WHAT A STORY!| FIRST TIME HEARING Harry Chapin - Taxi REACTION
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- Опубліковано 7 жов 2024
- WHAT A STORY!| FIRST TIME HEARING Harry Chapin - Taxi REACTION
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Welcome to Rob Squad Reactions This is a music reaction channel. My passion is being a content creator, and providing my audience with unique, funny, and never before seen reaction videos. I have come to grow a love for all types of music from my beloved rap to heavy metal and I want to share that love with all of you. Being a content creator is my passion and it brings me so much joy and being able to share my passion and joy with all of you and grow as a community is an amazing feeling. In addition to reacting to all different types of music, I am also a a husband to my amazing wife Amber and a dad to 3 amazing kids Bria, Kiya and Luca.We here to try and make a change in this world starting with something that brings us all together MUSIC!!
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It was early morning on July 16, 1981, when Harry Chapin came into my future brother-in-law's gas station in Woodbury, Long Island. I sort of recognized him when I started to pump his gas. I asked him if he was a singer and he replied "Yes son. I'm Harry Chapin. You probably know 'Cat's in the Cradle.' I replied "Yes, that song is cool" and when I finished pumping his gas, "I said that'll be $11.50 Mr. Chapin" and he said "Here you go kid" and handed me a $10 and a $5, and said, "Keep the change kid." Later that day I heard of what happened and it did something to me inside.
WOW
OMG! Thank you for sharing
Wow!
I was visiting my sister in New Jersey when that happened. A very bad day for me, too.
What a tragic loss.
She took off to find the footlights and I took off to find the sky.. poetry
I believe his manager put it best, "Harry doesn't write stories, he writes novels set to music".
Indeed👌
R.I.P. Harry.... one of the most talented storytellers and acoustic guitarists we've had. Gone way too soon...
One of the best by harry chapin is cats in the cradle. Still brings a tear to my eye when it’s played.
Harry's wife Sandra wrote the lyrics to that song. Their son looks just like his dad.
My brother was devastated when my dad left. He was about 9. He related to Cats in the Cradle. When he became an adult my dad couldn't figure out why my brother didn't have time for him. A real-life cats in the cradle. They never reconciled. My brother went to his funeral, and I think he grieved harder than the rest of us. So sad.
@@Kepi_Kei Thank you for sharing that, painful as it was to read. Most painful for your brother though.
Yes!!!
One of the most moving songs ever. I didn't really relate much with my childhood and dad but with my Children I sure can relate, and the lyrics are just so spot on true.
Another is Living Years: Don Henley I wonder sometimes if Don Henley didn't think of "Living Years" because of Cats in the Cradle.
Harry Chapin never sang songs, he told stories. He is best listened to live. He has a live album that is incredible. "Cats in the Cradle" and "Mr Tanner" are a must
Shortly before he died, Harry recorded a song called "Sequel", and that's exactly what it is.. the sequel to Taxi. You have to hear this incredible song!
In Sequel he seems to get his revenge a bit...and feels better about himself
When you get around to Sequel, it is not just a continuation, it is incredibly parallel to Taxi in it's musical and lyrical layout and performance.
We can’t forget one of his most meaningful storytelling compositions; “ The Cat’s in the Cradle”🙀
Dang it! I came here to say that!
Yes, Harry got the chance to write "The Sequel to our story, on this journey between heaven and hell." shortly before his passing.
And thankfully he did, It certainly gave a sort of book-ending to the relationship between the fictional Harry and Sue.
You could certainly empathize with both of them
@@richgoebel6650 I wouldn't call it a parallel, exactly...although you're close.
...it sort of turns their stories on their heads.
Because the "Circle keeps rollin' around"
(Perhaps an intentional reference to "All my life's a circle"?)
Because now Harry's famous, but not very happy
...while Sue is the one "flyin' with both feet on the ground"
My favorite line(s) in that song are:
And then I asked her why she looked so happy now
She said, "I finally like myself, at last I like myself"
If that doesn't make you feel melancholy, I don't know what will.
