Songs like this didn't make too much sense to me at age 22 when they were new. Too slow, too melancholy, I wondered how a guy only a year or two older than me could be so serious. Then life happened, and they got better and better. They have now kept me company for decades in the finest way.
These songs always made sense to me and a group of friends at 18-19 yrs old. I finally got to see him in the early '80's with my group of friends. I had a double ear infection, fever, couldn't hear. I heard Jackson Browne 😊 ✌️❤️🌼
@@DH-xm3hc Thanks for that nice response. My comment was so long ago. And yet this song still grabs me. Great that you got to see him play.. I only saw him at the Bill Graham memorial service in Golden Gate Park around 1995 or so. But since there were at least 100,000 people there, I really only heard him, as there were no video screens in those days, especially for a quickly scheduled event. Of course he played Fountain of Sorrow. Lots of people cried then, me included, as I knew Bill, and what a great memorial song.
I discovered Jackson Browne a year ago by one of my friends and his music is amazing I wish they made music like this in the modern days..I'm only 15 and I hate all this new crap its a shame really
i'm 24 and recently ive discovered that jackson browne is one of the greatest songwriters of all time and his musical talent seems to know no boundries. i wish music like this was still produced nowadays, it seems the true spirit of music has been completely overshadowed by commercialism and money. what a shame. im glad i still have my record player and all my dad's old vinyls. God bless great timeless music.
god this song brings me back. jb is the greatest modern lyricist. people like to laud dylan all the time, but I never caught on to his scene. jackson is much more relate able to everyman (or woman). which would explain his writing 'for everyman'. he just speaks to anyone and everyone. what a tortured soul. what a creative, artistic soul.
I saw Jackson in 2014 when I had just turned 11 years old. My parents took me to see him for my birthday and I’ll never forget it. I was basically raised listening to him and have been a huge fan all my life. I visited the rock and roll hall of fame yesterday and saw one of his acoustic guitars, a menu from the troubadour and hand written lyrics to sky blue and black and couldn’t help but notice that I was the only kid who looked back and started saying “ oh my god I can’t believe it, Jackson Browne’s guitar is right in front of me, and his lyrics, and a menu from the troubadour. Now being 15 I am hoping that he might come to my hometown maybe this summer or anytime soon!
This is an absolutely beautiful and poignant song! Jackson Browne can pack more meaning into a song, than some songwriter's do in every song they ever composed in their whole careers! Thats mu humble opinion, anyway! I got to see Jackson perform live in 1980! Those were great times in my life back then! Peace, BobbyK
@Marjoriecaroldkp Keep on Rocking. To those of us who grew up in the 70's, we remember this guy and he knows it. Keep on listening to JB. He's a musical genius BTW he's in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I think he's good with what he got out of life. He's my hero.
Now I'm 20 and I can say that 'For a dancer' is my all time favorite song. I don't think there is any singer that can calm me down better than he does. All of his songs are just pure magic :)
His wife died in 1976, leaving him with a 2 year old son (actor Ethan Browne) to raise. The Pretender and Running On Empty both contain songs that he composed from grief, most notably Sleep's Dark And Silent Gate, and the title song of Running on Empty. Incredibly, he, his career, and his son thrived in spite of the odds.
Good for you. You know back in the 60' 70' and even the early 80's it wasn't about the image, there wasn't MTV and the Music Videos. It didn't matter what the artist looked like...it was more the music and the meaning behind the song...Hope it comes back
Have quoted from this song many times " ... when you look through loves illusions, there lies the danger ..." wow ... and given away the "Late for the Sky" CD to so many friends and strangers over the years ... to share the wisdom, insight and lyrical brilliance of this man with them ...
I loved this soulful song writer physically perfect man for 40 years ...when I met him in 1978 at SNL set he was sweeter and more humble than anyone I ever met...oh nostalgia ....fountain of sorrow still here love love this thank u so much for posting haven't cried this much in ever
Oh yes he was physically perfect. He was my dream man, but i heard his music before i ever saw him and loved it. It's 2023 and i still find him to be very handsome.
Same here. I'm 24 and have discovered Jackson's music within the last year. Saw him live in the fall and he was amazing. It's a real shame they make stuff like this today.
I'm nearly 62 and have loved his stuff since a friend played a JB record to me back in about '73. Saw him in about '76 when he toured Australia. I recently (Easter Monday) took my 21yo son to see him at the Sydney Opera House. A great concert and he loved it and is a great fan too. Appeals to all ages.
