John was my next-door neighbour here in Ireland for over 10 years up to his passing. He lived in the house I grew up in. John was a wonderful talent and a wonderful man. He funeral was the most beautiful one I've ever been to ❤
My Brother died January 2011. I played and sang this to him at his funeral in Exeter. He was always a good strong brother to me and he knows that I loved him so. I chose this song because I learnt and played it for him for his last birthday a few months earlier. John Martyn was a wonderful songwriter. RIP
Beautiful.. My father met him many moons ago in Cork. He was playing in the Savory and popped into my father's pub for few pints, they later met again.. he was a truly gifted artist. May he rest in peace 🙏
I sat my 27 year old daughter down and played this to her. When it finished i asked her what she thought. She couldnt speak as she was crying. Nothing more needs to be said. John Martyn,thank you .
John Martyn, eh? Spanned more music in his time than anyone, always ahead, always original, lived in the hills, drank too much, but left us with just extraordinary, extraordinary, moving and leading music.
I was brought up listening to John's music and I turned my husband on to him,when my husband passed away I put solid air with him and rolled a couple of joints and was blessed with decent weather on that day.
A glass of warm beer and and half trampled on joint listening to “Solid air “ with a rag tag bunch of you’re best mates……good days past. Bless you John.
I called around to a mates house after school during the early eightie's and his older brother had this playing on video, never heard the like of it before, it still makes the hairs stand on the back of my neck !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that older brother pointed me in the only direction !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was lucky enough to know John as I babsat for him and Beverly as a terenager... I have loved his wonderful sound and quality as musician all my life.
I have vivid memories of this being sung to me by my dad as he rocked me in his arms when I was a baby. Such a beautiful song, I cry every time I hear it
Kirsty MacLeod I also sing this to my son and I truly hope that someday this tune will play somewhere and he will be filled with memories, happy days 👌🏻
John Martyn grew up in Hastings old town, & did many charity gigs there for the Nelsons Tigers club. Well known around the pubs n streets, lovely sensative fella really deep. Fell for his music & him after seeing him live at Elephant fare 1983/ 4 .
My dad’s name was john and this song was played at his funeral. Everyone said this song reminds them of him as he was great friend to many people. I was only 6 when he died and my memory of his outgoing personality will live through me forever. ❤
Saw him 3 or 4 times in the 80s, mostly in Stoke. He was superb every time and now my 23 year old is into him too. You were a genius John, and this song is just beautiful. Thank you for touching our hearts and souls
I left home at 17 and moved to Bristol to art school. I took a copy of Solid Air that I played over and over again. I still listen to it regularly today, and it is still as good as the first day I listened to it 25 years ago. R.I.P
My dad loved this song....he sadly passed last summer when my brother and I were with him at the time. The last time he lay his head down he had our hands to hold...'May you never lay your head down without a hand to hold' so powerful, I will forever love this song, thanks John...RIP dad💔.
Stumbled across this Man whilst youtube surfing about a week ago.Blew me away! Apparently unheralded in the U.S. How many musical geniuses go largely unnoticed because we are bombarded with crap?
Almost all of them. Then one day, after they are dead, there's some advert for a car using their music, and boom! That happened to John's friend, Nick Drake.
"Love is the lesson to learn in our time" because "I don't want to know about evil I only want to know about love" Let these words be this man;s lasting legacy If he only gave us these two songs, it wold have been more than enough. Let me proclaim that I believe in Angels and Jon Martyn is now one of them.
i play guitar and this song is just so intricate to play i find and then john is singing as well! its amazing, he truly left his own style behind... only got into him recently and i wish i could have seen his last tour alas..... maybe in the next life.... what a hero.....