One of the more amazing songs ever written and recorded in human history. This is a story beyond compare, as it was drawn from real life...
Dan Fogelberg - Old Lang Syne is a classic holiday story song. Gets me everytime.
A big fav ❤
I hope they react to it someday! I know they would love it! Got to see him 3 times one of my favorites!
Classic songs reconnecting with former loves. Dan's is also seasonal. Highly recommended. If 😎
I agree. A must holiday listen.
I came to say this song would be great-I see it listed on the music services as ‘Same Old Lang Syne’ by Dan Fogelberg. There is a UA-cam video I believe explaining the background of the story, and another song that explains what happens later, much like Harry Chapin did with a sequel to this song, ‘Taxi’.
Harry Chapin is one of the best singer/songwriter/storytellers ever. A very deep well to dig into. His live album is amazing.
Agreed!
One of the very, very few "live" albums I like.
Was….RIP
The Best
Harry Chapin played a concert in my High School and was so great. He would do so many concerts for charities to raise money for world hunger. He was killed on the Long Island Expressway rushing to do a concert.
A classic story that aged well and is still relatable today.
only part that didn't age was the $2.50 fare.
Yes for sure! It's Uber instead of the cab today ☺️
@@ddwm_mua and paid for on the app.
Such a magical song, "oh I've got something inside me, to drive a princess blind, there's a wild man wizard he's hiding in me illuminating my mind." Love that line✨
What a great introduction to Harry Chapin, which is fitting because this was all of our introduction to him... this was his leadoff single, in 1972. Though probably best known for his 70s anthem, "Cat's in the Cradle" (a MUST listen), this is a classic. "W-O-L-D" and "Sequel" are also amazing songs. Sadly, much like Jim Croce, we lost Harry at a very young age (38, in a traffic accident, in 1981). Another music genius we lost too soon. BTW, if you do "Sequel", you should know it's a literal sequel to this song, about Harry and Sue when they meet up against ten years later.
The guy who shot John Lennon was sentenced 40 days after Harry died.
Sequel reaction please! Based on your reaction, I think you will*both* absolutely love it. 🚕✌️
@@ddwm_mua - I second and third your recommendation of a reaction to "Sequel"!!
He was killed on his way to perform at a benefit concert. I don't think his death got that much publicity because it happened so soon after John Lennon's assassination.
@@j.woodbury412 Somewhere in another comments section for one of his songs posted on YT someone wrote about being in the audience for that concert. How the people waited and waited, eventually getting annoyed and some of them downright angry, and then to learn the news . . .
I love Harry. I bought his greatest hits in the 90s after hearing this and listened to it everyday for years
This is my favorite song ever!!! This was song that put Chapin on the map.
You are both quite right in saying this song has a theatrical and visual aspect. Before becoming a full-time musician, Chapin was documentary filmmaker and received an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary for a film called "Legendary Champions" about boxers in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Amber spoke of closure for Harry and Sue. Well, not quite. In 1980, Chapin wrote a sequel to this song called "Sequel". Note: The falsetto in the bridge is sung by his bass player "Big" John Wallace.
If you want to hear the funnier side of Harry then have a listen to the live version of "30,000 Pounds of Bananas".
One last thing.. December 7th would have been Harry's 80th birthday. R.I.P.
Big John also sang for Bluto in the Robin Williams Popeye movie in a deep, gruff voice, totally different than his great falsetto section here.
I would have sworn that was a female singer in the bridge. Thanks.
Somebody told me years ago that Harry's brother sang the falsetto part. I wish I could remember who so I could smack them.
@@johncampbell756 Yeh for sure....perhaps a lady with a cold...hahaha
I love 30,000 pounds of bananas 😂
Harry Chapin, The ultimate story teller. I lucky enough to see him twice in concert, it was phenomenal !!!!!
When I heard of his passing, I cried like a baby ……. You know how today in a concert everyone in the audience sings along, well not at his 2 concerts I saw, just a pure love and respect for his guitar playing, and his phenomenal story. So glad I was able to see him in concert.
