Jason Isbell: "If We Were Vampires" - Part 1 

Such a great songwriter. Here is what he told Paste Magazine about the process of writing this song: "I started to examine my own notions about mortality, when I realized that to write a love song, you have to write a death song. Love doesn’t mean as much without death. If I agree to marry someone, that’s a big risk, because I only have one life. If I lived forever, what would it matter? But because I’m only going to live till 85 or thereabouts, I’m giving her the most valuable thing I have: my time."

This tune wrecks me everytime . That tells me something so it's good

This is my favourite song of all time. Most underrated gem of the music industry. Bold statement I know. But this is musical genius in its purest form.

The best songwriter on earth right now.

I love this version. So raw, and its a little higher than the studio version. Shows off Jason's range a little more

Often enjoy this show. Was listening to this one night while working late...who the hell is this guy? Then he sang this. Oh. Then I checked out some songs mentioned in the interview. Then I bought the album. Then concert tickets. What a gift to have stumbled upon this particular episode. Thanks, Sam and Jason, for improving life.

I love how the host sits there in complete AWE during this song. Made me cry.

This song means a great deal to me. Lost my wife of 41 years last month. Truth. Thank you Jason. Thank you.

Tears me up every time. A perfect song and a masterful songwriter

Underrated thing here is he’s playing it a full step higher than it should be and he still doesn’t miss a beat.

A very very clever and phenomenal songwriter, and one of the best in the last 50 years👌

I just need to remember that when I hear this song, I'm going to cry. Not super convenient just before a call on a work day🤣. Good work on this one Mr. Isbell.

“Maybe we’ll get 40 years together” line gives me goosebumps every time I watch this.

This song is poetry. Beautiful

First time I heard this song awhile back I cried my eyes out.

Even on the best day this song will pull some tears. Guy is phenomenal writer.

I know my mother would love this song for the beauty of it, but I hesitate to share it - she lost my father after 40 years of marriage. He's gone and she's spending this time alone. This song is very real to many of us.

I dedicated this song to my mother when my father passed away. After 54 years of a perfect marriage, she is now spending that time without him.

Uuuuugggghhthis mans talent in lyricism and melody is phenomenal..can't wait to see him next year.

Proof positive that there is still good music being made out there...

I've watched this video at least a thousand times and I'm still in awe like I first watched it. I'm about 20% into learning this on guitar now, I just can't get it out of my head. I can see myself playing this to my wife at our 40th anniversary with our kids around us. Powerful song, powerful message.

I never really listened to Isbell before this...great song. Notes of Townes.

If I was in the interviewers shoes I may cry! To be that close hear those notes in my ears would be an awe inspiring experience! Get it Isbell

I found him on NPR talking about his struggles with alcohol and the Southeastern album when he was sober. I was recovering at that time and it resonated with me and I am blessed to have run into this beautiful soul's path.

Telling stories like this in a 3 min song is an art, and Jason Isbell is a true artist.

WOW real life in a song! Gives me chills ever time I listen

The only thing that beats this is this song sung with his wife and the harmonies she adds.

He's also playing and singing this song in a different key than the album version. Jason Isbell is a fucking boss

Jeez what's sadder this song or Elephant. Both amazing and beautiful songs.

This song is hard to listen to every time. One of my all time favorites!

29 very clueless people out there, this Is a masterclass in song writing

Jason Isbell has is now in my Top 5 Singer/Song Writers list. The depth and beauty of his lyrics and melodies (this song on the top of that heap) are truly astounding. I want to play this song to my wife so Jason can speak my thoughts vicariously for me. I’m just waiting until I’m confident I won’t break down into a puddle when I do...

Id never heard this artist before- what a gift to listen to

i absolutely adore and deeply admire this man!

I’ve only been a Jason Isbell fan for a couple of days now, and I just found this tonight. Just beautiful!

I am so addicted to this song.

Loved hearing it in a different key!

one of the most beautiful songs I´ve heard

What a amazing song !

What a piece of music , all of it . Masterpiece.

The man’s a special genius.

He is making a difference in the world. God Bless this man!

I think that is some genius finger pickin there. Wow.

Ooh, one of the most devastating love songs ever! Never seen this studio live before, I'm glad I did. Many thanks!

One of my favorite songs! God, I'm going to learn this!! Love the style, lyrics, mood!!!

Seeing him tonight in Knoxville!! Can't wait

I teared up a bit

Beautiful songwriting and a stunning performance.

Wow. I wasn’t ready for that. 😳 SO GOOD. 👏🏻👏🏻

This man has such a beautiful mind

He's simply the finest lyricist in the business.

Such a beautiful song

One of the best songs ever written. Gives me chills every time.

Only discovered this guy,deep river blues with tommy emanuell...this lad has got an amazing voice,and his guitar playing is phenomenal....nearly brought me to tears....its one of them songs,you just get lost in the music....brought thoughts of me mum,we lost her a few years ago to cancer....the music is and his voice are lovely....certainly listen to more of this amazing musician ❤

This is the definition of good songwriting.

