Bonnie Raitt & Richard Thompson - Dimming of the Day 

Every time I hear this it takes about 3 bars in and I can literally feel the tumblers to my heart spin and click. Then I’m there - right there in the groove with them - tears streaming down my face. And that happened when I first heard it off Pour Down Like Silver and just now - 43 years later. Now THAT is a piece of art.

Richard just stands back and gives Bonnie the reins , she is amazing, he is probably the most gracious of all artists

Such a beautiful song.

It is barely possible to put into words what a performance like this can bring to the listener. Only the highest form of musical artistry can make one feel joy in the beauty of a song and shed tears of empathy at the same time. Masterful writing and masterful performance from these two.

What a moment. The incomparable Bonnie Raitt performing this heart-piercing song with the man who wrote it. Wow.

Many years ago I heard NPR's Scott Simon interview Bonnie. She had released a new album and was on the road pushing it. The interview was remarkably sensitive and moving, and when it ended I was in tears. Bonnie said there were a number of slower pieces she performs with each concert, songs like this one. What surprised me was her saying that she has to give so much to sing songs like this that she is limp and hollow afterward. She said she could never sing a song like this one and then go on to "I Can't Make You Love Me" or "Angel from Montgomery" right afterward. Instead she has to do a few fast, bluesy numbers while she regains the emotional strength to do the next heartbreak song. What an amazing woman. What an amazing performer.

I hate crying in front of my computer. I feel such a fool! This is a beautious performance.

I found a cassette tape of my Dad singing this for my Mom back in 1999... I'll always hear his voice when I listen to it

I just listened to 5 different musicians versions. It's such a beautiful song. Bonnie makes you feel the pain

I've been a BR fan since I was in my early 20's. She never fails to gives me goosebumps. Such an amazing musician. Along with Richard Thompson who wrote this beautiful masterpiece

Raitt honors (and doubles down on) the heartbreak in the original and makes the song her own. Linda Thompson's version expresses her sorrow with exquisite restraint, while Bonnie lets the raw emotion carry her. A cover version should bring something new to the song, and Bonnie and Richard do that beautifully while preserving its elegiac tone. It brings tears to my eyes every time.

This is one of those moments that the people fortunate enough to witness it in person don't realize how special it really is.

'Been a fan of these two for decades. Whenever Richard is in town, we go see him. He's much better known in the UK than in North America. So many people you talk to have never heard of him (she said, scratching her head...)

Just magical, their voices blend like the river and sea.

Bonnie sings raw emotion. Saw her in Boston a few years ago and she played I Can’t Make You Love Me for probably the 6000th time, and she had tears in her eyes.

Bonnie Rait is the Prima Donna of her genre. Just love that bit of gravel in her voice.

Good God every time and every vid I see of Ms. Rait just makes me want more and I end up without sleep and my wife asking wtf and I just say Bonnie, Prine and Allison, Guy Clark.

I first heard Bonnie when I was a young teen. Back in the 70's. I feel in love with her and her voice. There no other like her. Bonnie thank you for many hours of listening pleasure. You always had that different but great style of music. I will love you and your music for as long as I live, Thank you.

Here's a case in point when life experience just speaks in the art. There is almost a fatigue in her voice that makes this all the more poignant. FLAWLESS.

Bonnie has such soul in her voice .

This is the most soulful performance of such a poetic song...ever! Bonnie Raitt can capture the human heart's expression of blues surmounted by none...a beautiful performer...heart and soul in this song.

When my Dad passed, I posted this song to my FB and my Mom heard it and it took her to that place with him. 14 months later, she passed and I played it for her on my FB. I can't hear it today without thinking of them both...

I lost the love of my life ten years ago that shared her favorite time nearly every evening..."the dimming of the day". Love her, and the two talents in this video!

Bonnie Raitt has been with me for all of my adult life. When I was 18 I found her music. And here she is, The Angel from Montgomery with the King of the Dreaming Isles. Beyond words.

This song, this performance, remind me so much of decades ago when I first heard Fairweather Convention's song, Who Knows Where the Time Goes, by Sandy Denny. Richard Thompson's musical career was beginning. Sandy's was sadly soon to end in an accident. But the feeling expressed in both songs is lovely.

This live performance blew my mind 😢

It doesn't come much better than this. Such a heartfelt performance & Richard's astounding harmonies, during the middle sections, were sheer bliss.

