As a child, we were told that the inspiration for this song was a childhood friend of Terry Jacks' who died of leukemia. It was a great song when it was new and still is.
I was born in 1970 and at some point in the mid 70s, I don't remember my exact age, I remember hearing Terry sing this on my dad's stereo and it always made me cry. It's amazing to think how his performance affected the feelios of a little boy who shouldn't be able to understand such complex content.
I've been friends with Terry and Susan since the early 80s, even after they were no longer husband and wife. Susan unfortunately passed away on April 25, 2022 from kidney disease that she suffered from for a long time!! 😢 Susan had such a beautiful voice and was such a wonderful person and friend!! ❤
This was my favorite song when I was eight and the song was new. It got a LOT of air play at the time. Now it never fails to make my eyes wet. (I'm not crying, you're crying!)
A few years before Terry Jacks made this song he was a member of a group called The Poppy Family along with his wife Susan. In 1969 they made a song entitled "Which Way You Goin' Billy" with Susan singing lead. May be one you might like to try.
I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t understand all the lyrics to “Alone Again Naturally”. I knew he was depressed but didn’t catch that first part. That’s another song where the music is more upbeat than the lyrics.
I remember this being played a lot in the '70s. I didn't know about a previous version until now. Every time I learn something. Also, FYI Jacques is Jac(k) the "a" is long (ahhh), sounds like "shock" with a "zh". Great job.
Such a beautiful song with such a sad meaning. Remember being on the school bus as a kid and the girls from choir would sing it as practice. Terry really had a great voice also.
Shawn the meaning of this song was Sung in a marching tempo, it tells of a man dying of a broken heart and shows him saying his last farewells first to his close friend Emile, then to a priest, next to an acquaintance named Antoine, and finally to his wife, who has cheated on him numerous times with Antoine.
Beautiful song. The man loves life - but it's coming to an end because of illness. No bitterness, just sadness. I find it to be both beautiful and sad. We all mourn loved ones who die, and we all have to face our mortality at some point. These things are part of our journey in this life. 0:570:57 In the song this man faced his impending death with great grace. He was both thankful for the good, and humble about his own human flaws.
The original was Belgium, and the first version to be translated was on the 1963 Kingston Trio album Time To Think which I still have in my album collection. I grew up in the late 50s and early 60s and have a massive album collection of many types of music. I still have many folk albums from the Kingston Trio and many other folk singers from the late 50s and early 60s. I am like you because I listen to all types of music and respect talent and have never listened to haters who singled out only certain types of music.
for me it's not the line "it's hard to die", but the following line "when all the birds are singing in the sky" that get me. knowing that the birds' beautiful music will continue,but i wont be here to hear it. on a lighter note, i still have this 45 rpm record from when i was a kid. the B side is a song called "put the bone in" about a woman asking a butcher for a bone to take home to her dog who had been hit by a car. it sounds sad,but i think it's done kind of tongue in cheek just to be able to sing the title over and over. worth a listen.
Whoa. That is the music of my grade school years. It was on the radio all the time and we all sang it as little kids. At one point I finally was able to buy the 45 RPM single to it, I think around 4th or 5th grade. And I remember it had a silver label at the center of the disc with black lettering on it. I always really liked it, and I've got to shout out the 4 successive key changes at the end. That's great. But the older I get, it just packs more and more and more punch. I literally went to a funeral just this afternoon for an old friend who was younger than me but we both used to play in bands together and this song could describe him perfectly.
I was in sixth grade when it came out and I always loved it, even though it made me sad. It’s probably a good thing that we grew up with songs and movies that made us wrestle with strong negative emotions. We may have dreamed about things always going our way but we knew that life doesn’t work like that. I’m sorry you lost your friend.
The song takes me back to my high school days and great memories
4 місяці тому
Heard this song since I was a little boy back in the 1970s and it would always make me emotional. I'm 54 now and my eyes still well up with tears listening to it.
If you want to know what the song was originally like without translating lyrics into English, you should listen to the Tom Rapp version. It could be listed under his name or under his band Pearls Before Swine. (Pearls Before Swine was an American psychedelic folk band formed by Tom Rapp in 1965.) Terry Jacks is sentimental bubble gum music. If you read the comments here most of the remarks come from people who were children when this was played repeatedly on top 40 radio. It was truly one of those "please change the channel" hits.
Or by Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods, which was the version that was a hit in the United States. The Paper Lace version was released earlier in the year (1974) and was a hit in the UK. I was twelve and loved that song.
