Jason Isbell -- Cover Me Up [REACTION] 

There isn’t a better song writer out there right now. Period.

Isbell has battled through addiction and he leaves his lyrics on his sleeve. His song writing is incredible. There will not be another human like him.

No co-writer on this song. It's all the genius that is Jason Isbell. Probably one of the greatest songwriter of this generation.

Tom Petty said himself, before he passed, that Jason Isbell was the greatest songwriter of our generation

This song was written when he and his wife (Amanda) decided to go to different rooms of their house and each write a song. It's just a love song about how she helped him survive his addiction. I think another artist you should check out is Ray Scott. I recommend "Ain't Always Thirsty" to be the first song

Since this recording, he's changed the way he plays this song by really emphasizing the drums to be a heartbeat at key parts of the song and it never doesn't give me goosebumps.

I just heard this song for the first time today and I absolutely bawled. I think it might be the most beautiful song I've ever heard in my life.

Amanda is his wife. Every song the that Southeast Album is this great . He is the real deal.

One of my favorites for sure.... "home was a dream, one I'd never seen till you came along"... hits me right in the feels.

When we are all 90 years old this is the Jason Isbell we will remember .. Awesome

Home was a dream, one I'd never seen 'til you came along.

Jason Isbell writes all of his songs sans a few duets Amanda Shires co-wrote.

Truly gifted writer and performer.

This is THE best version of this song. I listen to it every day.

I am so impressed that you knew where and what Percy Priest was. Cudos to you sir. FYI.... "carries this house on the Stones like a piece of driftwood"... The Stones River is where Percy Priest Lake would drain if the dam broke. What a lyricist Jason Isbell is. Awesome.

They ain't living that room unless Percy Priest breaks open wide and carries the house on the Stone River like a piece of drift wood. Jesus, I wish I could write a single lyric that golden.

This song is both a love song to his wife and a sobriety pledge. Ironically when he does this live, and sings the part about giving that stuff up, the crowd cheers, and raises thier drinks ?? Also, unlike other artists that sober up, he got better. He said in an interview, that at one time dinner wasna plate of cocaine, and a bottle of jack. Amada, gave him the choice, "Get clean, or lose me"

I am glad to see you are enjoying your "Americana Awakening"! There is so much great and real music made by amazing artists that the masses have never heard from. Progressive bluegrass/string band, folk.southern/blues rock, and a mesh of styles make this an organic from the love of what you love doing genre. Don, thanks for showing people there is an option other than what the big labels tell you to listen to!

Jason Isbell’s three album run of Southeastern, Something More Than Free, and The Nashville Sound is a top 5 three album run in the history of English-language music.

And he is amazing. I’m not one to say that about anyone either. He is the man! I’ve been listing to him for decades. I have always admired the way he sounds

Yes, good take. It takes me several listens to get Jason, and it’s beautiful when you get there.

Decoration Day, Flagship, and Children of Children are masterpieces as well. I'd love to see any of those.

“It also sounds like a man dying”. In a very real sense, it WAS a man dying in that room and a better man walking out strictly by the grace of this woman. Like leaving your ghost behind and starting over in new skin. The key words are “Cover me up, and know your enough, to use me for GOOD”. As opposed to the BAD man he was before her. And also “for good” as in forever. This song is about true love saving a person’s life. And no, Jason Isbell doesn’t need any co-writers 🙌 Great video, man!

I've been waiting so long for someone to finally react to this one. Everyone else always suggests or reacts to "Elephant" or "If We Were Vampires", but this is my favorite song of his and the first song I ever heard from him.

I will preface this comment with the fact that, I am an ardent Jason Isbell fan! I have found his music compelling and meaningful. The beauty of art is that, each makes it their own. Unlike rhyming truck with buck and including a line about sweet tea, art makes you reflect on yourself. Here, Jason is telling a very personal story about his struggle with addiction and the undying support he found in his partner. The deeper meaning is, for me at least, a love song that reassures the person he is singing to that, even though he (and by he, he meant me - Todd Snyder!) had a past, his partner helped him realize his true-self. He is assuring her that she can use him up(,) for good (double entendre if you interpret it that way). Ultimately, I see it as a song to his life partner, apologizing for the time he spent without her (either with someone else or with the bottle) and letting her know that she is enough to fill the void he had been trying to fill with other things. This is only my very personal interpretation of this song, and why I love Jason's music so much. He has a lot of songs with this kind of reflective tone. What does it mean to you?

