Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires Perform “Cover Me Up” at Country Music Hall of Fame 

All the people that are commenting that “Morgan Waller did the song better” are completely out of their minds. Morgan Waller basically made this beautifully written song by Jason Isbell into a top 25 pop country song. No one and I mean NO ONE sings this song the way it’s supposed to be sung except Jason. It’s about pain and addiction and finding the love of a woman and sobering up forever for her. Morgan Waller can sing. But he can’t sing this song the way it’s supposed to be sung. Only Jason Isbell can. End of story

Isbell is the most profound songwriter of this generation. I fell in love with him when he was with DBT in my college years and realized that the Trucker's peaked with him, yet when he left, he continued to develop as a singer, songwriter and musician. Amanda compliments him so well or should I say, they compliment one another. Isbell's music carried me through my darkest days my daughter passed and my life became a wreck fueled with iv drug addiction, alcohol and whatever else I could find that made me feel better for the moment. The line, "days when we raged we flew off the page, such damage was done. but i made it through, cause somebody knew i was meant for someone" was prophetic in my life 5 years ago. I listened to it daily as I pulled up another shot, thinking the end was near for me....Now, 4 years clean and sober, i realize that message had meaning and I am remarried, had 2 beautiful twin girls last 4th of July and graduate grad school tomorrow with an MBA and a Master's of Science in Leadership. I know it wasn't just music that carried me but there are days where I don't think I would have made it without it. Thanks for doing what you do with such power and conviction. Your music has moved my soul~

My brother loved you. He had tickets to see you in Richmond but was too sick to go so he gave me and my husband his tickets. They were up close, way closer than any tickets we could afford. Anyway, it was the best concert we’ve ever seen. He died in July 2023 but every time we play your music we are comforted in a way that’s hard to explain in words. So thank you ❤

Jason is a genius, I'm convinced he's some type of savant. Just what I thought all the great songwriters were passing away, I discovered Jason Isbell, so awesome.

It's funny what the love of a good woman will do for you. No matter what the world throws at you ,you can handle it. you done good Jason

"But I made it through, because somebody knew I was meant for someone." ♥

For those that don't know, the beautiful talented musician to his left is his wife. This song is perfection.

The song has people questioning their choice of life partner, and lamenting over not feeling this way or being felt about this way. That’s how powerful it is.

This is one of the most beautiful and heartfelt songs I’ve ever heard. I get chills every time I hear it.

A most seriously under rated singer/songwriter. He deserves a lot more recognition.

I can just listen to this song on repeat for hours on end. Simply perfect. Isbell is a constant reminder that good music is alive and well

The way they look at each other warms my cold, dead heart.

Jason is an absolute must in the history of music. Old time blues musicians would be goddamn proud.

He fell in love and Amanda literally saved him. She knew he could be great off the sauce. He produced two of my favorite ever albums. If you don’t have some Jason Isbell in your life you’re missing out.

Thankfully John Prine was Jason’s mentor. He touches our soul as every JP song does.

Jason Isbell is a great songwriter, and really liked him with Drive By Truckers, with that being said Jason Isbell with the 400 unit and the lovely and talented Amanda Shires he is phenomenal. Jason with Drive By Truckers single handedly helped me through the passing of my mother when i was 22,and now Jason with the 400 unit helps me with my wife and the raising of my own son. Im not sure he knows it but he is my inspiration for everyday life and everyday challenges as well as my best friend lol. He hope he never stops writing and performing the sound track of my life Thank you Jason I love you buddy

We could only wish someone would sing a song to us like that.

This is the song that introduced me to Jason Isbell. PBS had a show called "Nashville 2.0". Isbell played an acoustic version with Amanda in a small studio and it sent chills up my spine. I watched it 10 times in a row. Have been an Isbell fan since.

Days when we raged we flew off THE PAGE....but we made it thru, cuz someone knew, I was made for someone... #lovesongsforsongwriters

Best damn song I've heard in a long time! Made this grown man tear up! I'm a songwriter and he hits all marks!

If you've ever loved an addict this song is SO powerful!!!