We miss you Harry ………
Those cello’s………. JUST BEAUTIFUL
Other stories of his you might enjoy are "A Better Place To Be", "Mr. Tanner", and "I Wanna Learn a Love Song". RIP Harry, you left us too soon.
I agree. These songs are outstanding!
Those are my favorite Harry Chapin Songs. Yes --- Please react to A Better Place to Be and Mr Tanner (do the live version for both songs -from Harry Chapin Live- They are excellent!)
Agreed! From the Greatest Stories Live
After listening to Taxi they should listen to Sequel also. The live versions of these songs are the ones to listen to.
About "A Better Place to Be" was about my hometown, Watertown, NY......Harry said "he spent a week there one afternoon" 😢
Whomever orchestrated this arrangement and whomever WROTE the arrangement - wow, the music is as evocative as are the words. I miss you Harry.
My wife and I saw him in Hershey, PA in June 1980, exactly a year before he died. He was so down to earth and appreciative of his fans that at the end of the show he went to a table at the back of the arena where he was selling copies of his poetry book. He sat there autographing every copy sold for more than an hour after doing a nearly three hour show, and even kissed my wife after signing my book. Truly a man of the people. RIP
Thanks for sharing that. I love hearing anecdotes like that.
I saw Harry the same year in Valley Forge, PA. He autographed his poetry book and kissed me too!
I also kissed Harry! It was after a concert in Normal, IL, and he was taking donations for a world hunger initiative he was involved in and signing brochures about the organization.
My husband and I saw Harry about a dozen times. We saw him once in Hershey and he was late because his plane landed and no one picked him up and he had to walk across the field carrying his suitcase. That’s the kind of man Harry was - very down to earth. He was and still is my hero!
Wow, all you folks with stories of seeing him in PA. I was in my teens in 1980 and just unaware of things like concerts anyway, but to learn that he performed here often, it's like learning of missing something one didn't know one was missing.
One of my first jobs out of high school was in a grocery store, a small store, not many employees so we were fairly tight. My one manager was a HUGE Harry fan, would play cassette tapes of him whenever we were there working after hours.
John Wallace's backing vocal is one of my fave parts of this song. His voice is ethereal!
I agree, but I can never understand what he is saying?
@@stonehobson2487 Thank you for clearing that up.
Big John
@@keithkarbel2000 Big John Wallace! The way he can hit those deep Bass notes, but go up into Falsetto as well. That's always been incredible to me.
I thought that was a woman singing in the background
Blessed to have seen Harry times and cherish every moment. A true story teller and a great man. His concerts were like a family reunion! Miss you Harry!
Harry is the best story teller. You guys caught on right away. Lots of his songs feel like movies. He draws his characters with such detail and makes it seem effortless. He actually made movies before he became a singer/songwriter and was nominated for an Emmy for a documentary he did. So it's not surprising that his songs feel like movies. He's been under the radar for a long time but you should check out Cats in the Cradle, Mr. Tanner, and Mail Order Annie. Lots of good live versions available. Thank you from a die hard Harry Chapin fan.
Cat’s in the Cradle always brings tears to my eyes.
I agree, check out Cats in the Cradle
I was going to ask if they'd done Cats in the Cradle yet. Tearjerker, that one.
Was it an Emmy or an Oscar? Someone else here said Oscar. Maybe both? Is that possible?
🎥A movie is EXactly how I was thinking of it as it played... Harry just drew me in from the first Chord... Each time I hear it, I can also "watch" the little "movie" he spins up
They could have made a movie out of this, [and not the Taxi Driver movie]. Chapin would have donated all his profits to hunger.
Harry died way too soon in a fiery car crash in 1981 on the Long Island Expressway while on his way to a free benefit concert. He was very involved in many humanitarian causes here on Long Island, & his family is still helping those in need
Heard it a million times, and will listen to it a million more. A masterpiece!
