Since the day this was aired, I still find myself coming back to this vid. When I'm out the audio version does just fine but I have to admit it doesn't have the same effect as watching it. The drummer... Wow, she is badass!
I love the combo of the jazzy country mixed with that microphone that just sounds like his voice is coming straight out of an old radio broadcast...it definitely is a cool style
Still the best live version of this song! Been coming back to this video once in a while and still gives me goosebumps while watching M. Ward and this set of artists performing with him.
@Steamrollergirl71 I was really happy to see this comment! Cat Power and M. Ward are two of my favorite musicians and I've always thought there were similarities in their raspy, soulful singing. I just wasn't sure if anyone else thought the same thing.
Really like this song on many levels. The lyrics make me think of all of us who are in pursuit of spiritual answers but approach our quest with an intellectual approach. How wrong is that! M Wards music is steeped in americana, which I love...country, blues, R&B, folk, be bop, rockabilly, rock and roll. But just listen to that guitar solo at the end. It comes in almost unannounced at around the 3 minute mark with some notes from the song's melody ushered in by a thumping bass/ drum...then it just takes off. Isn't that pure fifties rockabilly or is it rock and roll. Does anyone recognise the sound?
@barndotcom Wonderful post! It's rare that someone can say so little and deliver such a divinely weighted message... Especially with musicality that matches.
I burried my lovely gran'ma with this song ! and well it was a good choice! while listenening, i'm crying, but it's healthy ! so powerful song ! years ago !
@@jorgesanchezromero563 Sorry, I needed to make an update. I was wrong, it is either an Epiphone Casino, or an Epiphone Wildkat. I believe it to be a Casino, because I don’t feel the Wildkat looks to be the exact same.
i think it is an epiphone - they make a wildkat model that looks just like it, save a small difference in the headstock. the vibrato piece looks funky as hell, too. very cool guitar; tastefully played.
@luistijerina Actually, everyone's thumbs are as long as their other fingers - the big piece of skin that connects it to the index just makes it appear short.
I’ve read that the mic he’s using is an Astatic DN-HZ. I’m researching now to verify. By the way, I realize this post is eleven years later, I hope you find this comment and you’re doing okay in this crazy world of ours.
if it wasnt for letterman we wouldnt be seeing this performance right now genius.. i swear some people are so ignorant .. just enjoy life and be happy!!!!!!!
Very subtle difference, but something that is "titled" HAS a name or title, whereas "to entitle" is to GIVE something a name or title. So, after M. Ward entitled his album Post-War, the album is now titled Post-War.
Are the lyrics recursively referencing themselves? Young man asks old man, old man talks about himself as young man asking old man, repeat.. ? ----- TL;DR: Enjoy the song and music and moment, forget about your broken heart and finite lifespan :D I very well may be wrong... But ... OK. He is singing a song about asking an old man three questions. And the old man answers that he "once was a young man (like you)" too and proceeds to sing _the same song_ telling the same story, now with the old man asking (an even older, old man) the same three questions. Right? :) My sleep deprived interpretation; "all young men" are asking a finite set of philosophical questions about life and what have you. Everyone wonders about life, death, love, broken hearts. And the "wise old man", wrongly presumed being able to answer after a lifetime of experience bla, actually can't. He still doesn't know how to mend a broken heart, etc. Maybe because the question itself is somewhat ill formed; broken hearts are just part of the human experience and maybe there is no mend, no repair. So the old man answers in a way that highlights the journey, like "don't think too much about it, enjoy the ride because that is all there is". That is the recursion. Song references itself. Answer is to listen to music and just forget about your troubles for a while. That is also why the old man is pressed on time --- he realizes there are no answers to be found and worrying is time wasted. Sorry anyone who actually read all that. Who read this? You read this? Why? Haha, I'll regret posting this I'm sure. All the best
100% exactly how I heard, felt, read and experienced this song. I wept. creative guy putting that all together and great performances by all band members.
Wouldn't it be cool if Ron Howard and I were on Letterman appearing live from the control booth which camera alternated from 1st, 2nd, and 3rd person perspectives as Steven S[eilberg switched back and forth to Dave for his spiel?
@Asalamalika Yeah it really is unique. And the lyrics are a whole different style in themselves... I had to stop typing out this comment because 3:12 and on is just beautiful.
this has become one of my all time favorite songs.
This man is one of the most underrated musicians of our generation
The drummer is fantastic!!! This live version sounds very close to the CD version. Ward is off the chart in talent!
the drummer is Rachel Blumberg. former drummer of the Decemberists and Bright Eyes etc. She's incredible.
Since the day this was aired, I still find myself coming back to this vid. When I'm out the audio version does just fine but I have to admit it doesn't have the same effect as watching it. The drummer... Wow, she is badass!