Thanks for creating this show and exposing us to artists like this. Wow! Bravo.

He should be top of the charts now with his song writing skills and performance.

Love this song ❤

Absolutely love Jason Isbell ... most particularly solo on an acoustic (or backed by Amanda) ... The 400 Unit is a great band, but IMHO honestly, most of Jason's stuff is better acoustic without all the noise.

For those who don't know, Isbell was also one of three lead songwriters & guitarist in the Drive-By Truckers for three albums before releasing his 1st solo album "Sirens of the Ditch"(which had mainly the Truckers as his backing band). If you really like Isbell you should check out "Decoration Day", "The Dirty South" & "A Blessing and a Curse", cause not only do you get many Isbell gems you got songs by Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley. And when you do listen to those records & realize Mike Cooley is the baddest morherfucker alive no need to come back & thank me for turning you on to him... I already know, you're welcome.

wow, so amazing. love this dude.

awesome dude. great musician. amazing songwriter.

This song is so enormous and moving… I can’t sit through it without tears especially now in my 61st year looking at my high school sweetheart and faced with very real reminders of our mortality…

I don't know how people can listen to this song without crying. It destroys me every time I hear it.

En when I first heard Jason perform this song, I thought it was the greatest love song ever written. What great about this video is you can learn to play it just by watching the video. I’m doing that, adding this one to my set list. Got to see him last summer at Stanford, Frost Park. What a show.

I covered this song on my channel. It took a day to learn it but two weeks to sing it all without crying. What a great song.

Unutterably brilliant.

How does he sing this better here than on record? Still the most underrated song writer imo.

Love this version

WoW what a great song!

So beautiful. But it leaves a lump in my throat. Memories of my dad losing my mom to cancer way too soon at 52. Unimaginable. His heart hurt for 20 more years alone. Now they're together again.

lovely song.

This is amazing.

Strong like bull. He never disappoints

Stunning

glad my Attention Deficit lightened up enough to really hear this song & its stellar lyrics.Just haunting.

That's so awesome

God I love his voice. I hope fans understand if he drops this from the setlist for a long long time.

So down to earth.

Having watched both of my parents who loved each other very much die within 2 years of each other before the age of 21 and having my now husband experience that 2nd death with me this song means so much to the two of us because we are so so aware that we are not promised ANY time here and it has really affected our views on commitment and what it means to love another person... this song chokes me up every time

Oh boy ❤😭

God...He is so good...

not much to say here. „listen and weep“ as Brian Fallon once said about this song. I‘ll surely do both everytime I hear this song. Not much anyone else living and breathing and loving could add. Watching my own parents go, I realize, in today‘s world, leaving someone behind isn‘t necessarily a singular, short term event. Sometimes the transition can be months, years even. In today‘s world it‘s not always the „one day I‘ll be gone“. Often it‘s the „months I will be going, little, by little.“ Blessed are those who have truly loved through those daunting times. „Maybe time running out is a gift…“ Back to the weeping part I guess… Whatever it is, the performance of this man and his guitar is out of this world! I can only vow and hope to „work hard until the end of my shift.“. Easy it is not. P.S.: and as far as Jason Isbell is concerned, it is not the guitar that makes him look huge. It‘s the words and the harmonies that leave not doubt about him.

I cried

Phenomenal

My heart

Words as good Guy Clarke & Townes, voice as good as Gram Parsons.

Maybe we’ll get 40 years together but one day I’ll be gone and one day you’ll be gone. If that line doesn’t stop you in your tracks then idk what will

Sick!!!

Jason kills it again. Make a pandora station for Jason Isbell.... be prepared to love every song you hear. It's artists like this who should be mainstream.

"Maybe time running out is a gift. I'll work hard to the end of my shift to give you every second I can find."

Wow!

WOW PERFECT EVERYTIME

Genius.

Isbell is fantastic, amazing song writer, great singer and guitar player. Its refreshing to see him not so good at something, ie growing a beard :) Cant be good at everything, that would be too much!

What a writer.

I'm Hooked. Love this song!

Oh...Thanx. How beautiful.

It's not the long, flowing dress that you're in Or the light coming off of your skin The fragile heart you protected for so long Or the mercy in your sense of right and wrong It's not your hands searching slow in the dark Or your nails leaving love's watermark It's not the way you talk me off the roof Your questions like directions to the truth It's knowing that this can't go on forever Likely one of us will have to spend some days alone Maybe we'll get forty years together But one day I'll be gone Or one day you'll be gone If we were vampires and death was a joke We'd go out on the sidewalk and smoke And laugh at all the lovers and their plans I wouldn't feel the need to hold your hand Maybe time running out is a gift I'll work hard 'til the end of my shift And give you every second I can find And hope it isn't me who's left behind It's knowing that this can't go on forever Likely one of us will have to spend some days alone Maybe we'll get forty years together But one day I'll be gone Or one day you'll be gone It's knowing that this can't go on forever Likely one of us will have to spend some days alone Maybe we'll get forty years together But one day I'll be gone One day you'll be gone

He kills me , god I feel it .