’70s folk-rock troubadour Harry Chapin's “Taxi,” is the tale of a cabbie who picks up a fare, and then partway through the ride he and she both realize that they used to be lovers. Although the story told in the song is largely fictional, Chapin was inspired to write it by both a real-life woman and driving a taxi.
The former lover whose spirit he put into the song, Clare Alden MacIntyre-Ross, died on March 9, 2016. The romance of Harry and Clare gives his composition an interesting real-life backbone. The two met when they were summer camp counselors, and dated for two years after. She lived in the prosperous New York City suburb of Scarsdale, the daughter of the city’s onetime mayor, Malcolm MacIntyre, who also was the president of Eastern Air Lines and served as under secretary of the Air Force under President Eisenhower. Harry was a kid from a middle class family in Brooklyn that his girlfriend’s father did not fully approve of. He wouldn’t allow her to ride the subway, so she would take taxis to meet Chapin during their time together.
Fast forward to years later after Chapin has dropped out of his studies at the Air Force Academy and then Cornell University, and is working in film while also scuffling as a musical artist. He has driven a cab during lean work times, and had gone to get his license again. And thought about what it would be like if he were to pick up the frequently taxi-riding Clare. As songwriters do, Harry changed the setting to San Francisco and adjusted the characters to underscore the song’s point about how lost opportunities can haunt us.
Tom Chapin, Harry’s singer-songwriter brother, says, “I wouldn’t call Clare the love of his life, but she was certainly an early, formative love.” When Harry debuted the song on The Tonight Show in 1972, it prompted so many calls and telegrams from viewers that for the first time in the show’s history host Johnny Carson brought a performer back the very next night for an encore performance. The single eventually reached #24 and spent 16 weeks on the charts. Chapin took up his scenario and characters’ meeting again in his 1980 song “Sequel.”
Chapin was born on December 7, 1942, one year to the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He passed on July 16, 1981, at just 38 years old. In his brief but impactful life he co-founder World Hunger Year, which has become WhyHunger.org, to mobilize artists and their fans to raise funds, build awareness and spark action.
His music also fits in with Gordon Lightfoot’s ✨
Another great storyteller
They need to check out "Canadian Railroad Trilogy". Great storytelling in that song.
I always thought Lightfoot's baritone voice and Canadian accent would have made an awesome cover to Cat's In the Cradle!!!
Gordon Lightfoot’s "Beautiful" is one of my favorite songs.
@@jamescoomer4413 check out the live version from 1979, better than the studio version, the guitar work is AMAZING!
I was fifteen when this song hit the airwaves...AM radio was all we had back then. No videos, no streaming, just hear it on the radio or buy the record. This one always played like a movie in my imagination.
YES! One of the great songs by a master storyteller. Very relatable song.
"And here she's acting happy
Inside her handsome home
And me, I'm flying in my taxi
Taking tips and getting stoned."
I am confident you will love his biggest hit, "Cat's in the Cradle."
It is a loser's anthem. What they tell themselves to feel better:
"She isn't happy with a successful husband who protects and provides for her, safe in their nice home.
She secretly wishes she had married me, the dope smoking cabbie, speeding around in his beat up cab pretending he is flying!"
He doesn't know a thing about her life or happiness. She hasn't thought of him in year and was embarrassed to even run into him and his horny back seat memories. She gave him a $20 out of pity and couldn't wait to get out of his pot smoke stinking cab and into her nice home with her family and pets.
Harry Chaplin was the first concert I went to as a kid. WOLD is my favorite song of his.
His songs are very cinematic.
The passion in his voice and accoustic guitar paint a clear picture.
"Sequal" is the follow up to "Taxi."
"Cats In The Cradle" is a poignant song.
Other songs I recommend:
"Better Place To Be"
"W*O*L*D"
"30,000 Pounds of Bananas"
@𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓𝐒𝐀𝐏𝐏 𝐌𝐄 👉♰𝟭𝟰𝟭𝟳𝟳𝟱𝟬𝟭𝟰𝟯𝟳 Merry Christmas!
