musicfog.com James McMurtry performs a song that my be even more relevant now than when he wrote it years ago. Filmed at Threadgill's WHQ in Austin, Texas during the Music Fog Marathon in March, 2012.
This guy is so on target with his lyrics. The modern Dylan, but hey, he's been around a long time. This is the kind of music that SHOULD be played on the airwaves today.
This should be replacing all the Shitty songs you hear on the radio today. Makes me cry how truthful it is, and how little people understand. I struggle everyday, and this guy knows it, thanks James.
I don't know all the details but it seems hard to believe that he understands exactly how it feels considering that his dad is a millionaire. I freely admit that in my current situation I know I have that safety net. My folks aren't Larry Mcmurtry rich, but enough that I will never be homeless.
Because despite any money which he may or may not have he is one of U.S. He moved around the country living between his Mother and Father and experienced life and turmoil among many different groups of people in this Nation.
I never would've known of this guy if it weren't for his father Larry McMurtry, writer of Lonesome Dove. On that note, I'm a fan already just from him being the offspring.
That is one hell of a live music performance. I feel bad for anyone who put this on but didn't watch him play the guitar and look at his face when he was singin' those words. So powerful and unfortunately still so damned current.
Part of me has felt like simple old folk music is tired, and then a song like this comes along, pierces me to the core, and shines a brighter light into the darkness than most anything I've heard in a awfully long time. Thank you James, you stoke a fire that needs to become an inferno.
I can only describe this song as “real.” A real person using his real voice, real language, singing about reality, with real anger and real feeling. Must be what hearing Dylan was first like.
Found this guy in 08 , been a huge fan since. Got a chance to see him at The Belly Up in San Diego. Got a chance to talk with him for a few minutes. I was amazed at his intelligence. He makes art from Americana and it flows like wine....
One of the best there is. James and his lyrical talent is top tier and so true. The musician part is at the top also. I’ll be going to his show in Whitefish Montana October 22nd 🙌
+K GB Guthrie sang songs that told the truth about the American society and life in the days he lived. I haven't heard truth like his until McMurtry wrote about the underside of our society. He hits the nail on the head.
What I absolutely love about this song is that you know he has sung it tens of thousands times since 1989 and he is still intense believes it love James see him every year he comes thru the bay area...one of the greatest songwriters making music...support him
Shout out to 100.3 WKIT out of Bangor, Maine! "Stephen King's rock station." My childhood rock station... Played this at least weekly back in the day. James is a huge inspiration on my own songwriting now as a 30 year old metalhead just trying to live life. 🤘 This is such a killer performance
Wow, what a Visionary poet still as relevant 35 years later. Great Music, great Man, made in America. Brilliant ! Thank you for sharing your Music James !
" Vietnam Vet with a cardboard sign Sitting there by the left turn line Flag on the wheelchair flapping in the breeze One leg missing, both hands free No one's paying much mind to him The V.A. budget's stretched so thin And there's more comin' home from the Mideast war We can't make it here anymore ...."
February 29, 2024. Google maps just mistakenly led me to a hospital that closed. Needed to hear this song. Fantastic man, writer, singer and songwriter! BEST AND PEACE
Ok first things first, beautifully photographed. Second, not for nothing, but he looks seriously pissed off. Which is appropriate. Well done, thanks for posting.
TRUTH to POWER... Great that there are singer-songwriters out there paying attention and recording (literally) what they are seeing... Glad to have met James some 25 years ago in a little know town of Waterford, Va, where he lived for a while... Wished I had more time to talk with him... No matter... Great to see folks writing about the real world... I'd recommend Mark Germino's "Rat and the Snake" (might be "Economics") for other songwriters who are standing up to the f'd up deal that most of us are suffering from... Bob
I swear we’re related I have your last name, my father served in ww2 with his brother, there father my grandpa, who I never met served in ww1. And it took me a long time to wake up but know I see. And I’m willing to die for my faith in Jesus, and my family and this country. If it be Gods will.
love this guy, delivering the gritty shitty truth, through gritted angry teeth, "i can see 'em now they haunt my dreams all lilly white and squeeky clean.......even i get it and im in the uk
Great tune bangin on the big fear...as I was studying geology it was stressed early on by a professor-"three things you can always count on--Death, Taxes, and Change..." Live in hopes lest ye die in despair...
just found James mcmurt a few years ago ...he's all that and then some ! come play shooters bar in Kenora one. time...you'll be well received because I'll tout the heck out of you and your band !
Punched me in the gut with that one brother....Some fucking gut level truth. Brutally honest, NO BULLSHIT. I fucking love it. Wake us all up. The plight of the American class that most of us are!