This is a good oldie sad song. When you’re quite young, you listen to a good song, but don’t dwell on the words, at least I didn’t. I think the Vietnam war was the reason.
I thought it sounded strange and contrived that the guy in the lyrics *knows* he's going to die young from his bad habits (it's kinda hinted that his partying and excess have helped ruin his health, isn't it?). Most drug addicts, heavy drinkers etc are not clear in that sense that "yes, my bad habits are gonna kill me".
@@louise_rose Our oldest daughter had some bad habits and died at 44 years old of cancer. Her bad habits in her younger years didn't contribute to her death. Cancer isn't a respecter of who it takes.
@@jamesferris4573 I'm sorry to hear of your loss - cancer is a treacherous disease. One of my mother's best friends, a lovely lady, died of pancreatic cancer a few years before she would have turned fifty (dying just days before Christmas). ✝ But my point was that the lyrics of the song don't seem to make much sense if they're sung by (the character) a reasonably young guy who knows he is soon going to die. I mean, if he is *only* referring to his habits, sex and drugs and drink and rock'n'roll, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who is a reckless party animal and yet coldly aware that their habits are going to kill them. They just tend to think they're invincible. The lyrics are dropping several hints that the looming death of the guy is to do with his earlier bad habits ("I was the black sheep of the family" etc) so it is setting up this really sentimental frame.
@@timcook3019 the original record single. I have a great appreciation for your Channel. there are a lot of channels that I hop back and forth between. I am consistently back here checking your show out. I was only 11 when I purchased Seasons in the Sun by Terry jacks. my allowance is always spent on music. in my lifetime. I've been fortunate to meet: Cheap Trick, Adrian belew and Robert Fripp of King Crimson,Tori Amos and Roger Taylor (Queen drummer). oh almost forgot Ozzy. since I got your ear. I would love for you to hear a three-part song from Alice Cooper. on Welcome To My Nightmare. years ago, Steven, The Awakening. it won't disappoint. love what you doing man keep it up. Be Good, Be Happy,Be Loved
For another wonderful, not quite so sad song by Jacks, check out "Which Way You Goin' Billy?" by The Poppy Family... ua-cam.com/video/oCP8woHGag4/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/RNducWOlkec/v-deo.html
Uh, yeah. Okay, well I always thought this guy was on death row or something, but after all these years I still find it hard to pay attention because musically this is pretty bad. Sorry, Shawn. The original by Brel makes more sense. This translation makes it sound like he's aware of or planning his own death, but that makes little sense, really.
I've loved every one of your reactions. You are the very best reactor. But this song is considered, in my books, the very worst song ever. It's horrible writing and filled with cliches. I've spent a good part of my life changing the channel when this song came on the radio. When asked what the worst song is, I always reference this song. The lyrics are self-centered and narcissistic and the narrator is apparently feeling sorry for himself because he's going to die. First off, a person who is not actually dying has no right to pen such a song. And Terry Jacks was not dying. And if it's about somebody he knew, don't tell it in the first person. Here's the self-centered perspective: The narrator repeatedly emphasizes personal experiences and feelings throughout the song. There's a notable absence of genuine concern or empathy for others, despite mentioning friends and family members. The focus remains squarely on the narrator's own emotions and memories. Goodbye to friends and family: While the narrator bids farewell to friends, family members, and a romantic partner, the tone doesn't reflect genuine sorrow or regret for their departure. Instead, the emphasis is on how their absence affects the narrator, portraying a lack of empathy for the feelings of others. There's a lack of accountability: The narrator shifts blame onto external factors, such as "too much wine and too much song" or being the "black sheep of the family," without taking responsibility for their actions or their impact on others. This avoidance of accountability suggests a self-centered perspective. And there's nostalgia without growth: The nostalgic tone of the lyrics doesn't imply any personal growth or reflection. Instead, it romanticizes past experiences without acknowledging any lessons learned or changes made over time. This static view of life suggests a lack of introspection and growth. Let's look at the comparisons and superficiality: The comparison of life's joys and experiences to transient elements like wine, song, seasons, and starfish on the beach reflects a shallow perspective. These comparisons diminish the significance of deeper connections and experiences, reinforcing the self-centered nature of the narrator's worldview. He has a dismissive attitude towards others: Despite mentioning the support received from friends and family, the narrator's focus remains on their own struggles and desires. This dismissive attitude towards the feelings and experiences of others further underscores the self-centered nature of the narrator. The lyrics convey a sense of self-pity and narcissism, with the narrator primarily concerned with their own experiences and emotions while displaying a lack of genuine empathy or accountability towards others.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
As a child, we were told that the inspiration for this song was a childhood friend of Terry Jacks' who died of leukemia. It was a great song when it was new and still is.