I love your reactions to music that is new to you.
Music is so personal. It reminds you of a time, a place, a person, a feeling...
So when you find an artist that can deliver (like Chapin, Bob Seger, James Taylor, etc) it sticks with you even more.
Mr. Tanner
Shooting Star
so many great songs
I was listening to 30000 lbs of bananas and they cut the song off to announce his death in 1981.
Two Chapin songs always get to me - "Mr. Tanner" and "A Better Place To Be." Put them on your list. You won't regret it.
Yes!!!! MR TANNER MR TANNER MR TANNER MR TANNER MR TANNER MR TANNER MR TANNER MR TANNER
Give me a break fella. The song to listen to is W.O.L.D. FFS .
@@degsbabe great song too! But Mr Tanner is my fave (probably because WOLD is a bit too close to home). (also, no need for FFS)
@@degsbabe Everyone has their favorite, you don't have to down someone else for theirs.
Another cool story song is Same Auld Lang Syne by Dan Fogelberg, which works for New Years Eve. One of my favorites ❤❤
Or Christmas Eve which is the day in which the song is set.
My favorite live performer ever. He was so gifted.
An amazing deep cut from Harry is “A Better Place to be” off his Greatest Stories Live album. That song will take you on a journey!
my favorite song by Harry, that whole live album is killer. W-O-L-D, Mr. Tanner, even 30,000 pounds of Bananas is good.
I saw Harry in concert twice, once when I was in high school, and once a couple years later when I was I college. He was such a great writer, performer, and humanist. His songs are stories about average people, but the skill and compassion with which he portrayed them was extraordinary. "Mr. Tanner" and " Better place to be", are a couple of his best that you'd enjoy. Harry died way to young in 1981 at the age of 38. His music and legacy still live on
I found your channel recently and am literally binging your music and movie reactions. Your emotion on camera and genuine insight is so fun and refreshing! Y’all are my new favorites 😊
They're the best!
You will enjoy this channel!!
Jay and Amber are the most genuine reactors on UA-cam, not to mention, two really nice people.
WELCOME!! 👍😃❣️😃👍
🚢Welcome aboard this Adventure in Music🎶I've only been here a couple months, but there are rarely any songs I don't care for.... It feels like they've combed the stacks of all my Lost 8-tracks, and pulled All the "Greatest" out to react to
That is a cello that you are hearing in this song. The bass player sang the high falsetto while he played the bass...It said ..
"Baby's so high that she's skying
Yes, she's flying, afraid to fall
I'll tell you why baby's crying
'Cause she's dying, aren't we all?
“Cats In The Cradle “
Another great one of his great storyteller.
They did that one, but took it down for some edits, and didn't get it back up.
@@chriso6719 thanks. I wondered why he didn't ring the bell.
@@surlechapeau YW.
Best concert I ever went to was Harry Chapin. Had the audience in the palm of his hand.
Thank you for this reaction!!
It's been said here already, and I'll go ahead and second it, next from Harry Chapin needs to be "W-O-L-D" and definitely the classic "Cat's In The Cradle".
Another point about Harry Chapin was his generosity and activism. Many of his live performances were benefits, and he further donated much of his earnings to causes, especially fighting hunger. It was truly a great loss when he was killed in a traffic accident on the Long Island Expressway, ironically as he was on his way to a gig.
I drove a cab from 1980-1984. There was a bar across the street where a lot of cabbies hung out after work and this song got lots of play on the jukebox.
Magical song. His Cats in the Cradle will probably blow you away even more so.
When this song came out Harry was doing a concert at my high school in Elmont Long Island and he was walking the halls at the end of the day I was in history class and my friend Wayne jumped up and yelled Harry! Well we had an old battle ax teacher but when Harry walked into our class she didn’t know who he was but he was a pretty impressive guy with a great speaking voice and introduced himself and she melted like butter! He stood at the front of the room sitting on her desk talking to us for the rest of the period! It was fantastic!❤ I’m 63 years old and I’ll never forget that day! Rip Harry!🙏🏻♥️👍🏻
Elmont! Was this Sewanhaka by any chance? Graduated from there in ‘87.