Whoever down voted this needs new ears.

I love the fact that he landed his muse, so few muses are ever captured. And the fact that he gets to make music with her from her on out is magical.

That natural reverb in the room with his voice on the chorus. Crazy power! Amazing!

What a beautiful song. Probably one of the most powerful ballads I’ve heard in a long time. Love love love 💕

One of the best songs ever written. By one of the best songwriters of this generation. Is haunting truth is prolific.

I've seen this live more times than I can count, I have heard the recording even more times than that... this man's voice blows the roof off of Red Rocks - and there is no roof. An incredible talent.

There is such honesty about this man. So refreshing.

This song literally brings me to tears…I’ve been a fan of Amanda Shires for years, but never listened to Jason Isbell until recently…Bravo ❤️

Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires are two great Artist what a Beautiful song ❤

Jason's voice and musicality is like sitting by a fire with a really good whisky remembering all of those great memories of life!

Wow! Just Wow! I continue to be just stunned by this song. I have been married for 21 years. I only wish I had written this for my wife, I sang it for her last week and she wept. It is our story. So powerful.

Can't listen to this damn song with out tearing up on ( but I sobered up and swore off that stuff forever this time) in true actuallity it's always the last time when your addict

I could listen to this over and over again. Such spectacular songwriting and performance.

I am deaf but i feel the 🎶 music and this is God sent love it only once befor has music moved me so and that was Merle Haggard thank you very much Is keep doing what you are doing in blessing the world thank you

Love when they play this one together.

What a talent. Writer, player, performer...total package.

Vastly underrated vocalist. Vastly.

The greatest songwriter of this century.

It must be incredible for these two to perform these songs on stage together. It's like they're playing/singing for eachother.. Beautiful

I've been compelled to re-visit this video 2-3 times a week for several months now. When he throws his head back and sings "girl leave your boots by the bed....." I get chills every time. Amazing.

...whatever you're doing do not listen to Jason Isbell (I'm driving)...I have to stop and go cry... beautiful 🎶!💙💯👍😥👌✌🍻

This may be my favorite song, EVER written!!!!🥰💔

Thank GOD!!! YES GOD! There are still talented people making great music. I am from the north but I can see where my heart is...

One of the most beautiful songs ever written.

Man, that's a lovely room. They sound fantastic.

It seems strange to imagine Jason not being sure if this song was any good. Obviously one of his best (and there is lots of competition)

Might be my imagination, but his voice is now just incredible. Much clearer than when I first heard him.

The genius is always the writer

This is currently my favourite song! Beautiful lyrics.

Finally, a songwriter in the same category as John Hiatt

Beautiful song. I didn’t know that Morgan Wallen was singing a cover of this. Glad I was able to find this, to appreciate the original as well. Well done

Gives me chills every time I hear it!

Powerful songwriter and performance....I never get tired of this song and Jason/Amanda

It is a crime they are not more coveted by more people, but I am happy to tell as many people as I can about the greatness that is JI400U.

Thanks to Morgan Wallen for turning me onto this song, I'd heard Jason before on a youtube livestream of some festival in Minnesota but I never knew he was such a talented singer songwriter.

There simply aren’t enough superlatives for Jason’s stunning talents!!!

I love this song and it fills me with the love I have for my dear sweetheart, who is so far from me these days.

I have seen Jason play this with Amanda several times live and the absolute best time was when she had her Mercy bump. I cried my eyes out because I am so happy they found each other. :')

I'm so impressed with mr. Jason, such an artist.

What a song to write about his wife" absolutely amazing!! Love the lyric he says iv swore of the stuff forever this time!! It aint easy kicking the alcohol.. Credit due!! 👍

my favorite performance of this classic

Jason Isbell's vocals on this song completely wreck me in the best possible way, dear God the lyrics and his vocals grab my heart and leave me completely wrung out emotionally and yet I cannot get enough!

You cant get divorced my faith in true love is forever shattered broken hearted listening to this

One of my absolute Favorite songs. 😍

Amazing!!! A lot of passion in this song, look deeper into it being just words, you'll see the true appreciation of what someone can do in your life.