He didn't write this, he translated a song by Belgian singer Jacques Brel, called Le Moribond.
@@DrStrangelove3891 You're half right. Terry Jacks REWROTE Jacques Brel's lyrics to make his own version of the song.
I was born in 1970 and at some point in the mid 70s, I don't remember my exact age, I remember hearing Terry sing this on my dad's stereo and it always made me cry. It's amazing to think how his performance affected the feelios of a little boy who shouldn't be able to understand such complex content.
wish we realized how fast it all goes by when we were young
I say the same thing, Judy, now I feel cheated cause I took it for granted.🥴
When this came out I thought it was too bubblegum but at 64, having lost so many people in my life, it hits different.
Class of "77
It certainly does
This song was played continuously on AM radio as if it was aimed at all of us kids. Kind of dark when you think about it...
I've been friends with Terry and Susan since the early 80s, even after they were no longer husband and wife. Susan unfortunately passed away on April 25, 2022 from kidney disease that she suffered from for a long time!! 😢 Susan had such a beautiful voice and was such a wonderful person and friend!! ❤
This song hit me hard in 1973 when my boyfriend was killed in a motorcycle accident.
So sad...😢Keep his love and memory in your heart forever...💞
So sorry Karen
@@maryannturton9830 🌹 I do, even after all these years...
@@garyarnett1220 Thank you. It has been a long time, but I still have days when it feels like yesterday.
This was released in 1974 👀. But sorry for your loss.
The subtle bittersweet fear of leaving the human experience behind is captured perfectly in the song structure.
The comment you made said it all in just a few words.😢
This was my favorite song when I was eight and the song was new. It got a LOT of air play at the time. Now it never fails to make my eyes wet. (I'm not crying, you're crying!)
A few years before Terry Jacks made this song he was a member of a group called The Poppy Family along with his wife Susan. In 1969 they made a song entitled "Which Way You Goin' Billy" with Susan singing lead. May be one you might like to try.
Always haunting.
This song got a ton of air play in the '70s and '80s. Along with "Alone Again Naturally" by Gilbert O'Sullivan. That one was about killing oneself.
I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t understand all the lyrics to “Alone Again Naturally”. I knew he was depressed but didn’t catch that first part. That’s another song where the music is more upbeat than the lyrics.
Oh that was a good one.
I remember this being played a lot in the '70s. I didn't know about a previous version until now. Every time I learn something. Also, FYI Jacques is Jac(k) the "a" is long (ahhh), sounds like "shock" with a "zh". Great job.
Such a beautiful song with such a sad meaning. Remember being on the school bus as a kid and the girls from choir would sing it as practice. Terry really had a great voice also.
Thank you. Thank you for playing this all through without interruption. Awesome song, awesome reaction. Keep 'em coming!
Shawn the meaning of this song was Sung in a marching tempo, it tells of a man dying of a broken heart and shows him saying his last farewells first to his close friend Emile, then to a priest, next to an acquaintance named Antoine, and finally to his wife, who has cheated on him numerous times with Antoine.
Grade school? Jr high??? Somewhere in that time frame for this old man😅😅
This one hits hard. the man is dying and saying goodbye. I bought it of course, when I was about 12 years old. Only half understood it then.
Beautiful song. The man loves life - but it's coming to an end because of illness. No bitterness, just sadness.
I find it to be both beautiful and sad. We all mourn loved ones who die, and we all have to face our mortality at some point. These things are part of our journey in this life. 0:57 0:57 In the song this man faced his impending death with great grace. He was both thankful for the good, and humble about his own human flaws.
The original was Belgium, and the first version to be translated was on the 1963 Kingston Trio album Time To Think which I still have in my album collection. I grew up in the late 50s and early 60s and have a massive album collection of many types of music. I still have many folk albums from the Kingston Trio and many other folk singers from the late 50s and early 60s. I am like you because I listen to all types of music and respect talent and have never listened to haters who singled out only certain types of music.
for me it's not the line "it's hard to die", but the following line "when all the birds are singing in the sky" that get me. knowing that the birds' beautiful music will continue,but i wont be here to hear it.
on a lighter note, i still have this 45 rpm record from when i was a kid. the B side is a song called "put the bone in" about a woman asking a butcher for a bone to take home to her dog who had been hit by a car. it sounds sad,but i think it's done kind of tongue in cheek just to be able to sing the title over and over. worth a listen.