Thanks for sharing that! Great story and memory.
You are a lucky guy
So many great stories from Harry, but one of my favorites is a about a place in my home state that I’m familiar with. Scranton Pennsylvania. The song is called “Thirty Thousand Pounds Of Bananas”. It’s very suspenseful, humorous, and the live version is accompanied by a famous choir whose name escapes me but really worth a listen. ♥️✌🏼😎
Another great story telling song to check out especially at this time of year is Dan Fogelberg' great tune: Same Old Lang Syne. A must listen.
Yeah, if you’re ready for a good cry!
Being 62, I remember how big this song was at the time. He was on all the T.V. shows.
I saw him in concert 3 times and each time was more amazing and more fun than the last time. Every Chapin song is a gem and you won't be disappointed. My personal favorite is Mail Order Annie. OMG, the story is so real and the poignancy is dripping off this song. I highly recommend it.
I love Mail Order Annie too. It always brings a tear when he sings the last line. . . .a sweet tear.
This is the kind of song I (and others my age) grew up on. I love the way you both discover all the songs from our past. Singing and story telling. No fancy lights, no fancy costumes, no auto tune. Keep going on the journey I've seen both of you take these last few years that I've been following your adventures.
I love "Corey's Coming". He sings stories so well. 💜💜💜 Need to watch him live, makes it much better. There is a second part to this song, it's called "The Sequel". All of his songs tell wonderful stories. They can be sad, happy, funny, a great variety. As educators you would like the song "Flowers Are Red".
Definitely both of those. Harry has a way of turning a phrase in a special way as well. The “six word letter” from a Better Place To Be, “Old John Joseph was a man with two first names” from Corey’s Coming, “a tame and toothless tabby can’t produce a lion’s roar” from There Only Was One Choice, and so many more.
I actually know the guy who co-wrote Corey's Coming with Harry. His name is John Joseph, and he's a real person. Guitarist/comedian who is still working on cruise ships. Great guy.
This story is timeless. Another great artist/story-teller gone too early. HC died in an automobile accident in 1981 at 38 years of age. He was killed on the Long Island freeway, enroute to perform a free benefit performance at Lakeside Theater at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, New York. Wikipedia lists him as an American singer-songwriter, philanthropist and hunger activist. His records sold over 16 million worldwide. I am 67 years old and I am pretty sure I have listened to Cats In The Cradle , at least, half a million times and never grow tired of it. Great reaction guys, TY.
There is a sequel to Taxi called "The sequel". It continues the story of Harry and Sue! Really good also.
I was so happy that he got that done before he died.
yes i like the sequel just as much as this
i never heard the sequel i'll have to look it up.
Harry is a great storyteller. He has a song called W.O.L.D. about an aging disc jockey which is tremendous. There's a song called Sequel which picks up the story of Taxi many years latet. And one of my favorites is Dance Band on the Titanic which is much deeper than you think it is because of how it haunts you.
I second all 3 of these
A NJ radio station specifically asked for those call letters and still plays oldies (2022)
W.O.L.D. is classic. And the lyrics are superb.
His biggest song is titled Cat's in the Cradle. The acoustic guitar intro, I found out recently, is in the Songwriter Hall of Fame. This artist holds a special place in my heart ❤️. He was the favorite artist of my parents. They saw him in concert 8 years in a row before Harry died in 1981.
One of the best singers, one of the best storytellers, one of the best songs.
There's a sequel to this song, called Sequel.
The greatest storyteller. Harry was also a humanitarian. Taken from us way too early
One of my favorite artists of all time! An amazing storyteller. He always interacted with his audience. which not many artists did back then. Good choice!
I miss sitting around at family gatherings singing this. Everyone knew the words.