This is one of the greatest performances in the last 15 years by anybody!
This is still true❤
Still true
I saw him live in 2004 with Bright Eyes and hadn’t heard of him until then… he was absolutely amazing.
3:58 I always end up listening to 20 times in a row, pure eargasm.
Vince Masuka doing an awesome job on the bells and rattles.
HAHAHA, YES!
LOLOL but dude is an amazing drummer :D
I love the combo of the jazzy country mixed with that microphone that just sounds like his voice is coming straight out of an old radio broadcast...it definitely is a cool style
One of my all-time favorite live shows to catch.So great!
The best live version of this song I've heard. And a cool guitar solo too.
I saw him in concert and he blews my mind. He was so AMAZING!
Me too in wellington nz years ago. Great sense of fun and humour as well.
incredible. what a beautiful song and performance.
Still the best live version of this song! Been coming back to this video once in a while and still gives me goosebumps while watching M. Ward and this set of artists performing with him.
this is so original and beautiful!
For my birthday yesterday my wife got me all six m. ward albums. God I love her!
He is beautiful in all ways. After seeing him in concert it is difficult to listen to his CDs without going: "He is so much better live."
That's what I'm talking about! Thanks for posting and long live real songwriters!
Wow that bass line is awesome
this song makes me cry on the reg
FAYMprod same
Lol same
Yessir
Wow. What an outstanding song.
And the drummer gal is beautiful.
@Steamrollergirl71 I was really happy to see this comment! Cat Power and M. Ward are two of my favorite musicians and I've always thought there were similarities in their raspy, soulful singing. I just wasn't sure if anyone else thought the same thing.
wow this was really great on all levels. Didnt realise what a great guitarist he was until now.
amazing song. this and Right In The Head are my favorite tracks by them/him.
that whammy at the end made it so tight
His singing reminds me of Chan Marshall. Beautiful. And the drumming is amazing
I have heard other versions of this song but I think this is my favorite. PS the drummer is so damn hot
his voice is pure melancholy
One of my favorite performances ever. See you on Thursday M.
I love his facial expressions in this. it's like he's telling a story :)
Rachel Blumberg rocks on the drums!!
such a great song
From some angles he looks like ted mosby
One of the few artists who sounds just as good, if not better, live.
incredible performance!
M ward is a musical genius
Unique, I like it, a lot. Just when these old bones think music has gone to shit someone like M.Ward turns up. Cool
Epic
Really like this song on many levels. The lyrics make me think of all of us who are in pursuit of spiritual answers but approach our quest with an intellectual approach. How wrong is that!
M Wards music is steeped in americana, which I love...country, blues, R&B, folk, be bop, rockabilly, rock and roll. But just listen to that guitar solo at the end. It comes in almost unannounced at around the 3 minute mark with some notes from the song's melody ushered in by a thumping bass/ drum...then it just takes off. Isn't that pure fifties rockabilly or is it rock and roll. Does anyone recognise the sound?
I love this song!
@luistijerina I agree, he is one of my favorite guitarist / singers. Wish I could play like he does!
What a great song!!!!
The drummer is awesome
such a vintage sound
wow wow wow
love the way he use his right hand, just amazing!
I am obsessed. No mercy for the replay button.
I'm still turning people on to this song; a 23 year old Marine at a party the other night; he loved it!
ending part is superb.
better than the album..amazing version
Music porn man! So good!
he´s great =)
I love m ward!
Great, Rachel Blumberg!!
that chick though is absolutely killing it
for some reason I love the fact that he's using an epiphone.
@barndotcom Wonderful post! It's rare that someone can say so little and deliver such a divinely weighted message... Especially with musicality that matches.
The Dude is the best of this century.
I burried my lovely gran'ma with this song ! and well it was a good choice! while listenening, i'm crying, but it's healthy ! so powerful song ! years ago !
im sorry for your loss :( but I agree it has that optimism in it that lets you grieve but be happy to be alive
Mike Coykendall on acoustic guitar! Wichita native and amazing musician! Check him out now!
can't wait to see them at COACHELLA!!!!
Astounding.
"would you like a wig?" rofl
what kind of guitar is that M is playin? I LOVE the tone coming out of it
drummerwes81 The guitar looks to be a Gretsch G6620T. Though, I have no clue what the black thing is where M’s arm rests...
@@redhood7524 thanks, i had the same question. i hope that guy also will see your answer 12 years later haha
@@jorgesanchezromero563 You’re welcome. Just trying to help where I can.
@@jorgesanchezromero563 Sorry, I needed to make an update. I was wrong, it is either an Epiphone Casino, or an Epiphone Wildkat. I believe it to be a Casino, because I don’t feel the Wildkat looks to be the exact same.
