When you are fronting The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and you steal the show.... that's how great Iris is. My greatest moment when I was doing concert photography was when (in Seattle) I was standing next to Emmylou Harris and she said that Iris's singing was like a freight train roaring through your living room!
Iris is one of the most beautiful women I can think of. And her modesty all along since youth... in the times we're living. Of course her music is off the charts. God bless her.
It took me 10 years to discover this RU-vid video. The graphics match the words in the song beautifully! We're all showing our age as we get older. But Iris Dement's voice is ageless. So unusual and pure. Thanks Iris. You're a beautiful person with a God given talent.
This could be up there as the greatest ever Country song written and performed, Iris, the lyrics, the harmony and Iris's backing band are nothing short of sheer perfection, it doesn't get any better than this, thank you.
Definitely, but it's not just her. Every person in the band looks like they love the song, the story, and Iris, and they love being there. Note that the story is probably the same for M. Berg. Her mother wrote songs, too.
She grew up plain and simple in a farming town Her daddy played the fiddle and use to do the calling when they had hoedowns She said the neighbors would come And they'd move all my grandma's furniture 'round And there'd be twenty or more there on the old wooden floor Dancing to a country sound The Carters and Jimmy Rodgers played her favourite songs And on Saturday nights there was a radio show And she would sing along And I'll never forget her face when she revealed to me That she'd dreamed about singing at The Grand Ol' Opry Her eyes, oh how they sparkled when she sang those songs While she was hanging the clothes on the line I was a kid just a humming along Well, I'd be playing in the grass, To her what might've seemed obliviously But there ain't no doubt about it, she sure made her mark on me She played old gospel records on the phonograph She turned them up loud and we'd sing along But those days have passed Just now that I am older it occurs to me That I was singing in the grandest opry And we sang Sweet Rose of Sharon, Abide With Me 'Til I ride The Gospel Ship to Heaven's Jubilee And In That Great Triumphant Morning my soul will be free And My Burdens Will Be Lifted when my Saviour's face I see So I Don't Want to Get Adjusted to This World below But I know He'll Pilot Me 'til it comes time to go Oh, nothing on this earth is half as dear to me As the sound of my Mama's Opry And we sang Sweet Rose of Sharon, Abide With Me 'Til I ride The Gospel Ship to Heaven's Jubilee And In That Great Triumphant Morning my soul will be free And My Burdens Will Be Lifted when my Saviour's face I see So I Don't Want to Get Adjusted to This World below But I know He'll Pilot Me 'til it comes time to go Oh, nothing on this earth is half as dear to me As the sound of my Mama's Opry
I saw Iris in concert in Philadelphia years ago. I thought to bring a lot of tissues, which was a good thing - I needed them. I don’t know exactly why but I thinks it’s because there is something deep down true in her songs and her singing. It gets the tears rolling, but I love every minute of it!
Although this lady and I have never met, I get this wonderful feeling inside of me every time I hear her do this touching song which she had written for her mother. Lets me know that she dearly loved her mom, which is how it should always be. What a sweet and tender voice that she has. Although I don't know her personally, as I have said, I would love to have the chance to meet her one day. I am certain that I would enjoy pickin' 'n grinnin' with her. I really love the sound of her beautiful voice. To me it's a blend of country and folk, which is nice. 🥰
American country music is directly based on the music brought over to us via Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. Thanks to all of the immigrants from afar.
For being a lady of somewhat small stature, she sure does cast a big bubble around her. I’ve been fortunate enough to see her live a few times, and when she’s signed autographs and taken photos after, it was like being with one of your neighbors. She seems to walk that tortured line between having glimpsed heaven already and not being able to have this place measure-up, but she’s dang sure dragging it kicking and screaming!
I only found out about Iris recently when I watched transatlantic sessions on utube. Where have I been? Iris has that rare quality of being a visual as well as an aural feast. I can listen forever to that uniquely wonderful voice, but at the same time I cant take my eyes of her hugely expressive face. She’s a gem.