I love the metaphor of the sky and footlights. Like they were going on opposite journeys but life isn't always how we think it's going to go. She became the actress pretending to be happy, he goes flying high when he's stoned. *Sequel* is an absolute must. Love y'all
On another more upbeat note Smokie sings LIVING NEXT DOOR TO ALICE, a storyline to which many have us have fallen victim, missing golden opportunities in love.
One of his best. Another poignant storytelling song is Mr. Tanner. He was a tailor who wanted to sing opera. A refrain that keeps repeating is "Music was his life. It was not his livelihood. And it made him feel so happy. And it made him feel so good." Sad but beautiful song.
There is now a beautiful children’s book about Mr. Tanner.
Can't help but think a modern day Mr Tanner would either have a UA-cam channel or perhaps tryout on America's Got Talent, maybe make it to the second round.
Yes!!!
MR TANNER MR TANNER MR TANNER MR TANNER MR TANNER MR TANNER MR TANNER MR TANNER
It made him feel so whole.
One of the saddest, most heartbreaking songs that I know of. I first heard it many years ago and it is one of those songs that I can never forget.
Harry did a really fun song called "30'000 pounds of Bananas" The live version is the best.
Gotta be the live version! It's the slow build that really nails the song. My personal favorite is "Bummer". I was in High School towards the end of Vietnam. "Bummer" spoke very clearly of that whole mishegos and it's aftermath.
@@mauramanning852 agreed, I bought "Harry Chapins Greatest Story's Live" in 1980 when I was 19 years old, best ever, still have it!
Harry Chapin graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School in 1960. In 1978 he returned to his former high school as a Distinguished Alumni and spoke at my high school graduation ceremony. As a teenager, I've watched him on episodes of "The Midnight Special" and was so sad on hearing of his death in July 1981 from a car accident in Long Island, New York.
Glad you finally got here, If you like story telling this is the guy. His concert album is called "Greatest Stories Live." I vote for "Cats in the Cradle" and "A Better Place to Be" for your next look at Harry, but there are at least a dozen more that are well worth a listen.
Ultimate Story Teller. I was so fortunate to see him live
I’ve been waiting for a Harry reaction. I was lucky to see him about a dozen times. The first time I saw him his band was backed by the Hartford (CT) Symphony Orchestra. I still remember that show. Most of the time he was with the band. However I did see him perform solo with his guitar. All shows were great. After every show he would go out to the main entrance and sign concert books and t-shirts until the last person left.
He was a great humanitarian. He was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his humanitarian work fighting hunger. I remember him saying “one for me and one for the other guy”.
As educators I think you’ll like the message in Flowers are Red.
Saw him live on Broadway in 1975 in his musical “The Night That Made America Famous “. Sure do miss his music.
He is one of the top if not the best at storytelling! Hope you enjoyed this one! You love us?? Well we all love you and the whole family!! Merry merry guys!! Also pls share some pics of the kids Xmas morning
Harry is at his best live in concert with an audience where not only his talent, but his personality really shine. When you react to him in future, please find live concert recordings, video when possible. We lost him much too soon, but he left us so much great music to explore. Everything he does is a story for the ages.
I had completely forgotten this song existed but as soon as it started I remembered every word. This was a wonderful song that helped me through some lonely times. Thanks for this memory.
This song is almost like a film...it paints a complete picture...musically.
Haunting and timeless.
One of the best concerts I went to in college. You need to listen to "Sequel " to complete the story.
After listening to this great song I wished I could have shared a joint with Harry in his taxi.
This song is one of my all time favorites! We have all had that moment in time that we never will forget. It just so happens that like this song, it was a Dodge in my case too. Then one day you run across that person that you have never forgotten as the years rolled by. Old feelings are stirred but so is a form of resolution and closure too. A true Masterpiece!!
I was fortunate to see Harry Chapin in the most unusual concert I had ever been to. It was in the early 1970's in Berkley, Ca. I remember the room was small and there was no seating of any kind so we all sat on the floor. Afterwards, he walked around shaking hands and talking to everyone. Such a wonderful experience.
I believe there is a part 2 to this record 😍😍 look it up its very good
Over the 11 albums Harry made he donated more than 5 million dollars to help fight against hunger.