@@redhood7524It’s not a Casino. It doesn’t have a double cut away.
i think it is an epiphone - they make a wildkat model that looks just like it, save a small difference in the headstock. the vibrato piece looks funky as hell, too. very cool guitar; tastefully played.
I could be mistaken but I think it's called a blues harmonica mic. something like that.
@luistijerina Actually, everyone's thumbs are as long as their other fingers - the big piece of skin that connects it to the index just makes it appear short.
Love the mic! Is that real vintage? If it is, I'm so glad that that's how he's achieving the vocal effect.
I’ve read that the mic he’s using is an Astatic DN-HZ. I’m researching now to verify.
By the way, I realize this post is eleven years later, I hope you find this comment and you’re doing okay in this crazy world of ours.
Amazing!
Thx
I dont remember the name of the cartoon in the paper back in the day but this dude looks exactly like him
Shit i remember when this happened, amazing performance
He's cool, but it's really hard to ignore the two drummers, especially the woman at the back, looking really intense at the start. :)
if it wasnt for letterman we wouldnt be seeing this performance right now genius.. i swear some people are so ignorant .. just enjoy life and be happy!!!!!!!
Incredible!
Anyone know what mic he's using ?
It's Astatic "Commentator" from the '50s. Old public address mic.
Amazing. None better.
Were here, were gone, Generation after generation. It's sad really.
Very subtle difference, but something that is "titled" HAS a name or title, whereas "to entitle" is to GIVE something a name or title. So, after M. Ward entitled his album Post-War, the album is now titled Post-War.
@inertialacoustic one from about 1954, a really old one that distorts real easy
Are the lyrics recursively referencing themselves?
Young man asks old man, old man talks about himself as young man asking old man, repeat.. ?
-----
TL;DR: Enjoy the song and music and moment, forget about your broken heart and finite lifespan :D
I very well may be wrong... But ...
OK.
He is singing a song about asking an old man three questions.
And the old man answers that he "once was a young man (like you)" too and proceeds to sing _the same song_ telling the same story, now with the old man asking (an even older, old man) the same three questions. Right? :)
My sleep deprived interpretation; "all young men" are asking a finite set of philosophical questions about life and what have you. Everyone wonders about life, death, love, broken hearts.
And the "wise old man", wrongly presumed being able to answer after a lifetime of experience bla, actually can't. He still doesn't know how to mend a broken heart, etc. Maybe because the question itself is somewhat ill formed; broken hearts are just part of the human experience and maybe there is no mend, no repair.
So the old man answers in a way that highlights the journey, like "don't think too much about it, enjoy the ride because that is all there is". That is the recursion. Song references itself. Answer is to listen to music and just forget about your troubles for a while. That is also why the old man is pressed on time --- he realizes there are no answers to be found and worrying is time wasted.
Sorry anyone who actually read all that. Who read this?
You read this? Why?
Haha, I'll regret posting this I'm sure. All the best
100% exactly how I heard, felt, read and experienced this song. I wept. creative guy putting that all together and great performances by all band members.
both drummers!! give it a driving steam train energy, but just at the right times.
@@coresurf22 Wow cool, I'm not alone :) Thanks. I agree, awesome band!
All the best, take care
awesome..... reminds me of David Garza
@SportsCarCore True. Then I must say that M. Ward's thumbs look longer than average. He has an awesome fingerpicking technique.
M.ward is a great undergound artist..:)
I think it's Rachel Blumberg. She used to be in the Decemberists.
Matt Ward is KING.
The Sun went down and played for me this Song....
yeah he does.
it's beautiful
Now that's music!
Its just perfect
sooooo gooood
God damn. too awesome.
Wouldn't it be cool if Ron Howard and I were on Letterman appearing live from the control booth which camera alternated from 1st, 2nd, and 3rd person perspectives as Steven S[eilberg switched back and forth to Dave for his spiel?
m ba ba ba yesseree atheeya go, that's what I'm talkin about.. Couldn't have said it better myself Dave.
Superb. I'll leave it at that.
beautiful
M. Ward is a stud, the best musicians come from the west baby =)
@Asalamalika
Yeah it really is unique. And the lyrics are a whole different style in themselves... I had to stop typing out this comment because 3:12 and on is just beautiful.
vocal effects fantastic, all of this is amazing. does anyone know what equipment the guy drummer is playing?
There's was a version he did on Conan with Jim James and Neko Case, but it got removed.
i like how much he tries to sound like tom waits. its enchanting.
Kind of reminds me of Tom Waits.
Great stuff.
@issielemons yes, i believe she did she looks familiar
"its tout it was a flying sorsaaaaa"
classic
and the song, wat a chunk of lazy ambient folky baja americana rock