47 years old black man from Washington dc projects grew up listening to my father playing Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Neil Young, Merle Haggard etc southern rock and blue grass I listened to r&b & hip hop. But there is something that touches my heart and soul about classic country/rock/blue grass/reggae that reminds me of my father and my youth growing up on the Potomac with little to nothing but still happy and Jason Isbell is one of the best in many years its real music with real content and I absolutely love & appreciate it. 💗 keep going Jason the world is in bad shape and music like this is rare and desperately needed.👍🙏💪👏👏👏👏
I implore you to invest a bit of time listening to War. They were a multi racial, multi cultural influence during times our country experienced racial uprising that was long overdue, shedding much needed light and education to those who were wise enough in that hour to be opened minded and offered a ear to the knowledge spread throughout their artwork. Start off with “four cornered room” and venture into their catalogue of artistic pieces. Soak up each instrument utilizing the much needed layer of sound at the most precise measure. Funkadelic “Maggot Brain” as well. Bill Withers “Grandmas Hands and Use Me” Parliament Funk “Red Hot Mama” The Meters “Rejuvination lp” Sam Cooke, Otis Redding and a few other Staxx record artist like the Staple singers and Macis Staples solo work. Coming from a 46 year old white boy from rural Alabama, these musical gifts have expanded my knowledge and compassion. To all my fellow brethren. Be blessed and give and receive One Love, my brother. Treavor
As a white man who grew up about an hour from Jason at almost exactly the same time, I wanna thank you for this comment. This is a two way street in a lot of ways and we should all recognize our similarities and learn to love one another. I can listen to Otis Redding, love Sam Cooke, especially " a change is gonna come," and was just praising God with Mississippi John Hurt as he sang "walk that lonesome valley." Music is from the soul, and it has no color. I can't wait for the day when we live up to Dr Kings' dream, and the color of our skin matters no more than the color of our eyes our hair. Then, we can truly judge only by the content of someone's character.
The nice thing about arriving late to the party is a decades worth of wonderful old tracks that are all new to me. Its like someone was composing the background music to some of my worst and best times and im just now hearing the soundtrack.
Same. Woke up with this melody in my head and couldn't remember the words. Hummed it, whistled it, operatically sang it, still could remember only phrases. Now I'll be listening all day to the rest. His words are perfect, but his melodies are haunting. So grateful he's younger than I am, may he live long and shine on.
All of these comments are so pure. I love that there is so much appreciation for music. It is a gift! I absolutely love Jason Isbell!! Epic songwriting abilities. Amanda Shires is such a good fiddle player. Everything about this video is awesome.❤
I now live near Nashville and have passed up a couple chances to see him play live. I don't want to weep in public but know that would happen. I should probably just let it happen. I'm sure I wouldn't be alone.
Live is the best. I rode to Birmingham to see him at Avondale Brewing and it felt like a family reunion where I was the long lost relative - the crowds at his smaller shows are phenomenal.
I can understand what he is getting at but Jason's different kind of dope sick he speaks of is his yern and need for music... I get lost in my church and John prine and Jason isbell all in one and I don't plan on kicking either habit lol.
Poignant lyrics, dont care political affiliation,religious background,social status. This song touches all of us....amazing songwriter who can do that.
WOW!!! I could listen to every song on this album over and over again and still be moved each and every time! NOBODY ELSE is making music like this!! God Bless you Jason Isbell for doing what your doing. As though someone magically combined Steve Young with The Beatles and Townes Van Zandt into one person and then taught that person to play screaming lead guitar like Dickey Betts!! (BTW... I really dig Jason Isbell's music)
This is my favorite song from Isbell... Right now.. lol "a vandle smile" wow... He takes you to the place he's singing about... Awesome... Thanks for doing this jason Isbell.
Wow- this whole session is simply killer, if you respect a simple song and how it is delivered with such grace and balance. Amanda is just so beautiful- and makes Jason complete- just look at how she smiles each time she glances at him- that is deep love if I ever saw it. So happy for Jason- he was kinda lost there, for a while after DBT, but no longer... he is the REAL DEAL. I know for a fact they are having the times of their lives, these days... Much respect and love for you both- you have both come a long way to be on the journey you are now on.
I've met them both and they're just so genuine. I love when each will back up the other. They just fade into the background and let whoever's leading shine. You can tell how much the love each other.
How often does one see truth as well as Jason does? He’s able to confront truth, embrace truth and then somehow express it. I sense that I fear it too much to do so.
Just found out about this guy from watching Off Camera with Sam Jones on Directv. It was a great interview and since then I've been finding and enjoying the music I've found from what I think is a great artist. Not anyone like him out there today. Modern day Jim Croce with better music writing skills.
This song has so many layers. At first I thought the line "Is your brother on a church kick" was Jason mocking people getting clean and finding God, it's not. It's showing a man's contempt of someone doing that only before his own life unravels and he realizes what he's lost.
Not trolling you. Just curious. I think you had it right the first time. What makes you think he came back around on religion in this song? He didn't as I see it. Are you religious? Maybe you are assuming that when someone's life falls apart they look back and consider god. As an atheist, I am not likely to go there in my head. Just curious, as a writer and consumer of music. Obviously this has made us both think. Good stuff. I bet we agree on that.