Now, taxi sequel and please please please Dan Fogelberg Same Old Lang Syne!!!!!! Best story telling christmas song of all times!
My mom introduced me to this singer and this album. I fell in love with his ability to tell stories. Remember the song "Cats one the Cradle"?
Harry told the best stories. RIP
11:16 They both got what they wanted she acts happy and he goes flying in his taxi.
Harry was also a great humanitarian. He would often donate proceeds from his concerts to charity. Also, Harry did a follow up song to this song also if you want to know what happened next with this story.
He also started Long Island Cares, a local food bank/food distributor here on Long Island. Still giving food for over 40 years. RIP Harry. We miss you.
i had the best musical childhood ever! this song is just one of many! that i listened to on repeat!
Mr. Tanner is another masterpiece - based on a true story. Great counter melody of O Holy Night done by Big John Wallace who sang the higher part of this song in the middle.
Both of you have such sweet smiles, so glad you're so open to our suggestions. What you mean when you say "it's like watching a movie", is the cinematic quality of the music. Harry's music is all like that.
Harry Chapin and Jim Croce are so freaking good. Two of the absolute greatest.
You guys gotta do “ A Better Place To Be “. I was totally blown away when I first heard it. Very awesome story song by Harry. RIP Harry!! Some of the best concerts I’ve ever seen
Harry was one of the best story teller of the '70's. Another one that we lost too soon. Check out the sequel to this, interesting enough called SEQUEL
The greatest lyrics ever! Harry actually was a hack (taxi driver) back in the day, so he knew his way around a taxi and picking up fares.. I have that very album you are showing in the background from the late 1970's..
RIP to the amazing Harry Chapin...he actually did a sequel to this song also.
This is one of my favorite songs by Harry Chapin. He was one of the great storyteller musicians. He is still missed by everyone!
Oh man, what a song. Talk about a story teller, few better than Harry Chapin.
Recommend "A Better Place To Be"
New one on me, great song, beautiful writing, graphic and honest. Great orchestration, yet decpetively simple. I'll definitely be looking for more from this guy!
Taxi & Cats in the cradle are two of the best storytelling and heartwrenching songs of all time. The funny thing about Taxi is that she left him because he was always getting high and couldn't stop even for her. That's why the line "I was gonna learn to fly" is a play on words for getting stoned. It makes the last line of the song "I go flying so high.....when I'm stoned", so powerful. Harry Chapin's songs have a touch of sadness and regret to them.
I think you've read too much into it.
It's really common for people who want to become famous actors to pack up and head to LA or NY. The story is set in SF, and I don't know that there's even enough theater work to make a great living. So she would almost certainly have left. And very possibly, she didn't want to deal with trying to get her career started and a relationship at the same time-even if it's a good one.
Harry was one of my fav singers when I was a teen in the 80's. None of my friends were into him. They didn't understand why I liked him so much (same with the band Bread). I guess I just felt things on a dif level than most other teens. When I was 15, He came to my hometown the winter just before he passed. I went to see him by myself because nobody else wanted to go. Anyway, his songs STILL get to me. Great review guys. 👍🙂
The great story tellers are all Singer/Songwriters that came out of the 1960's and took off in the 1970's. Singer/Songwriters like Neil Diamond, Paul Simon, Elton John, Cat Stevens, John Denver, Carol King, Jim Croce, Harry Chapin, Billy Joel, Paul McCarney, John Lennon, Mick Jagger, John Fogerty etc...
Note: One of his greatest albums by Harry Chapin is his best-selling album "Story's."
I for one really appreciate Amber’s comments about the music shifting to match the changing moods. To me, it’s the “fit” between music and lyrics that elevates a good song to a great song. THIS is a great song. Thanks, y’all. Stay warm!!
He IS the storyteller. you can't help but to be drawn into the stories that he tells. you just close your eyes and be a part of it. He left us wayyyy to soon all because of a traffic accident but his songs will be with us forever