I had the pleasure of seeing John in Liberty Hall Dublin, around 1970 -- solo, a guitar and a 'wah wah' pedal. I swear there was a full band hiding somewhere, except the stage was completely bare except for a chair and mike. Such is the talent of a magical performer, singer and songwriter. Sadly missed, forever remembered and always sung in solo company -- just me and John beside me -- ar dheis de go raibh do anam dilis Iain -- (John Martyn was born as Iain McGeachy) -- sadly gone, but somehow always present -- just another bit of magic --
Adolph Oliver Bush My dad died a few years ago. He loved folksy rock like this. At the time, I found it boring, but now I think of him when I listen to James Taylor, Jim Croce, Gordon Lightfoot, Paul Simon and all the rest of the greats.
Thank you so much. I first saw John deep in the basement folk club of Lanchester Poly.. now a UNIVERSITY.. oh my.. such a thrill as I’d already discovered his music and fallen in love with it. My Dad played the same kind of guitar.. same feelings and emotions.. deeply rooted in Segovia.. anyone still able to play an instrument these days gets my support.. no electric wizards back in the trenches just pure harmonica
Bumped in to John one night in Newry, he was travelling from Belfast to Dublin, he played a few songs for us in mc logans old bar,,,what a night,, a real gentleman.
I feel sorry for people who post this. There is not a single music video of any style or genre on youtube that doesn't have a comment like yours, usually near the top. Personally I'm not so insecure that i insist of everyone liking the same music as me.
I love that no live performance of this song was ever the same, John always switched up the notes or words and gave a really unique experience to the audience at every show. Just wish I was born earlier so I could’ve been one of those lucky people.
Had a bar room fight with John Martyn in '92. Told me he was a Freemason. I called it the mafia of the mediocre . (He lost his temper) Didn't stop me from loving his music and talent. Heavily influenced my songwriting and playing. Have a listen.
I was privileged to see John Martyn in the 80s on The Grace and Danger tour in The National Stadium in Dublin. I said at the time it was the best concert I had ever been to. 4 decades later and that still stands. R. I . P. John.
John bless him. He lived a hard life that his own peers were amazed by...weapon of mass destruction is what Thompson and McTell called him...quite a tortured soul. Loved him since i could be one too
Early '70's, my bf and I were on a train from Manchester ... corridor carriages, anyone remember them? My bf was in a band called Brett Marvin and The Thunderbolts, we were returning from a gig. We heard music coming from the next carriage, we went to investigate, it was John Martyn and a friend, he was just gigging around the folk clubs at that point. We spent the entire journey with them, and got invited back to Johns house in Chelsea ... and left in the early hours !! In the '80's this song became an "our song" ... a different boyfriend though !!!
coolmum47 GRIEF ! but i did like Brett and the bolts. Always wanted to make a zobstick. I remember a wonderful night at Essex uni. And another one when me an the missus saw Johnny. He cheeky monkey tried to pull me missus . RIP Johnno, RIP Lyndy 😥😥
I just had a shi!!y day. And listening to this just made all the stress run away and hide back in the dark corner where it belongs. John Martyn, you are exceptional even after your gone. And you lighten up my life. Outstanding!
John also lived in the Biggar (South Lanarkshire) area in the 80s. He was well respected but enjoyed the anonymity the place provided. Every October as part of the Biggar Little Festival there is a tribute night where his songs are played by a local musician. Met him a few times in the pub and one night we had the same type of shoes on.
this reminds me of ma stepdad, he used to come home pissed and would play john Martin and it would do ma nut in.. he would say john martyn is a genius but a just couldny hear it, now I've grown up a can see where he was coming from!
This reminds me of being a little kid, half asleep as my Mom and her friends jammed on their guitars. One of her friends was really great at playing and singing this one.
Heard John Martyn play years ago, he was at the Milton Keynes bowl with Genesis. Loved him, rushed out and bought his then current album (Glorious Fool) but I didn't like it, it was produced by Phil Collins and it showed, nothing like the great stuff he was playing onstage that day (remember the rain, anyone?). Confused, I let him go. Then, yesterday, I came across a John Martyn compilation in Tesco for three quid and I thought, why not? This is the first track on the album and it's easily worth the money on its own. Always liked this song - knew the Eric Clapton version - but his own performance of it blows Clapton out of the water. Was sad to discover he is no longer with us. What a great musician.