Jackson's an incredible talent I love the man. Pretender in my top 5 best loved albums. Jackson learned about life early and was able to channel it into brilliant polished songs.
@Jankenpyon89 Haha and now I'm 18, and still listening to his music. When you get older the lyrics mean a lot more to you than before (also because I'm Dutch, which doesn't make it easier to understand everything). I guess we, being 17 and 18, can inspire people of our age to listen to real music as well. There's a great lesson is many of those songs, and that goes for Jackson Browne, but also for artists such as Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding etc. :)
@Jankenpyon89 That's what I mean...his music is beyond brilliant. To me, For a dancer is one of the best songs ever made. Jackson Browne is such an underrated artist. Many people of my age never heard his name before. I've been to one of his concerts a while back. It was such a great experience, even though the majority of the audience was 40+, haha. And now that I'm 17 I realize even more how amazing his songs are, haha.
It is called "For a Dancer". It is on his Late for the Sky" CD. It is on You Tube somewhere I have seen the video if you want to listen to it. The line is: " I don't what happens when people die, can't seem to grasp it as hard as I try."
@Marjoriecaroldkp Amen. My 15 old daughter is into "real" music. I taught her to play guitar and turned her on to The Beatles, Jackson Browne and Pink Floyd etc etc. Ho can you go wrong listening to JB ? Keep on rocking!
Whe the album came out, there were no lyrics printed on the sleeve, you coouldn't google them in "74. You had to wrie warner bros. records to request them....I went crazy trying to figure-out every lyric to Late for the Sky
Yeah, but also remember what Jackson says in the same song, "Let your prayers go drifting into space, you never know what will be coming down." That brings some hope to death as well.
I remember the punk band Tonio K referenced this in their song "H-A-T-R-E-D": "I wish I was as mellow as, for instance, Jackson Browne, But 'Fountain of Sorrow' my a--, motherf---er, I hope you wind up in the ground!"
I was told...and this might not be true..that the entire album was inspired by the suicide of his girlfriend...it is a very haunting and moving album. Like no other.
music is funny. it's supposed to evolve into different genres and different takes. people that still love beethoven and believe we all should only listen to him are actually wrong. we should build off of what people have done as well as respect it, but move forward to a new type of music (this is what beethoven did off of mozart, mozart did off of bach) the problem it seems is we have no respect for the past. thats why our music is so bland. the question is what happens for the next generation?
Only a fool who doesn't listen to lyrics, only likes crashing, violent noise disguised as music, and lacks the capacity for pensive reflection and philosophy would describe Jackson Browne as "mellow"
Songs like this didn't make too much sense to me at age 22 when they were new. Too slow, too melancholy, I wondered how a guy only a year or two older than me could be so serious. Then life happened, and they got better and better. They have now kept me company for decades in the finest way.
These songs always made sense to me and a group of friends at 18-19 yrs old. I finally got to see him in the early '80's with my group of friends. I had a double ear infection, fever, couldn't hear. I heard Jackson Browne 😊 ✌️❤️🌼
@@DH-xm3hc Thanks for that nice response. My comment was so long ago. And yet this song still grabs me. Great that you got to see him play.. I only saw him at the Bill Graham memorial service in Golden Gate Park around 1995 or so. But since there were at least 100,000 people there, I really only heard him, as there were no video screens in those days, especially for a quickly scheduled event. Of course he played Fountain of Sorrow. Lots of people cried then, me included, as I knew Bill, and what a great memorial song.
I just remembered it was For a Dancer that got everyone weeping at the Graham Memorial event. But he played Fountain too.
I discovered Jackson Browne a year ago by one of my friends and his music is amazing I wish they made music like this in the modern days..I'm only 15 and I hate all this new crap its a shame really
i'm 24 and recently ive discovered that jackson browne is one of the greatest songwriters of all time and his musical talent seems to know no boundries. i wish music like this was still produced nowadays, it seems the true spirit of music has been completely overshadowed by commercialism and money. what a shame. im glad i still have my record player and all my dad's old vinyls. God bless great timeless music.
Jackson Browne must have lived other lives. Only an ancient soul could have this much insight into the human condition
god this song brings me back. jb is the greatest modern lyricist. people like to laud dylan all the time, but I never caught on to his scene. jackson is much more relate able to everyman (or woman). which would explain his writing 'for everyman'. he just speaks to anyone and everyone. what a tortured soul. what a creative, artistic soul.
Amen.
This Great soul has been my doctor, companion and therapist for many years! I highly recommend him.