Whoa. That is the music of my grade school years. It was on the radio all the time and we all sang it as little kids. At one point I finally was able to buy the 45 RPM single to it, I think around 4th or 5th grade. And I remember it had a silver label at the center of the disc with black lettering on it.
I always really liked it, and I've got to shout out the 4 successive key changes at the end. That's great. But the older I get, it just packs more and more and more punch.
I literally went to a funeral just this afternoon for an old friend who was younger than me but we both used to play in bands together and this song could describe him perfectly.
I was in sixth grade when it came out and I always loved it, even though it made me sad. It’s probably a good thing that we grew up with songs and movies that made us wrestle with strong negative emotions. We may have dreamed about things always going our way but we knew that life doesn’t work like that.
I’m sorry you lost your friend.
The song has a gently melody but the lyrics are some of the saddest ones I've ever heard. The farewell to his dad is the one that hits the hardest.
The song takes me back to my high school days and great memories
Heard this song since I was a little boy back in the 1970s and it would always make me emotional. I'm 54 now and my eyes still well up with tears listening to it.
Always loved this song..... Sure miss the music from the 60's 70's 80's !!!
Great cover !!!!!!!!!!
If you want to know what the song was originally like without translating lyrics into English, you should listen to the Tom Rapp version. It could be listed under his name or under his band Pearls Before Swine. (Pearls Before Swine was an American psychedelic folk band formed by Tom Rapp in 1965.)
Terry Jacks is sentimental bubble gum music. If you read the comments here most of the remarks come from people who were children when this was played repeatedly on top 40 radio. It was truly one of those "please change the channel" hits.
The old music can't beat it .Great memories.
This song was one of my faves! please listen to have you seen her!
Once had a fun experience in a car while this song was playing on the radio.
Dam dude, i was having a nice day,the you go and pull this one out😢
For a really great and deep meaningful song, try the live version of “Yesterday When I Was Young”, by the great Roy Clark.
Wow, blast from the past.
This is a song about his friend dying from cancer. Knowing he is dying during a time when everyone is enjoying life and can't be there to enjoy it.
New subscriber this is a blast from my past haven't heard this in years!!
My childhood friend died of Leukemia and this song always makes me think of her.❤
If you like sad songs, try Billy Don't be a Hero by Paper Lace.
Or by Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods, which was the version that was a hit in the United States. The Paper Lace version was released earlier in the year (1974) and was a hit in the UK. I was twelve and loved that song.
On a lighter note, an aussie artist, Billy Field, does, Bad Habits. They are hard to resist, so he doesn't resist.
song originally done and written by the great jacques brel ; i like this version ,but imho jacques original is superior
I’ve liked this song for a lot of years, but oh my god he was trawling for the tearjerker dollar (it’s a big dollar).
This is a song I hope is played at my wake one day.
Yep this song was part of my **Childhood** sooo **Sad** which i did not understand until i got a bit older jeezus WoW
This song reminds me of my childhood♥️💖
Terry Jacks 🙂
Huge hit back then.
Saying goodbye to childhood
For some more emotion gripping songs try Where have all the Flowers Gone by the Kinston Trio and Galveston by Glenn Campbell.
I have never died, but I imagine it's a pretty hard thing to do. Wish me luck.
This is a good oldie sad song. When you’re quite young, you listen to a good song, but don’t dwell on the words, at least I didn’t. I think the Vietnam war was the reason.
Oh please react to HONEY by Bobby Goldsboro
This song IS NOT about depression...it's about actually dying.
……70’s AM Staple ❤️ your my favorite reactor on the Tube 🫵🏻
❤🩹❤🩹❤🩹
This is a translation of Le Moribond by Jacques Brel. The original is a hundred times better.
💕💕💕💕💕💕💕
Is a old french song
Yes, by Jacques Brel. but his lyrics were a lot more ironic and spicy.
Belgian but sung in french
At the time it was considered a "girlie" song, no male would ever admit to liking it 🤣
I thought it sounded strange and contrived that the guy in the lyrics *knows* he's going to die young from his bad habits (it's kinda hinted that his partying and excess have helped ruin his health, isn't it?). Most drug addicts, heavy drinkers etc are not clear in that sense that "yes, my bad habits are gonna kill me".
@@louise_rose Our oldest daughter had some bad habits and died at 44 years old of cancer. Her bad habits in her younger years didn't contribute to her death. Cancer isn't a respecter of who it takes.
