Songwriter Reacts: Jason Isbell - Cover Me Up 

What’s your favorite Jason Isbell song?

I remember it took me a long time to become a fan of Isbell, nothing specific either, he was just out further in the radar so I’d just hear him in passing, but then one time I just heard a song at the right moment and it crushes you and then every song after that did too.

Saw Jason in May at Red Rocks. Sang along with this, just bawling. He is the finest songwriter of our generation.

Still get goosebumps when he belts that chorus, what a song, what a band!

just saw him in concert! what a show!

As always, full of chills the whole song!!

Thank you for being the first "reaction video" I have found where the host is actually able to put together not just one, but a long series of coherent sentences with words other than "oh wow" and "amazing". Nice that you highlight the band towards the end, it is possible the best rock n roll band JI will ever have (especially when Shires is present).

I don't think there's ever been a better song written than this.

I want to say this is my favorite Isbell song, but when I listen to last of my kind or Alabama pines I wanna say the same thing! Such an amazing songwriter

One of the greatest songs of all time! First time I heard it, it was about 8 or 9 years ago on an Americana channel on whatever that platform was that we used to use before Spotify. I thought it was a new Ryan Adams song before I checked who it was…. I had never heard of him at that point. Ryan was my favorite artist at the time, but Jason overtook him that day when listened to Southeastern front to back.

When I started listening to Isbell for real I found that I almost always listened to his work in a trio of songs and always in the same order: 1. Cover Me Up, 2. If We Were Vampires, 3. Elephant. It seemed like those three songs formed, collectively, one of the best stories of a relationship I had ever heard. Since then I've listened carefully to many, if not all, of his songs and he always amazes me with the depth and the empathy of his lyrics. He's not my favorite songwriter of all time but he is definitely someone I will never forget and he's someone I come back to often when I need to hear something with substance.

I love watching this and watching him sing Drive by truckers "God damn lonely love" for the paste magazine channel. He has come so far in life. Isbell is definitely an inspiration

“But home was a dream, one that I’d never seen, til you came along” is just one of those simple, incredible, powerful lyrics. Also…this is one of the best reaction videos I’ve ever seen.

Thanks for sharing this. First Jason Isbell song I’ve listened to. Yes, you read that right.

Maybe Im biased...been following Isbell's career since right after he joined DBT back in '01 or '02 I think. Long time ago. Anyway, I consider this easily one of the best love songs written so far in the 21st century. Like a lot of Isbell's songs...its a truly original and perfect song. Music at its best.

“‘Til Percy Priest breaks open wide”. Genius.

Ironically my husband who is more of music than lyric guy introduced me to this song. I'm a lyric person and I hear something new in this song every time I listen to it. He's a brilliant writer.

Saw him in St. Louis last November. Amazing

I love this song. To answer your question, in my mind, the line about its cold outside and I’m not going out to chop wood, is a euphemism for an excuse to go use drugs. He’s not doing it because Amanda Shires is enough to cover him up - or fulfill him, that she is able to use him for good.

Shhheeeyit Elephant I dare you 🥺

Big Fan Burt, keep up the good work.

And you picked THE definitive performance of this song!!!

@Burt Byler, Traveling Alone got me hooked on Jason. It’s my life’s anthem. No matter how many friends and family surround me, I feel like I’m on this journey of life alone. I’m traveling from place to place both in the physical sense and in my mind all alone, just wishing and hoping for that day my love will find me and ask to travel the rest of the way with me. With each passing day, the road gets longer with more obstacles and much lonelier. I sit in tears - I mean turn on the shower head that is my eyes - when I hear the first note to Traveling Alone. Just writing this comment and thinking of the lyrics just filled two gallon buckets beside my bed. Seeing Jason at the House of Blues in Boston was the best concert I’ve ever been to.

I was fortunate enough to see 2 live JI&400U shows a week and a half ago at Austin City Limits. Its been way too long since the previous show when we saw them at Red Rocks. Favorite Isbell songs basically changes day to day, sometimes hour to hours. It might be Alabama Pines, but it could be If it takes a lifetime. There is Last of my Kind weighing in again, or maybe Streetlights? Dress Blue just stopping by to see whats up....what about Vampires, or Live Oak? Is this limited to only Isbell or are DBT songs included...cuz then it might be...Damn such a difficult question.

Great reaction... I always thought it was just me.

Amanda's song, You Are My Home was written at the same time Jason was writing Cover Me Up. Jason said she played me her song and I knew I was under the gun

Loved this Burt!🔥🙌💙🌻

Everything you say about this song is true. It’s emotionally naked and honest and beautiful.

Will see him and Morgan Wade at the Tabernacle in Atlanta in December. We are looking forward to here this great music Live.Thanks for the great music on your channel.

Also, I’m sure you didn’t even notice which I don’t mean in a bad way, but this was actually the song I recommended that you do a reaction to after I saw your reaction to Elephant.. I actually discovered Jason within the first 30 days or so of me finishing rehab myself and something about the fact that he finished his rehab around the same time made me really give his album Southeastern a chance and I couldn’t be more happy that it did, Especially as a songwriter myself especially as a songwriter myself. because it just really connected with me knowing that he wrote that album while he was in rehab and I have not, to sound cliche,but I’ve been in love with him/his and his songwriting since the first time I listened to that album.

Kris Kristofferson - Darby's Castle Kris Kristofferson - Casey's Last ride

props for the correct "Is-bull" pronunciation

I want to hear your thoughts on the “Pila Song” from Max Stalling.

Btw… what were your thoughts on Morgan Wallen’s cover? I know a lot of die hard Isbell fans weren’t happy, but I kind of took as tribute and really like the fact that he respected the original feel and tone of the song.

I think what he's trying to say when he sings "It's cold in this house..," they're just going to have to keep each other warm and it's not going to matter how cold it gets, he's not letting go of her for nothing.

Great vid. Just finished it. Here's a good question. Which song is a better love song? This one, or "If We Were Vampires"? Because, I can't answer it.

I’m sure by now someone has told you or said this to you but without looking through all the comments, Amanda is actually Jason‘s wife she just goes by her maiden name

Do a towns van zant song

Home, is something I have thought I had. Home is something I only wake up to find out it was a dream. 2020 during lockdown I was working from home. My husband of 18 years gives me a kiss as he leaves for work. 9am I get a text message saying he loves me but not in love and so...there ya go. I was 56 and I can tell you I am done. I gave 18 years to him and helped raise his kids and get him out of debt . He got a new girlfriend and I got a text message. I got the house and I gave him $40,000 and he started a new life.

The is one of the best examples of songwriting I have ever witnessed. I actually had heard Morgan Wallen's version first and fell in love with the lyrics and Morgan's rasp on this song. Kudos to Jason's writing but Morgan's version knocks this song out of the park!

Watch Morgan Wallens version.

Morton wallet does a cover of this song , better than the original in my opinion