I saw Jackson in 2014 when I had just turned 11 years old. My parents took me to see him for my birthday and I’ll never forget it. I was basically raised listening to him and have been a huge fan all my life. I visited the rock and roll hall of fame yesterday and saw one of his acoustic guitars, a menu from the troubadour and hand written lyrics to sky blue and black and couldn’t help but notice that I was the only kid who looked back and started saying “ oh my god I can’t believe it, Jackson Browne’s guitar is right in front of me, and his lyrics, and a menu from the troubadour. Now being 15 I am hoping that he might come to my hometown maybe this summer or anytime soon!
Did you ever get to see him again?
Don't care that I'm only 16...I fell in love with his music, brilliant musician, songwriter and to comment on this video: amazing song!
This is an absolutely beautiful and poignant song! Jackson Browne can pack more meaning into a song, than some songwriter's do in every song they ever composed in their whole careers! Thats mu humble opinion, anyway! I got to see Jackson perform live in 1980! Those were great times in my life back then! Peace, BobbyK
Jackson Browne, he is my GOAT. I have loved him for 50 years and his music never gets old. Especially when he and David were together.
I'm aware that this following statement is going to sound awfully melodramatic, but, Jackson's music has saved my life.
While their son was only an infant. Tragic story, incredible Jackson made it. Bless them...
@Marjoriecaroldkp Keep on Rocking. To those of us who grew up in the 70's, we remember this guy and he knows it. Keep on listening to JB. He's a musical genius BTW he's in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I think he's good with what he got out of life. He's my hero.
amazing song. he was great back then. still is now.
Jackson Browne is a timeless a master.I love everything he does.
I had this music originally on vinyle LP. Jackson Browne and James Taylor got me through a lot of tough times.
Hell, I am 62 and "For A Dancer" breaks my heart every time I hear it! The entire "album" is underrated!
Lost my 1st and only love in '75 when I left for the service. I remember her every single day..
Now I'm 20 and I can say that 'For a dancer' is my all time favorite song. I don't think there is any singer that can calm me down better than he does. All of his songs are just pure magic :)
Jackson Browne, what a salve for the battered soul and broken heart..
His wife died in 1976, leaving him with a 2 year old son (actor Ethan Browne) to raise. The Pretender and Running On Empty both contain songs that he composed from grief, most notably Sleep's Dark And Silent Gate, and the title song of Running on Empty. Incredibly, he, his career, and his son thrived in spite of the odds.
Good for you. You know back in the 60' 70' and even the early 80's it wasn't about the image, there wasn't MTV and the Music Videos. It didn't matter what the artist looked like...it was more the music and the meaning behind the song...Hope it comes back
Have quoted from this song many times " ... when you look through loves illusions, there lies the danger ..." wow ... and given away the "Late for the Sky" CD to so many friends and strangers over the years ... to share the wisdom, insight and lyrical brilliance of this man with them ...
I was 16 when I first heard Runnin' on Empty on the radio, on my own road. Keep smilin' so clear and so bright
Wonderful song, fantastic musicians; especially the guitarist David Lindley. I love this song.
I loved this soulful song writer physically perfect man for 40 years ...when I met him in 1978 at SNL set he was sweeter and more humble than anyone I ever met...oh nostalgia ....fountain of sorrow still here love love this thank u so much for posting haven't cried this much in ever
Oh yes he was physically perfect. He was my dream man, but i heard his music before i ever saw him and loved it. It's 2023 and i still find him to be very handsome.
Same here. I'm 24 and have discovered Jackson's music within the last year. Saw him live in the fall and he was amazing. It's a real shame they make stuff like this today.
There is hope for the youth!! Thanks xjorieke...
one of my absolute favorite songs. really great.
Poet Laureate of the '70's and the effect continues...
man's a genius. good tight band behind him as well.
One of my fav's One of his many bests! A legend to a 59 year old who grew up in 60 & 70's!
I'm nearly 62 and have loved his stuff since a friend played a JB record to me back in about '73. Saw him in about '76 when he toured Australia. I recently (Easter Monday) took my 21yo son to see him at the Sydney Opera House. A great concert and he loved it and is a great fan too. Appeals to all ages.
Great songwriting and singing .. oh ..wow...
One of a handful of troubadours on the planet that stood up two big music corporate interest!
heart-wrenching
I´m going to see him in Stockholm 4 Maj
He is one of the best songwriter ever.