@@jamesferris4573 I'm sorry to hear of your loss - cancer is a treacherous disease. One of my mother's best friends, a lovely lady, died of pancreatic cancer a few years before she would have turned fifty (dying just days before Christmas). ✝
But my point was that the lyrics of the song don't seem to make much sense if they're sung by (the character) a reasonably young guy who knows he is soon going to die. I mean, if he is *only* referring to his habits, sex and drugs and drink and rock'n'roll, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who is a reckless party animal and yet coldly aware that their habits are going to kill them. They just tend to think they're invincible.
The lyrics are dropping several hints that the looming death of the guy is to do with his earlier bad habits ("I was the black sheep of the family" etc) so it is setting up this really sentimental frame.
Sill own the signal.
What's that supposed to mean?
@@timcook3019 the original record single. I have a great appreciation for your Channel. there are a lot of channels that I hop back and forth between. I am consistently back here checking your show out. I was only 11 when I purchased Seasons in the Sun by Terry jacks. my allowance is always spent on music. in my lifetime. I've been fortunate to meet: Cheap Trick, Adrian belew and Robert Fripp of King Crimson,Tori Amos and Roger Taylor (Queen drummer). oh almost forgot Ozzy. since I got your ear. I would love for you to hear a three-part song from Alice Cooper. on Welcome To My Nightmare. years ago, Steven, The Awakening. it won't disappoint. love what you doing man keep it up. Be Good, Be Happy,Be Loved
Forgot, Have a Zappa story I could go into later about. One of my best memory's.
Its still cheese and bubble gum. But the lyrics are powerful and very good
For another wonderful, not quite so sad song by Jacks, check out "Which Way You Goin' Billy?" by The Poppy Family...
ua-cam.com/video/oCP8woHGag4/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/RNducWOlkec/v-deo.html
Schmalz
Uh, yeah. Okay, well I always thought this guy was on death row or something, but after all these years I still find it hard to pay attention because musically this is pretty bad. Sorry, Shawn. The original by Brel makes more sense. This translation makes it sound like he's aware of or planning his own death, but that makes little sense, really.
I've loved every one of your reactions. You are the very best reactor. But this song is considered, in my books, the very worst song ever. It's horrible writing and filled with cliches. I've spent a good part of my life changing the channel when this song came on the radio. When asked what the worst song is, I always reference this song.
The lyrics are self-centered and narcissistic and the narrator is apparently feeling sorry for himself because he's going to die. First off, a person who is not actually dying has no right to pen such a song. And Terry Jacks was not dying. And if it's about somebody he knew, don't tell it in the first person.
Here's the self-centered perspective: The narrator repeatedly emphasizes personal experiences and feelings throughout the song. There's a notable absence of genuine concern or empathy for others, despite mentioning friends and family members. The focus remains squarely on the narrator's own emotions and memories.
Goodbye to friends and family: While the narrator bids farewell to friends, family members, and a romantic partner, the tone doesn't reflect genuine sorrow or regret for their departure. Instead, the emphasis is on how their absence affects the narrator, portraying a lack of empathy for the feelings of others.
There's a lack of accountability: The narrator shifts blame onto external factors, such as "too much wine and too much song" or being the "black sheep of the family," without taking responsibility for their actions or their impact on others. This avoidance of accountability suggests a self-centered perspective.
And there's nostalgia without growth: The nostalgic tone of the lyrics doesn't imply any personal growth or reflection. Instead, it romanticizes past experiences without acknowledging any lessons learned or changes made over time. This static view of life suggests a lack of introspection and growth.
Let's look at the comparisons and superficiality: The comparison of life's joys and experiences to transient elements like wine, song, seasons, and starfish on the beach reflects a shallow perspective. These comparisons diminish the significance of deeper connections and experiences, reinforcing the self-centered nature of the narrator's worldview.
He has a dismissive attitude towards others: Despite mentioning the support received from friends and family, the narrator's focus remains on their own struggles and desires. This dismissive attitude towards the feelings and experiences of others further underscores the self-centered nature of the narrator.
The lyrics convey a sense of self-pity and narcissism, with the narrator primarily concerned with their own experiences and emotions while displaying a lack of genuine empathy or accountability towards others.
this tune is not original either !
Shawn, Just have to say this was one of the Worse Songs I have heard!! I knew it when it came out and still hate it! I.M.O.
Oh dear…this song has always been awful haha, and I’ve lost many loved ones
Bäh....