A heart on the run keeps a hand on the gun You can't trust anyone I was so sure what I needed was more Tried to shoot out the sun Days when we raged, we flew off the page Such damage was done But I made it through, 'cause somebody knew I was meant for someone So girl, leave your boots by the bed We ain't leaving this room Till someone needs medical help Or the magnolias bloom It's cold in this house and I ain't going out to chop wood So cover me up and know you're enough To use me for good Put your faith to the test when I tore off your dress In Richmond on high But I sobered up and I swore off that stuff Forever this time And the old lover's sing “I thought it'd be me who helped him get home” But home was a dream One I'd never seen till you came along So girl, hang your dress up to dry We ain't leaving this room Till Percy Priest breaks open wide And the river runs through And carries this house on the stones Like a piece of driftwood Cover me up and know you're enough To use me for good So girl, leave your boots by the bed We ain't leaving this room Till someone needs medical help Or the magnolias bloom It's cold in this house and I ain't going out to chop wood So cover me up and know you're enough To use me for good Cover me up and know you're enough To use me for good

Jason you keep singing with that passion and there's no way you will fail ! Tisha from Virginia

Awesome song! It touches deeply. The melody is haunting. ❤

This guy is 10/10. A top drawer performer! Genius! And I don't say that lightly.

Incredible song, true passion expressed through mere words. Absolutely amazing !!!

Jumped at the opportunity to see him in Aurora, IL in June 2015 - He introduced his wife who was pregnant at the time, and then introduced them as his "whole damn family!" They played this song later and the crowd lost it when he sang "..I swore off that stuff, forever this time.." His lyrics and stage performance connect!

Gives me chills every time he sings this song, he puts so much soul into it it’s amazing!!!!

I am dying- this is so co...co....coooolllll! Real love has more power than a besieging army ! Hell, true!

This is without a doubt my favorite Jason Isbell song. A blessing to hear him sing it to Amanda (and the guy in the Royals hat)...

Great song. Roll on October when he comes back to Glasgow.

Such a beautiful song. Nothing like love to motivate such a talented lyricist.

If you have ever come home with PTSD from war this song will hit you harder then you knew it could. My girlfriend is the peace amongst the storm that rages in me.

One of the greatest song writers to pick up a pen.

This is truly a haunting song melody. So tired of much of today’s music, even country, that is not fresh but just rehashed hollow melodies with words strung between chords like bare bulbs on a wire between the tent poles. The minute these songs are over the melody is not even memorable. But this song’s melody is like a fine knit blanket with the words, chords and melodies woven together, inseparable and unforgettable.

Wow! Raw talent. Listening from Northern Ireland.

Just found his music. Dammit man

My favorite tune by him....and I love Amanda....shes so good with the highwomen....

Amanda is stunning. She’s crazy tallented as well.

what a beautiful voice it's unbelievable hope to see you come to Australia

Saw him at the Ryman recently. Yup, better in person. Amazing songwriter and a very humble performer. He killed this song…

With all my respect, Amanda is such a stunning woman!

The perfect song doesn't ex....oh nevermind, found it

Again,Jason, you are the savior of Walker County, Alabama. We love you

This song makes me cry every time

Wow. I’ve always loved this song, but watching this I literally got goosebumps. ❤️

Now every time I bring wood in for the fire, I think of this song. When watching it on RU-vid, it's hard not to tear up, thanks for sharing!

OMG. Amazing. Thank you so much.

Love, the purest of waters never runs dry...Serpensliber, I knew you were enough, drink these tears, from me~I'll catch up...

one of the best songwriters i have ever heard. no doubt!!

A fine piece of music indeed.

A more beautiful love song has NEVER been written!! I have a love like this. I am losing him to ALS--It is brutal! Even though he can no longer hold me...every so often I listen to this song...and I remember when he did.. Thank you.

Amazing, just amazing. That lyric, "...know you're enough to use me for good..."

Whaaaaaaaat a song. Instant, timeless classic.

Behind every great love song. ..there's an even greater woman thats served as inspiration.