Jason writes everything himself. No co-writers. He's an alcoholic, and has luckily stayed sober for 7 years now. When he sings "but I sobered up, I swore off that stuff, forever this time", there's loud cheering from the audience. This song is a love song to his now wife Amanda Shires, who got him to stop drinking. One of the most brutally honest and personal songs out there. BTW... I've been to thousands of conserts. All the big ones Skynyrd, Neil Young, Pink Floyd etc, all the conserts i wanted for free in Oslo in the 90/00s and several times at SXSW. But the consert I was at with Isbell a year ago, was by far the best I've ever seen. Unique treasure!

My absolute favorite one of Jason's, I listen to him everyday. He is so deep and a brilliant writer and musician.

I have read in the comments about Jason’s song writing, etc (which…not gonna lie, is mind blowing amazing) but can we just mention his voice and sound?! I mean his sound is one that is instantaneously recognizable. His voice is amazebombs. I close my eyes and just LISTEN to his voice. ❤️

He writes all his own stuff

I’m going through some pretty serious stuff right now and I’m trying to do the right thing. It’s hard but I have to believe it’s worth it. I hope you know that I’m really appreciating the positive way you look at everything. I really enjoy your approach to things and I kind of see you as an example for how I can approach my life. You’re so open and optimistic. I can be more like that. I’m a recovering alcoholic who is dealing with the aftermath of my wreckage. People like you remind me about a life that is so worth living and is just waiting to be lived. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

What you have listened multiple times I see, is the best songwriter of this age....no one close to the prowess he has with a guitar and words. Also you mentioned Percy priest lake in Tennessee. It’s also a dam, that’s on the stones river. So the line where Percy priest breaks open wide and the river runs through. And carries this house on the stones like a peice of driftwood. Who has enough insight but him to write that line lol.

Jason writes all of his music

It's a tradition at his concerts when he says "i swore off that stuff forever this time" to cheer we did it last year in Charleston when we saw him. Celebrating his sobriety while we were far from it. A good NON ballad entry btw is '24 Frames'

Jason never gets enough credit for his singing; here he is in near perfect voice. Sadler Vaden, too, is stellar as usual. You want real? Authentic? This is it.

Try some stuff of Jason when he was with the Drive by Truckers. Goddamm Lonely Love would be a good one

“Cover me up” is my favorite song!

He mentioned he would have been a poet if I supported his alcoholism back in the day

This has to be one of the prettiest songs ever. And I’ve heard other people cover it but Jason does it best in my opinion. Zac Brown Band And Noah Guthrie are just 2 others who also do it.

Please do Jason Isbell's "Something More Than Free"

I'm late to the party but yeah. Jason's that guy. You have to listen multiple times to get every meaning in the lyrics.

The great thing with art is subjectiveness. What u may get out of it may be dramatically different than I. But I see the song about a rounder (heart on the run, hand on his gun) getting reigned in by a pretty girl. (Somebody knew I was meant for someone) and now that hes in her arms and in bed this winter he doesn't want to leave til at least spring (when the magnolia bloom) and thanks to the girl's presence he can stay sober and be used as a good man, reformed for rest of his life.

you put this out two years ago today. Jason is a genius

You should listen to Streetlights by Isbell

i truly believe there is many many great song writers but jason isbell is the greatest songwriter in history in my opinion

Also a monster on the guitar.

One of my favorites of his for sure. Great reaction as usual sir!!

Just dam beautiful

I find his songwriting so compelling. Like you said, layers. After you listen to any given song, you pick up how ambiguous his songs are.

