love everything

Some of us heard you then, and we still hear you now, Blaze. You're missed, buddy.

Somehow the apparently inattentive audience makes the sadness of this song even more heart breaking.

So lonely and the crowd seems to ignore him and his genius. Thank you Blaze for being real and for keeping on playing to the rest of us.

.... and sad songs for us to bare

Tears in my eyes.

i lost my father some time ago and have nightmares about seeng him and my own struggless ,,, needess to say to say i love this song❤️❤️

Blaze Foley playing at a backyard party. These folks had no idea of the greatness before them.

I just discovered blaze from watching tales from the tour bus by Mike judge and I am totally hooked and can’t believe more people haven’t heard of him. His songs really tug at my heart strings. And some are actually hilarious. RIP blaze I wish I had heard of you sooner.

A perfect example of boiling down lyrics to the pure emotion. Beautiful song.

I can’t believe it took me so long to discover Blaze Foley. The first time I heard him perform his music it cut right to my heart. Folks here are not even listening to this genius performing and it’s so sad.

Good LORD!!!!!!! I was at Townes VanZandt's B'day bash at The Cactus last night...so many good stories of Balze and Townes. Our Duct Tape Messiah...truly missed.

My dad just cried

I like to imagine I was in this yard, gazing on with my beer and reflecting on life. I had a chance to be in a yard like this and listen to country music like this and it was amazing and life changing though not at a wedding but this is a perfect song accompanied by a perfect feeling

that drunk lady trying to harmonize ... oh Lord. someone stop her

We need Blaze today. Gone way too soon

love this! such a wonderful, humble, brilliant artist. thanks for this intimate version.

This is the best country song ever written hands down

Such a sad place to sing a beautiful song

This is when I wish I had a time machine

This is a precious and authentic document of a singular talent all the more poignant for his short fiery transverse of the heavens above the sad old world here below. Merle loved this song.

Blaze you were a King amongst men. Merle Haggard made a major hit with your song. Thankyou my friend. I hope some day Ill have the privilege of singing this song with you in heaven. Rip my friend. 💙

This man sings some of the most achingly beautiful music I've ever heard. Sure wish I had known of him before his unfortunate death. RIP, Blaze.

I don't do much social media stuff but when I come across these things with Blaze I get a little emotional. We were great friends.

Amazing that Blaze sounds better with acoustic guitar in the backyard singing over noise than performers today sound with electric bands and sound stages. Talent maybe?

Blaze use to play at a bar I worked at in 1983-84. This song has been very hard to find since then, as I have moved back to my home of Ky. He had a way with music. Havent heard from him, since then, till the advent of youtube. Thanks for posting.

Thank you @mopacmedia and Kevin Tripplet for sharing this and the doc about Blaze. Oskar from Sweden

People were not aware there was greatness in their midst. Wow. So much raw emotion in this song. I tear up every time I hear it.

If this song dont make you cry then your already dead! Sing it to the angels.

Amazing Sharon and Lew, that you have a piece of history on your wedding video.

He shakes his head back and forth before starting singing, after a 30 second guitar piece in which he doesn't look at his hands and has his eyes closed...damn...

If a word truley captures it's essence then I would be so humble to utter the word... authentic.. where so many strive and yet fail.

Might be the greatest country song ever written

Thank you for putting this up. He is (was) such a precious being. Love him to pieces.

❤ And a legend he became !!! the first time i heard Blaze sing this...the hairs on my arms stood up.. absolutely breathtaking.

Carson McKee brought me to Blaze Foley. He has an excellent version on his channel. Beautiful song. So heartfelt singing by Blaze. I almost want to 😢

Do you have more clips from this wedding reception of Blaze singing? Everyone should read the description, it clears up a lot of questions. This is so expressive and intimate.💟

One of the best songs ever written/played. A true legend.

Just crying at the airport like an idiot

Probably my single favorite video on this app. What a world

The world didnt deserve this man.

New Deluxe DVD available from Lost Art Records, with over 3 hours of extra material including rare videotaped performances of Blaze Foley, from Lost Art Records.