Jackson's an incredible talent I love the man. Pretender in my top 5 best loved albums. Jackson learned about life early and was able to channel it into brilliant polished songs.
Thanks!
David Lindley is one of my favorite guitar players on the planet!
This is awesome!
Thanks for posting!
@Jankenpyon89 Haha and now I'm 18, and still listening to his music. When you get older the lyrics mean a lot more to you than before (also because I'm Dutch, which doesn't make it easier to understand everything). I guess we, being 17 and 18, can inspire people of our age to listen to real music as well. There's a great lesson is many of those songs, and that goes for Jackson Browne, but also for artists such as Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding etc. :)
And an always excellent David Lindley. Thanks for all the music...Blessings, .Ed
So very true, we all find out.
when this song first came out I had to pull over in my car and after it ended I just sat there for half an hour in a dream
The Beach Boys sang about Paradise. Jackson Browne sang of the dark side of the dream or Paradise Lost.
@Jankenpyon89 That's what I mean...his music is beyond brilliant. To me, For a dancer is one of the best songs ever made. Jackson Browne is such an underrated artist. Many people of my age never heard his name before. I've been to one of his concerts a while back. It was such a great experience, even though the majority of the audience was 40+, haha. And now that I'm 17 I realize even more how amazing his songs are, haha.
My band just learned this tune tonight....Nice song
@triuxe
anyone who likes music with meaning has good taste in music, no matter what age.
It is called "For a Dancer". It is on his Late for the Sky" CD. It is on You Tube somewhere I have seen the video if you want to listen to it. The line is: " I don't what happens when people die, can't seem to grasp it as hard as I try."
Genius man☝️
Grande!
@Marjoriecaroldkp Amen. My 15 old daughter is into "real" music. I taught her to play guitar and turned her on to The Beatles, Jackson Browne and Pink Floyd etc etc. Ho can you go wrong listening to JB ? Keep on rocking!
Sucks I can't share this with any kids my age that have the same taste in music as me. :l Still, this song is great.
@ ragbagken
Thanks for posting, much appreciated.
Greatness.
@korbls not at all. Have been through some bad times myself and this is some pretty heartfelt music. Not many can write a song like Clyde Browne.
I’ve been listening since Doctor My Eyes.
Whe the album came out, there were no lyrics printed on the sleeve, you coouldn't google them in "74. You had to wrie warner bros. records to request them....I went crazy trying to figure-out every lyric to Late for the Sky
Yeah, but also remember what Jackson says in the same song, "Let your prayers go drifting into space, you never know what will be coming down." That brings some hope to death as well.
Not melodramaticto when in good company. Peace and love.
he mov es me.. i had to experience some living first.. but omg.. i got bowled over when i did.
@Jetrodmatmat Thats a beutiful name for a dog!
I agree it has everything to be the best
David Lindley...yeah.
@Jetrodmatmat I named one of my cats Jackson Gray after him but it was a gray cat
probably 'for a dancer' or ' sleep's dark and silent gate'
Thumbs up if you got Fountains of Sorrow from Richtofen on Black Ops :D
@xjorieke Jackson wrote "These Days" when he was 17.
Everything was just so out of synch for us, I guess Clyde I'm sorry that I was so young
Correct Joan Baez covered it on her Diamonds and Rust album in 1975
I remember the punk band Tonio K referenced this in their song "H-A-T-R-E-D":
"I wish I was as mellow as, for instance, Jackson Browne,
But 'Fountain of Sorrow' my a--, motherf---er, I hope you wind up in the ground!"
David Lindley on lead??
How do I find out what alternate tunings some /all his songs are in?
I like Jackson Browne but his songs like this bore me to death. I like his songs with more gusto.
I was told...and this might not be true..that the entire album was inspired by the suicide of his girlfriend...it is a very haunting and moving album. Like no other.
@wesl3270 Well said.
Was this written about his wife?
4 my Best Girlfriend
music is funny. it's supposed to evolve into different genres and different takes. people that still love beethoven and believe we all should only listen to him are actually wrong. we should build off of what people have done as well as respect it, but move forward to a new type of music (this is what beethoven did off of mozart, mozart did off of bach) the problem it seems is we have no respect for the past. thats why our music is so bland. the question is what happens for the next generation?
Only a fool who doesn't listen to lyrics, only likes crashing, violent noise disguised as music, and lacks the capacity for pensive reflection and philosophy would describe Jackson Browne as "mellow"
his wife didnt just die, which would be sorrowful enough, she comited suicide making the experience a thousand times worse...