Michael Williams i think the reference is quite literal. in that the fear of dependance on God looks like the pain of dependance on chemicals. ...follows suit with the other obvious refrences to recovery from alcoholism and addiction on album and in his life while writing the material for the work. he got sober so bet your ass he found God
I'd like to take a moment to recognize that as of yet, we are having a theological discussion in a reasonable and polite manner, so congratulations all. In my opinion- and I certainly don't claim to know what he was thinking- I don't think Isbell, at least in this song, was in the frame of mind of turning to God. At the same time, I don't necessarily think he was comparing faith to drugs; but rather that he was commenting on people who use the church, or religious activities, as a crutch without being actually committed to God. Just my two cents. Thank you all for this incredibly rare opportunity to exchange thoughts in a calm and friendly manner. ~Ezra (obviously)
Screw you Ezra!!! I hate your opinion and disagree even though I don't really even understand it or give it my full attention when I read it! (just kidding...). I love this conversation (and the song), Karl Marx said ""Die Religion ... ist das Opium des Volkes"" which in freedom language means "religion is the opioid of the people". So, so true. (source: grew up in very strict religious household...now agnostic/skeptical) (tommy)
No, but I know the context in his life when he wrote this song. He was in rehab getting sober. I also know that one of the 12 steps in AA is "Surrendering to a higher power", a phrase used to help people make peace with God knowing that their in their background the word "God" is probably not synonymous with peace. The song is about different points in a man's life on his way to hitting bottom, so in the first verse when he sees someone suddenly turning to faith he sneers at it. By the end of the song I take it as he's locked up and seeing things from a different perspective. It's not about being christian or atheist, it's about getting sober.
Coming in at the end of Southeastern it was a reminder that things get better, and for 10 years now whenever I've gone through some bad stuff I've listened to this song to remind myself that it'll wind up working out
Are you having a long day Everyone you meet rubs you the wrong way Dirty city streets smell like an ashtray Morning bells are ringing in your ear Is your brother on a church kick Seems like just a different kind of dope sick Better off to teach a dog a card trick And try to have a point and make it clear You should know compared To people on a global scale Our kind has had it relatively easy And here with you there's always Something to look forward to Our angry heart beats relatively easy I lost a good friend Christmas time when folks go off the deep end His woman took the kids and he took klonopin Enough to kill a man of twice his size Not for me to understand Remember him when he was still a proud man A vandals smile a baseball in his right hand Nothing but the blue sky in his eye Still compared to those A stones throw away from you Our lives have both been relatively easy Take the(a) year and make a break There ain't that much at stake The answers could be relatively easy Watch that lucky man walk to work again He may not have a friend left in the world See him walking home again to sleep alone Or step into a shop to buy a postcard for a girl I broke the law boys Shooting out the windows of my loft boys When they picked me up I made a big noise Everything to blame except my mind I should say I keep your picture with me everyday The evenings now are relatively easy Here with you there's always Something to look forward to My lonely heart beats relatively easy My lonely heart beats relatively easy
First time hearing this song and damnit man... It got me. Christmas time when folks go off the deep end. His woman took the kids, he took klonopin enough to kill a man twice his size. My wife walked off and left me the day after Christmas and took my son. I'm not taking any drugs though.
@@damotheman4196 Absolutely! We haven't gotten back together If that's what you're asking BUT the bright side? I've taken these last 8 months to work through my Issues, found a better job, new car and for the first time In my life I have my own place that I can't be kicked out of lol. Thanks for asking. How's things your way?
@@XxJustinxx88 That's great to hear man, I just stumbled upon your comment and i listen to this version of this song at least twice a week and couldn't believe I hadn't seen it before. Seemed like a perfect time to ask also being a few months since it happened. Sounds like your winning fella and I don't mean this to be disrespectful to the missus but women, hell, sometimes even marriages come and go! But as I'm sure you already know its the one with your son that matters and any son/daughter who sees their parent happy (even if not together) in my opinion at least, that's all a kid really needs..so long as you two stay tight that's what matters most... Lol. Look at me wafflin! Things are good my end brother sitting down with the guitar and singing along with a bit of Isbell. Life is good.. And all puns intended, relatively easy. At least for tonight anyways! 😂 I'll prolly hate life again 2moro but it's life and its always swings and roundabouts. All the best to you and yours man. 👌
@@damotheman4196 Thank you. My son and I are close. Jason Isbell and the way he writes Is just pure genius. I can play almost anything but I never could learn to play a guitar so I'm jealous lol. Happy to hear life Is good your way brother. You can always find something to be grateful for even on a bad day. Take care brother.
Sure man, I can at least give it a try.. from my understanding he either ends up in jail or rehab (I think jail) "I broke the law boys, shooting out the windows of my loft boys" "I should say I keep your picture with me every day"-- you know like prisoners have pics of their partners or pics with their mates on the wall inside? Imo he's harking back to the second verse the friend who overdosed on klonopin.. Hope that helps bro. Any specifics, just ask.. I'll always try give ya my take. 👍