All time favourite n dedicating it too my wee dog who had to be put to sleep tonight. 15years n almost 2 days young! Fiesty to the end n I loved the very bones of her xx
John Martyn, enduring admitement from my teens. May you never is my designated funeral song. He quietly supported local amateur musicians where I came from in Scotland. Such a sad loss for us all.
I was lucky to see John and Danny Thompson in Inverness a few years before he passed away. An amazing night. True respect was shown by the theatre audience. The minute a note was plucked the applause stopped, and no one clapped until the last note was played on every song or tune. The whole audience wanted to savour every minute. Most knew they would never get to see him perform again. It was almost reverence.
Sweetness you have the made the right choice. Please have a box of hankies handy. Most of all keep playing it until he understands the sentiments of this beautiful song.
I have a good friend called Robert. I was the singer in a band where he was the lead guitarist for a couple years before covid ruined everything. I've always been happy to think that his dad drunkenly rampaged around my local town of lochgilphead with this great man on a night out many years ago. I'm privileged to live in this area of Scotland.
Listen to the rhythm. Amazing. Hope this guy makes it to heaven. Marc Mcdonald introduced me this guy. A good friend and amazing guitarist in himself. Thanks my friend
I keep coming back to this video. This song is amazing, but this version is just perfect. When he was at the top of his game. The guitar playing is hypnotic, and his voice here is spot on. RIP you absolute LEGEND!!!
"I'd like to introduce the band, on bass Jaco Pastorius, on drums Phil Collins." Oh boy. Mountford Hall, Liverpool University late 1970s. We sat on the floor. Recall at one point his acoustic guitar discarded on the stage 'playing itself' via a Watkins Copicat or something similar. It was a hoot and so very memorable.
May you never lay your head down Without a hand to hold; May you never make your bed out in the cold. You're just like great strong brother of mine; And you know that I love you true. And you never talk dirty behind my back, And I know that there's those that do. *) Oh please won't you, please won't you Bear it in mind: Love is a lesson to learn in our time. Now please won't you, please won't you Bear it in mind for me. May you never lay your head down Without a hand to hold; May you never make your bed out in the cold. You're just like a good close sister to me, And you know that I love you true. And you hold no blade to stab me in my back, I know that there's some that do. Oh please won't you, please won't you Bear it in mind: Love is a lesson to learn in our time. And please won't you, please won't you Bear it in mind for me. May you never lay your head down Without a hand to hold; May you never make your bed out in the cold. You're just like a great strong brother of mine, You know that I love you true. And you never talk dirty behind my back, And I know that there's those that do. Oh please won't you, please won't you Bear it in mind: Love is a lesson to learn in our time. And please won't you, please won't you Bear it in mind for me. May you never lose your temper, If you get in a bar-room fight. May you never lose your woman overnight. May you never lay your head down Without a hand to hold; May you never make your bed out in the cold. May you never lose your temper If you get in a bar-room fight; May you never lose your woman overnight. May you never lose your woman overnight; May you never lose your woman overnight. [There is a version with the following second verse] You've been just like a good and close mother to me, And you know I love you like I should. You never talk about me behind my back, And I know that there's times you could.
Oh my dear friends We are all to learn this. As my friend played and sang this to me( I kicked friends out of my party who wanted to talk through his performance at my apartment years ago) this is good music
The 70' s were the best decade for british and irish folk and singer songwriter artists I loved to listen to a radio show on BFBS with Alan Bangs called nightflight He introduced me to Martyn, Drake, Fairport Convention, Strawbs, Steeleye Span, Waterboys, Clannad, Alan Stivell from Brittany, Mellow Candle etc. Miss those years.
Such a tune, RIP John and belated one for Nick Drake for this is written about him.. two musical geniuses whom we'll never tire of listening to as long as we have ears pure magic
