Jason Isbell - Driver 8 (Live on KEXP) 

This video reminded me that 1) it's comparatively rare for R.E.M. songs to be covered these days, and 2) their catalogue still stands the test of time. Great rendition.

Full circle with Jason inducting them into the songwriting HoF this weekend. You can tell that he has truly loved R.E.M. since he was a kid. Brings out the southern thing in their songs.

As a long time REM fan, I must say that it’s a very nice rendition!

My fave artist in 2024 singing a favorite song from my favorite band from the 80's 90's. I can't even with how fucking cool this is.

Wow, what an exemplary cover. Jason annunciates all the beautiful lyrics that Michael Stipe purposely obscured back in the day. Amazing. Thanks Jason and KEXP!

This guy can sing. Always tip your hat to the truly good.

The walls are built up stone by stone The fields divided one by one And the train conductor says Take a break, Driver 8 Driver 8, take a break We've been on this shift too long And the train conductor says Take a break, driver 8 Driver 8, take a break We can reach our destination But we're still a ways away, but it's still a ways away I saw a treehouse on the outskirts of the farm The power lines have floaters so the airplanes won't get snagged The bells are ringing through the town again The children look up, all they hear is sky-blue bells ringing And the train conductor says Take a break, Driver 8 Driver 8, take a break We can reach our destination But we're still a ways away, but it's still a ways away But we're still a ways away, but it's still a ways away A way to shield the hated heat A way to put myself to sleep A way to shield the hated heat A way to put myself, my children to sleep He piloted this song in a plane like that one She is selling faith on the Go Tell Crusade Locomotive 8, Southern Crescent, hear the bells ring again The fields of wheat is looking thin And the train conductor says Take a break, Driver 8 Driver 8, take a break We've been on this shift too long And the train conductor says Take a break, Driver 8 Driver 8, take a break We can reach our destination But we're still a ways away, but it's still a ways away But we're still a ways away, but it's still a ways away

I'm an REM fan trying to dabble into Americana and alt-country. Familiar with Jason since my dad's a fan. So I know this is a good place to start. Solid cover.

Every few weeks I keep coming back to this version. It's so simple, yet so well done. Love the playing and the singing, including the nice backing vocals. Great job!

One of my favorite songs done brilliantly! thank you

This song has always been haunting. Thanks Jason for this version.

R.E.M.💙💛, nice song.

Great version of a great song!

Wow! The words over the bridge are soooo powerful to me and I have no idea why. Just magic

This is one of those REM songs that I was not very familiar with, as apparently it didn’t get a lot of airplay back when REM released it. I recently came across the song and now it has become one of my favorite songs of the band. Jason does an amazing job on this cover, probably as good as the original. I’m proud to say, I was raised in North Alabama, not too far from where Jason was raised.

Geez #jason and #sadler this feeds my spirit, thank y’all💫

Bravo Jason Isbell! 👏 So glad I found this REM cover! ❤️

Great version. This song is pretty much an American standard for Gen X now.

Good!

Grew up in the 80’s with them. Great live version.

Just beautiful!

Just beautiful !!!!

Awsome accoustic cover work , great feeling !! Big up for both of you !! Plus it was live !!

Great version!

Great cover. Love the ‘84 REM live performance as well.

Excellent version

My favorite song!

I just saw this today ... I was not disappointed. Jason gets the beauty of this song ... maybe my favorite of REM off "Fables ..." an album that they have said "sucked"

Mr. Isbell, I hear that you will be playing @ the new Amphitheater in Gautier Mississippi. My best friend passed away in 2016. He and I were lifelong friends and lifelong residents of Gautier Mississippi. He purchased a guitar in 2015 and learned to play this song again before he passed away. I held that guitar for a few years but his daughter asked to have it to learn her dad's instrument. I gave her a copy of REM's Fables and asked her if she would learn it and play it for me one day. I have ticket's to Friday night's show and kindly ask if you could perform that song for me....

Juste manifique

Awesome job!

Woah!

The Drums make this song on the original - listen to it and tell me I’m wrong - Bill was such a musical drummer - he was his generations Ringo - listen to original - that was his moment.

Nice Work! WooF!!🐶🐶

Awesome!

Michael Stipe, Jason Isbell prove in so many ways that Neil Young was always wrong about the "southern man"

🖤🏆🖤

This is so good, Jason picks an old REM tune and kills it.

Huh, the lyrics actually make perfect sense when someone else sings them. Brilliant song, and an excellent rendition here, with Isbell's more traditional singing style making it easier to connect. I'll always prefer Stipe's more cryptic, phonetic delivery, but this was lovely.

The best band I have seen live but your performance of Driver is better than theirs ❤

Nice cover

There's some kind of complete circle here. A country artist playing an Indy college rock song that was trying to sound like a country song.

In my opinion, the best songs have lyrics that have a meaning but your not sure what that meaning is. That's what Dylan did and certainly what Michael Stipe does. You have to work at it to figure out what it means, and then you have an epiphany and go "aha" I get it now. On the other hand, is that what the songwriter meant, or is that just your personal interpretation. That's art.

Absolutely love your channel. I've been watching it for years. If you could reply could you please tell me when you first started your Channel please, thank you.

F the haters! Time moves on...

1

Hey Driver 8 - back to FB- don’t worry the ghost want get you! Lol

Bass please

He's mouch more. He's a gratis songwriter

Nice cover, but I never remember Michael, Mike, Peter or Bill needing headphones.?

Some songs should not be redone…

Meh…. at least sing it right

You have the melody and words wrong. Shame

He needs to learn to play the intro correctly.

Awesome!