Thank you soooo much Richard and Bonnie for this!!! One of my Favorite songs!!! Thank you Bonnie for including Richard in this for he has written this beautiful song!!! Most song writers don't get recognized for the work they had done!!! Beautiful song Richard.... And very well done singing this and being so gracious to Richard for who had wrote this!!! You guys ROCK!!!!!!!

One of the most beautiful songs ever written. It will be like Greensleeves 500 years from now when nobody knows where it came from.

Saw Richard & Linda sing this live in 1979 in Glasgow. This version is excellent, but you'd have to be there all those years ago to appreciate the original. And Gerry Rafferty was on the same concert.

How can anyone have a dry eye when watching this ? I can't . A beautiful song sung with such emotion. A stunning voice with one of my favourite musicians of all time . Thanks Bonnie, thank you Richard.

The harmonies on the chorus are just sublime!

How absolutely beautiful and true. Something all of us have known but lack ability to express

By far the most beautiful of lyrics,and voices. I love this and have for years. He and Linda were a beautiful couple,he and Bonnie are a beautiful couple of singer, songwriters who sings this beautifully.

How can anyone hate on Bonnie? She's pure music - tons of soul and gives it everything she has. I never get the feelin when I hear her recorded or live that she is just mailing it in. It's always genuine, heartfelt, and sung likes it being sung for the first time.

Gorgeous beautiful and so sad…two great great singers…

Let's not underestimate the pleasure of Bonnie and Paul Brady's rendition, harmonies. Played @ the Florida Theatre recently...still feel the glow.

Bonnie sings with such authentic emotion.Truly amazing artist.....

Voices are spun with gold and our ears are rich with this heavenly assault of bliss

I first hear David Gilmour do this and yes tears it is one of the most honest and beautiful songs you can ever wish to hear and this is an exquisite version.

I spent Xmas with an old friend. Really need her company it's been a hard year. She gone back on the road now. Played this just after she left. Just played it again. Can't stop the tears

I know I am lucky cause i got to play with her back in 72 in woodstock...great song.

A union of an angel and a god. Magnificent. Thanks to Bonnie and Richard for ALL of their wonderful music, God bless them both for the happiness and sadness they have given us the soulful opportunity to ponder..

After 20+ years, still as right, as perfect as ever. Music holds truth that time can't alter, except to make it more true.

This gave me comfort my friend lost her husband thank you for the song

The first time I heard this song was on a Mary Black DVD. I formed and shed the thickest tears ever. I cried for 5 days!! Single and bashed and bruised. It reminded me of when my 8 year boyfriend married someone else. I waited and they divorced but but but can’t go back to him older. Shame. For years I thought I needed him.

Was working in the centre of Birmingham. One day, the whole place was full of people who looked happy to be there. Asked one of them what was going on. "Bonnie Raitt at Symphony Hall" I had never heard of her. I have now!

Oh Bonnie and Richard....could this favorite possibly ever be more touching than in this performance? Thanks for posting this.

This is beyond performance this is straight from the heart and enhanced by the prescence of Richard T.

Just beautiful. Be thankful that you can hear this magic.

Breaks my heart wide open when I hear it .The passion ; the harmonies .I have to remind myself to breathe .

This is astounding. No better interpretation of this beautiful song is possible.

Don't want to get into the Bonnie vs Linda diatribe below, not healthy. Just two words: simply brilliant.

Both of them are survivors. Bonnie has played with everyone and she is great at finding the heart of a song. Richard Thompson is simply magical.

Who said we only hear bad news all the time and the world is got to pot, I bring you good news, take a few minutes to sit down and listen to this song, listen to the words of the master songwriter, player/singer Mr Richard Thompson, listen to the killer singing and playing of blessed sister Bonnie Raitt. Now you will know fo great this world is when we have got 2 championing people like those two Queen Bonnie & King Richard

Hard to believe Richard is 70 this year!

I listen to this about five times a day. I just cant get enough of it! I think the best song ive ever heard!!!

Genius x two... Makes me cry everytime I hear this. Bonnie Raitt is spectacular and Richard Thompson is a poet! XXX

I would like to have this version of this song on endless repeat.

"Two absolute masters of their craft like bookends securing priceless novels." Veritas Obscuurum

It doesn't get much better than this.

First time I’ve heard this song. Started tearing up when she started singing. Amazing tune from two amazing artists.

Saw them play this together again live last night and had to come back for another helping. What a beautiful version of a gorgeous song...

I was having trouble getting through a job that made me travel. This song was on my headset - for those of you who are younger - it was a Sony Walkman, and there was a lot of Tori Amos that got me through too.