My wife, Nancy and I've become "friends" with Lew Andre and Sharon since moving to Texas in 2015. A more gracious couple Nancy and I have never met. Hey, Lew Andre and Sharon, thank you for your valued friendship and for music we've shared along the way! May God continue to bless!

There doesn't seem to be a lot of footage of Blaze. I'm glad someone captured this on film so the rest of us can enjoy it too. Thanks for uploading it.

Drunkin' Angel

I had no idea that such an extraordinary video recording of Mr Blaze Foley existed. I only really knew of the late great Blaze through Lucinda Williams wonderful song Drunken Angel and more recently the wonderful album of Blaze Foley songs recorded by Gurf Morlix (Blaze Foley's 113th Wet Dream) but to hear such a beautiful song performed by the writer is just magic. Thanks so much for the clip. Tony

Pound for pound as great as the best of them...

No words.. Genius perhaps …God Bless always Blaze 🙏🏼

Still think this is the best version of the best love song of all time... RIP Blaze...

BLAZE FOLEY-o-RAMA October 17 @ Ruta Maya benefiting Austin Resource Center for The Homeless. We are printing Blaze shirts to benefit ARCH. More details on the lineup as she comes...

Prefer this one over the produced version with the musicians/band added. This one is so simple and piercing, straight to the marrow. On a par with Johnny Cash's version of hurt and Willie Nelson's Gravedigger. Only this is the original version by the original artist.

I just listened to Merle sing this in a highly produced performanced.. and I loved it....but it doesn't start to compare with the alcoholic singer songwriter singing his life

I will not be able to make the show but I would love to buy a Blaze shirt to support the cause. contact me.. living in the woods in a tree by Sybil Rosen is out on amazon, well i pre-ordered.. so have a look..

This fellow can play one helluva guitar.

You have to wonder what Blaze could of accomplished if his life wasn't cut short. He was a mess but a beautiful soul.

We miss you Blaze Foley and want you to know that you were and are well loved. Lucinda's drunken angel..

So glad this moment was captured.

this guy is (was) amazing! glad I found his art...

@SuperJenb13 Oh, they're still out there, but you won't find them on today's piece of shit country radio stations. Look toward Indie labels for this kind of stuff.

Merle Haggard did this great song so well for so many years. Now he and Blaze can sing it together.

If anyone is interested in the true, un-censored and very honest story of Michael David Fuller ( AKA Blaze Foley ), written by the girl he wrote this song both for and about, google Living In The Woods In A Tree by Sybil Rosen. A phenomenally well-written book; at once sad, fulfilling and poignant, it's both a celebration and expose' on his life as told through her eyes... I couldn't recommend a book any more highly.

Big thanks to Sharon and Lew for sharing this with us. What a treat

thank You for posting this rare juwel. What a beautyful sadness in his voice, the sky is crying

Such a great song, and performance, as always with Blaze.

I was very young when he was all the rage on the local music scene. Just a true loyal loving fan of Blaze Foley. May he rest in peace.

@rikkidoolan82 Fortunately, there is more video. I'm working with it now, working it into the documentary about Blaze, which should be finished and available this summer (2010). And what I don't use, I'll try to get up here if I can get permission. Thanks for asking!

Praise the Lord we have these videos to look back on..I do often

After seeing this so many times and so many views I wonder if people will respectfully shut their mouths while someone is pouring their heart out.

Listening to the idiots talking and ignoring the greatness that Blaze was gifting them with really makes me sad. People are blind.

this is great..sums up how I feel with everyone going on about there lives while I feel like I'm unable to comprehend the days anymore

@bluelouise13 Willie likes this song. Merle Haggard likes it so much that he sung a duet with Willie in '87 and then recorded it again, over a decade later on his album If I Could Only Fly. Nancy Griffith has just recorded it for her upcoming album, Joe Nichols recorded it. John Prine recorded Blaze's Clay Pigeons, Lyle Lovett recorded Blaze's Election Day and both Townes Van Zandt and Lucinda Williams wrote songs about Blaze. So many people like Blaze's music.

Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful spectacle. I've only just discovered his music recently.

14/1/24 A. Huge talent.RIP

In the presence of greatness