My wife and I watched this performance live and I was so close to proposing afterwards, we were in bits, but I'd left the ring at home (not wanting to lose it in the Welsh mud! - It rained a lot that year) We ended up using the audio from this recording for our first dance when we were married in 2009, so thank you for posting
Wow...that's my favorite performance of this song. This has to be my all-time favorite song...it's just so...I don't know how to describe it...but wow!
Every time I watch a live version of this song I am A) Blown away by the emotion B) Completely stumped as to why the album version has to sound so watered-down and timid when clearly this is Sam Beam's vision for the song C) PISSED when idiots whoop it up at "fuck the man" like that's the whole point of the song
As of today, there are 2 officially released live recordings of this song and they both sound watered down compared to this performance. I’m not sure if this video portrays Sam’s vision for the song or if it was just a magical moment. I agree it is the best.
So majestic. He gets so into it too - he goes from whispers to belting out all his emotions to whispers, beautiful harmonies, and preciously slow parts.
Miss so many that this song instantly brings back. Sorry for those who got lost along the way. Anyone out there in search of their way please keep going. You do not know the sorrow that will be left when you leave.
Oh God, I'm Totally In Love With This Song... I just want to cry in silence everytime I listen to it while remembering my childhood, my missing friends, when we used to play in the grass all day long, when we used imagine fabulous stories ... The lyrics are so touching ... Iron And Wine is THE best band ever... ♥♥♥
I was there for this. Our kid (my brother) couldn't/wouldn't. Our Mum was very sick in a home back in Derbyshire and didn't have long to go. Sorry for being maudlin but this was a beautiful moment, at a beautiful festival.
So amazing. The crowd went so still for this song.. I almost cried! First time I heard it, I didn't want it to end xxx Thankyou for playing in Wales! :) Please visit soon xxx
This is definitely my favorite version of this song. Not only does he have the voice of an angel, the beard of a mountain man, and amazing clothes, but he also has such feeling behind the song. It's as if he's telling stories that everyone can relate to. I really want to know what he thinks about when he sings songs like these.
Saw them last night at Terminal 5 in NYC and he came out for an encore and played this... I've never heard it before, but it was easily one of the greatest concert moments of my life. Pure beauty captured. I hope someone posts a video from the show.
+goliabianca God, me too. It makes me think about my girls...7 and 3...and leaving them early. Like I'm singing this to them. At 5:50 (in this version), I lose it every time. So powerful.
Doubting Thomas still haven’t found it 😭 whenever I watch this video I think of your jacket comment. But hey, post a screen shot of Sam wearing it from this video to the correct subreddit and I guarantee they find it for you ASAP.
It looks like a men's trench jacket if that helps. Kinda similar is this one www.rebelsmarket.com/products/men-s-double-breasted-trenchcoat-stylish-belted-windbreaker-225885
I think this is my favorite song of all time. And I can't believe 4 people have disliked this video. This is way too beautiful and complex and moving to dislike!
@surveysaysNO i don't think they whoop it up because they think it's the whole point of the song. i think they whoop it up because he says 'fuck the man'. he's a performer. he knows people will whoop when you say 'fuck the man'. i think that's some kind of law of large crowds - "fuck the man", "don't take the brown acid" and "when i say 'ho', you say 'ha'" will ALWAYS get a reaction.
@PearlyGatesGrafitti Sorry, the "rebellious nature"? I don't think you've actually looked at the lyrics, my friend. It's an incidental phrase that doesn't really have anything to do with the rest of the song. If the point of the whole 7-minute song was "Fuck you, I won't do what ya tell me!" then I would understand. But it ain't. They're obviously cheering because he said the word 'fuck' and I just think it detracts from the emotion.
@henobeno yeah well, if you only know "trapeze swinger" and "flightless bird, american mouth" that's your problem. I'm sure people in the audience knew the songs. I saw him just a couple of days ago. I knew the songs. But they changed up the arrangements on the songs pretty much. Maybe that's why you didn't recognize them.
wow no wonder why he quite acting WOW joaquin phoenix can sing no wonder why hes leaving acting behind im gonna miss movies like space camp and russkies but its well worth it What great music
silly to clap at "fucxk" but still someone should commission a painting of the Pearly Gates containing all the wonderful imagery in this magnificent song...i'd proudly hang a knock-off on my wall if it was done cleverly enough..sam beam is the real deal...colleen keegan this song is about us!!
i saw him on the 25th and it was honestly the WORST concert i have ever been to. i was so looking forward to him, and hes two hours late, sang songs that nobody in the audience knew, and left early. he didnt even song the trapeze swinger :'(
haha no no i think you've misunderstood me. i just think this song has a certain vibe thats best suited to a silent room you know? of course clapping along to live music has its place, i do it myself. i just wouldn't to something like this.
@fernandoruirodrigues don't you this it's weird how repetitive it is but still is amazing and it works i love it!!!! this is the most beautiful song i have ever heard!!!
If there were words that could describe how this song draws out a persons memories and emotions theyd probably be written into this masterpiece itself when I spun it backwards.
@yourfriendg00 I can't stand when people do that. I was at a Tallest Man On Earth concert in Philly and there were people doing that hahaha... he told them to stop, it was great.
i've never understood why everyone on every live video goes crazy when he says 'fuck the man' -- it's a melancholy metaphor. it takes so much away from the song.
I think that trying to pin this song to meaning just one thing is doing it an injustice. Songs like this one, and Justin Vernon's Holocene (although i think Sam is a much more advanced writer) are about much more than one thing specifically... they are like the Bible in that way. They will be there in times good, and times bad, and leave you with a new perception about either one.
@lisamaudje He doesn't really remind me of Vic himself but the song reminds me of Vic's words. The emotion that comes through reminds me of Vic also but it's mostly the way the song is written; the words used, the phrasing. It has that mid-life nostalgia that Vic was so good at but with a little less regret.
Oh lord, that audience. Cheering at the word "fuck", and trying to clap along. This is a song where you must simply stand, silent, and soak in the waves of emotion that are radiating from this man and his guitar.
This song is straight from the heart, and to the folks laughing and trying to clap along i must say that you are missing the point completely. Anyway, great song and very talented songwriting.
amazing song. listen to my cover let me know what you think. IandW are my fav. i recorded my version of this w out ever hearing the original. my friend sent me the lyerics. love ya sam
sam did this as his encore at radio city music hall a couple of weeks ago and brought 5900 people to absolute silence. some people can't handle that, sadly.
A beautiful version of a beautiful song. He performed this live in Manchester, the first time I'd heard it - I just stood there in awe as verse after verse rolled by, thinking, "this man has just used every wonderful image I could ever have thought up in a lifetime, in one song." I understand what you mean about the crowd, but remember that this is the Green Man festival! I don't think the cheers are meant to be ironic - I think they really appreciate the sentiment of sticking it to the Man.