Bonnie Raitt...WOW...women are a higher life form! A beautiful artist whose lyrics and song redirect your thoughts either to the place of the song or some other place or other time or love in your life. A twilight of heart and soul and God's gift of sound...a siren sound so lovely your thoughts disengage from the moment and dwell in a higher level of life...time out to ponder what was and what might have been...or tears come too late by years...the beauty of mind and music and Bonnie Raitt...

Regardless of who sings this, the words will always send chills up my spine. Especially now, when I have lost an incredible love....

You know what will never be here on this earth but wonderful would be: Richard singing this with Sandy Denny, their's was a bond sent from above.

...so many hours of pleasure and entertainment from one woman. such a great career. I really appreciate what she's given to us.

Bonnie songs with great emotional power and fervor. And Richard is a genius singer/ songwriter. Bonnie does a stunning version with Paul Brady as well.

Loved her from the 1st time I heard her. Her soul reaches out in her music.

The most lovely .. Of weeps best reason ... For any soul... ❤

Evocative song by the great Richard Thompson, resonates with me and with a lot of people musing on lost love..

Richard and Bonnie. 'Doesn't get any better than this. Happy Birthday, Bonnie Raitt!

Mr. Richard Thompson, a great British songwriter, and a beautiful version of one of his songs by the talented Bonnie Raitt.

I found it odd that so many people left after Bonnie, i remember she did Browne's "Under the falling sky" , i stayed, Jackson and David Lindley were a real treat!

I just stumbled on this. Wow, I had no idea Bonnie Raitt has pipes like that. Holy ... she’s got an incredible voice.

The best of Richard Thompson during his Fred Scuttle phase.

Ohhhhh........I so love this song. So love to listen to Bonnie Raitt sing just about anything! I have been her biggest fan since I first heard her singing in 1971. Channeling my husband tonight, as I listen to this wonderful song

that sound you hear, is my heart breaking...

Bonnie is just wonderful, plain and simple, and it took so long for people to recognise this. Thank God for Bonnie and I’m not religious, she makes me cry with the depth of her emotion on this song...I love it

A heart-breaking performance - I wonder if Richard Thompson was inspired by the Irish ballad the Dawning of the Day. Very beautiful song and rendition - Bonnie is an inspiration.

OMG! If there is a heaven, when I get to the pearly gates I want St. Peter to say, come on in, RIchard and Bonnie are over there, just warmin' up ....

I know exactly what you mean I was lucky enough to have seen them do it 3/4 times way back when, but the one I remember most was in Dublin when they had finished the set with a haunting version of "Night comes in" and for the encores they did "The sun never shines on the poor" to end with "Dimming of the day". That must have been 1975/7 and I have seen a lot good concerts since but that night must still remain in the the top 5.

Holy shit....I'm in tears....geezus....😭

That earthly loving voice that tells the story we all live from time to time; she shares with us to ease the pain... Love to you hon

A lot of music brings me out in goose bumps. Not much gives me goose bumps over my entire body. That's an awesome performance of a fine song.

The look on Bonnie's face b4 she sings bespeaks eloquently.

Two of my all-time favorite musicians. Brilliant!

Masterpiece. Saddest song ever.

Oh man, I've died and gone to heaven. My Richard playing his song with Bonnie singing. Just wonderful!

I promise I will always be there at the dimming of the day for the rest of my life

Great duet.

Saw Bonnie at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago in 1971 opening for Jackson Browne, Half the audience left after she was done , she already had a huge following! I love you Bonnie!

A great version of a true classic song, the depths of the true meaning of these lyrics are the reason Good Music becomes GREAT Music What days have come to keep us far apart?A broken promise or a broken heartNow all the bonnie birds have wheeled awayI need you at the dimming of the dayI Love this version

bonnie i lovelovelovelovelove you soo. i mean your voice :-) imagine : a hole universe and 13 billion years were necessary ton create such a woman with such a voice... after all, it was worth while. and i was lucky enough to live at the same time... oh lord...

what a voice - what a song

I do love you Bonnie....always have...and this is truely one of my favorite songs that you apply your magic to....RT's harmonies just put it over the top...bliss

OMG!!!!! She just told my story of the love of my life! This is everything I have lived this past year. We have lived the craziest romantic secret this world has ever known. I fear more than anything she is fleeting. And now, my heart breaks because I still need her at the diming of the day. Being a songwriter & musician myself, I know that inspiration to create songs like this only come from living through the experience. Now that I have experienced what I never believed actually existed, I almost wish I hadn't. This song is as beautiful as any.

Bonnie Raitt- a great song's best friend.

So beautiful