❤

"Is that Amanda Shires" 😂😂😂 that's his wife 😂😂😂

I heard him say in an interview that a true artist will "challenge his/her audience "

I've watched all your reviews of Jason Isbell so far and they are great. Have noticed that you've done only ballads so far. I would recommend that you do one that showcases his electric guitar prowess and the bands overall entertainment chops. To that end there is a very particular performance that happens to be on RU-vid that shows this and I hope you will check out. It's their Boston House of Blues concert from 2016. At 1:23:49 they do the song Children of Children and it showcases all of his considerable skills perfectly, including one of my favorite guitar solos by him to date. Seeing this makes you realize just how next level he and the band really are.

You should do “follow you to Virgie” by Tyler Childers

Tyler childers, pick a song you cant go wrong... he is from my home state of Kentucky.

Wow! Good one. "Colloquy" by Whiskey Myers is one you should listen to. I suggest pulling up the lyrics to it just to make sure you can understand every word. It will give you chills.

he writes his lyrics man all of them amanda will read them sometimes and ask questions and he may make changes but hats all jason brother

Hey another really good song is black berry smoke - ain’t much left of me

Riff is basically Norwegian Wood.

I always enjoy your reaction videos. I think you would like Red Shahan “Long Way to Fall”. It’s a song about rodeo life on the road.

There are dozens of songs I'd like to suggest, but one that not a lot of people know about and the story goes right through you Is Old Elijah by iron horse. I would love to see what other people think about this song. Thank you in advance.

well well like you I am totally confused by the lyrics too - as you say and I agree - one would need to read the lyrics to see where he is coming from - I was thinking of his sobriety and notice someone down below is saying the same - he has got sober and cant leave his room and wants his woman to stay there too until the good weather comes and things change -that seems to be the nearest I can get to this song so far but will listen to it again and perhaps write down the lyrics to see if its what I think it is - love this guys voice and band - he sings from the heart for sure -cheers Don xx

I love this song, and yes, I keep going back to it too...but what does he mean in the chorus? Use me for good?

Women will just get pregnant by listening to this song. Awesome song♥️, wrote this song for his wife, formerly his girlfriend. 😁

You should check out Chris Shiflett. He’s the guitarist for the Foo Fighters but he has his own country solo project that is really damn good.

You should do Bradley gaskin mr.bartender

It's HIS lyrics. Amanda helps. He is a singer/songwriter! Unless he covers something, it's him.

Hey man can you do more Cody jinks reactions I’d like to see your reaction for cast no stones

Could someone please explain what “on high” means? I understand it in the way his often ambiguous lines are, but I’ve heard that term 3 or 4 times from southern artists.

Amanda is his wife and he wrote this song about her. It is about how he fell in love with her and got him sober. No better songwriter in the game today. Modern day Dylan!

I just subscribed tonight. Please listen to The Beaumonts! From Central Lubbock Tx ! ...Change My Name

If you haven't already you need to do Elephant.

Check out Elephant if you want a song to hit you. Other recommendations Live Oak, If We Were Bampires, Outfit

Gotta check out Morgan wallens cover of this song! It’s amazing

Think about it. It's cold outside and they ain't going outside til someone needs medical help or the trees bloom in the spring. Sounds to me like they Makin babies all winter.

this cat

Do Morgan wallens cover

Turn his volume up more, i know its a reaction, and youre cool, but better to hear/soak in more what youre reacting to.

Jason is too good for the radio. Most people are never exposed to good music like this because of idiotic radio marketing "geniuses" spoon feeding crap to the masses.

Co writers??? Its Jason Isbell, no co writers required

Isbell writes most of his songs, including this one. He's as authentic as they come. The Bible on the other hand is a bunch of bullshit.

It doesn’t really sound like going into rooms to write. It sounds like someone kicking drugs to me.

This is a song about Sex. Nothing more or less than that. But because our puritanical society makes us think sex must be something degenerative, bestial, unbecoming its hard to see it the way Jason does here, as something about wholeness and healing. If it has the feel of the Bible, I think it is because it is in the tradition of the more sensual passages of the Old Testament, which makes sense considering that Jason't grandfather was a Pentacostal preacher, and that one of his chief influences is Leonard Cohen

Nope don't like this dude

Just don't like the song sounds like he is straining to much it just ain't for me. I prefer Tyler childers Tyler sounds more real county or hillbilly country. This dude seems he's trying to hard to sound a little hillbilly