I came upon her music when I first heard her singing “leaning on the everlasting arms” at the end of true grit. Now I have never been a country music enthusiast. I don’t dislike it. I just never grew up listening to it. But man, I am drawn to this lady’s music. And her voice is so angelic. I can sit and listen to her all day. Mesmerizing!
Love this song, Fell in love with her singing the first time I heard it..Have seen her in concert a few times and loved every minute of it. I know she is touring out west and when she comes east again I'll be there.
So many comments about Iris making the commenters cry. I'm with them and it shows we humans are a perverse lot. We cry and it makes us feel good. Maybe its because her words and voice are so human and it makes us feel good to be human too.
Hi iris i had an instant crush on you when i seen you with john prine , well im just a man ok so go easy on me ok. Im sorry he is gone but he letf a shitload of great music behind , i first heard his tune ,,, theres a hole in daddys arm when i had a hole i mine ,,, ive stoped using now for a long time but still like to here that tune it brings tears to my eyes , so remember iris he is allways wathing over you ok sweetie take care ok....
Absolutely my favorite and always will be Tear's me up on every song Love her she so awesome words can't express how awesome she is to me♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
This is from the show put on to promote the 3rd "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" album. Many great acts in the show and on the album. Some folks have mentioned the Transatlantic Sessions from Scotland under the musical direction of Aly Bain and Jerry Douglas. Iris was part of the first season in 1995. I have all 6 seasons - a wonderful collection of music. My all time favourite Iris is any of the duets of "In Spite Of Ourselves" with John Prine. After 45 years of marriage it feels like John wrote it for us. He sings it with others but Iris is the absolute best.
I saw you play 2 times at the Big Top Chautauqua in Bayfield, Wisconsin. I love your story songs especially, Walk’in Home. I grew up in a very large family I can still head the screen door slam.
Least we Forget... The 1st thought came into my mind while listening to this was my Grandmother's stories she use to share with me ............. One of the most profound stories was : The red stripes on the American flag represented the blood that use to run down their faces after getting beat by the police , ....... The stars was what they seen when they got hit in their head with the sticks........ and the white part was the obvious : She said don't ever give allegiance to a flag that ( HATE ) you , give allegiance to " THE MOST HIGH GOD " who will deliver you from the hand of your enemy and land of captivity ./ but the Lord laughs them to scorn And they shall afterward become dishonored corpses and an unceasing mockery among the dead,. For he shall strike them down speechless and prostrate and rock them to their foundations; They shall be utterly laid waste and shall be in grief and their memory shall perish.
We've spent the last week playing all our Iris CDs (five at this point, with another ordered). Wish she would appear near us again; we will never forget the one time we attended her concert.
Where have you been Iris. Just heard your songs. You have an absolutely Beautiful Pure Country Voice. And you're beautiful on top of that. My Lord woman. You are one fantastic country singer.
Everything about this is sheer perfection--Iris, of course; the song itself, the back up singers, the instrumentalists. Listening and watching is a moving experience. I listened to the Grand Old Opry every Saturday night in the 40's and early 50's. Great heritage.
Love this version with Iris Dement. Brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it...reminds me of my own Mother singing along with the "Hit Parade" on TV. Thanks for posting.
Me too. I'm a pretty hard ole sumbitch just under 70, but I get tears every time I hear Iris singing any song. It's either knocking years off my life, or adding richness to it. I opt for the latter. This song and Our Town are particularly touching.
@@cef8156 Iris is a very shy individual, she deals with stage fright (and has never hid this reticence she has to contend with when she performs). But she 'does' contend with it, more than capably. Are you conflating that issue with her more than obvious talent or with the music itself which she always puts across at a top tier level? I've seen her twice, once 30 years ago in which she was clearly having a confident night.... she shone brilliantly, that was in a very compact theatre with 2 tiers, 1800 seats. The next time (4 years ago) was at a symphony hall with long site lines and 3500 seats. She was a long distance from most of the seats, she seemed to be putting some energy into trying to manage her discomfort... she felt like she was in a fishbowl, and she admitted this. But if you closed your eyes, the music she was creating was still sublime, she has a very high bar, and she stays very true to her 'old time' inspirations, she communicates the music/spirit of the Carter family era with self apparent magnificence.
