I left a car on its side one night. Been sober awhile now My son is coming to visit me for a week soon and we are going to play guitars and howl at the moon. I guess I’m like the mother in some ways. I feel so blessed to get back in the door
Amazing song lyrics .. hit home with me .. I relate it to my wife passing suddenly.........and I have a black and white picture that resembles the girl at the end of the video........." if anyone can claim their allright. so can I"
I can see every image in this song so vividly. Few songwriters can do that. I can see the snowflakes peeking through the glass. Best American songwriter of the last 30 years....PPTJ STRUSKA
Compared to my Sociology "Professor" who made us do a whole freakin' project on, We didn't start the fire, by Billy Joel in a Tech and Society class . Don't even get me started on the state of higher education. Colossal waste of time and effort. Arrrrgggghhh!!! Still irked to this day and I was 19 then back in 1993. When 90+ percent of the class recognizes you're mailing it in, it's time to retire. F'n Billy Joel! Just go sing about your uptown girl.
Ill say it, better than anything Johnny Cash ever did...and I even like Johnny Cash. James Mcmurtry is the most under appreciated talent of the modern music era.
Must be a cold front coming Cause I saw the eastbound C&O And the coal cars were dusted with a half inch of snow And that boy'll drive me crazy Don't know what I'll do with him School will be out tomorrow if that cold front moves in Calling out To the dying daylight The shadows of the mountains Bringing on the night The old folks like to whisper He favors your side in his face When he gets a little older He's going to lead a merry chase When I'm all alone it's all right It Isn't going to wound my pride If anyone can claim they're all right So can I I wrecked the El Camino Would have been DWI So I just walked off and left it Laying on its side The troopers found it in the morning And they said it's purely luck I wasn't killed I probably ought to quit my drinking But I don't believe I will When I'm all alone it's all right It Isn't going to wound my pride If anyone can claim they're all right So can I He used to ask about you About a million times a day I got so tired of trying to answer I just turned my head away Now he don't pay me much attention He's not asking anymore I guess he'd probably know you If you walked back in the door Calling out to the empty night Watching as the snowflakes Come dancing round the light Dancing up against the window It's like they're peeking through the glass And they hover for a moment And then they fall on past Calling out Source: LyricFind Songwriters: James Mc Murtry
Saw this guy last nite in Norwich...he was fab! His band were great esp the dude on the accordion who made some mean shapes on the guitar! Pleasantly surprised.
Re below comments: Is it about Rachel or Rachel's ex? Yes, no, either both. It depends on your perspective. There is no right answer. When a song is made public it is up to the listener to interpret.
Tom it's ambiguous. Notice how the only pronoun used is to describe the son ('he"). To me the song is written from the perspective of a father (as you suggest) and the woman is named "Rachel", giving the title a slightly sardonic sheen. Others think that the narrator is a woman named Rachel.
boston globe 3/20/23 . Do people ever get confused? A. Absolutely. “Rachel’s Song,” it’s not a song for Rachel. Rachel is the narrator. But a lot of people don’t get that because I don’t spell it out like Prine or Steve Goodman.
Must be a cold front coming Cause I saw the eastbound C&O And the coal cars were dusted with a half inch of snow And that boy'll drive me crazy Don't know what I'll do with him School will be out tomorrow if that cold front moves in Calling out To the dying daylight The shadows of the mountains Bringing on the night The old folks like to whisper He favors your side in his face When he gets a little older He's going to lead a merry chase When I'm all alone it's all right It Isn't going to wound my pride If anyone can claim they're all right So can I I wrecked the El Camino Would have been DWI So I just walked off and left it Laying on its side The troopers found it in the morning And they said it's purely luck I wasn't killed I probably ought to quit my drinking But I don't believe I will When I'm all alone it's all right It Isn't going to wound my pride If anyone can claim they're all right So can I He used to ask about you About a million times a day I got so tired of trying to answer I just turned my head away Now he don't pay me much attention He's not asking anymore I guess he'd probably know you If you walked back in the door Calling out to the empty night Watching as the snowflakes Come dancing round the light Dancing up against the window It's like they're peeking through the glass And they hover for a moment And then they fall on past Calling out
This guy is so ridiculously underrated.
Always will be but not to me 🤷♂️🙏💯
@Evan Hodge sometimes there's calm before the storm
I don't want him to be bigger.
It would ruin the experience
Oh really? By whom?
Absolitley. Reminds me of growing up. My parents would blare mcmurtry while drinking in the kitchen. NOWTALGIC AF
When you understand this, the end is closing in.
Thank you for singing what I feel
I left a car on its side one night. Been sober awhile now My son is coming to visit me for a week soon and we are going to play guitars and howl at the moon. I guess I’m like the mother in some ways. I feel so blessed to get back in the door
"If Anyone can claim they're all right, so can I"
You and me brother...TJS
Gospel
We like to say "soak n eye"
Amazing song lyrics .. hit home with me .. I relate it to my wife passing suddenly.........and I have a black and white picture that resembles the girl at the end of the video........." if anyone can claim their allright. so can I"
I can see every image in this song so vividly. Few songwriters can do that. I can see the snowflakes peeking through the glass. Best American songwriter of the last 30 years....PPTJ STRUSKA
Kinda like Ronnie Vanzant,story telling wise.
This man is truly his father's son. Such beautiful writing
Larry ain’t got nuthin’ on James, man!
@@davidlabelle361 nuttin and i do mean nuttin- bein a blind squirrel and all
Yes, both are very descriptive. I read his dad’s book Pretty Boy Floyd. He had me in the Midwest of the 20’s and 30’s. Remarkable!
My Critical Listening professor had us analyze this song for a test about two months ago. Haven't been able to stop listening since.
you have an amazing professor
Please tell us Mr. Boring, What did you learn in " Critical listening " class? Any Professor that used James Mcmurtry in class has to be a Genius!!!
Compared to my Sociology "Professor" who made us do a whole freakin' project on, We didn't start the fire, by Billy Joel in a Tech and Society class . Don't even get me started on the state of higher education. Colossal waste of time and effort. Arrrrgggghhh!!! Still irked to this day and I was 19 then back in 1993. When 90+ percent of the class recognizes you're mailing it in, it's time to retire. F'n Billy Joel! Just go sing about your uptown girl.
Awesome
I must have listened to this about ten times today it just doesn’t get old
This song absolutely haunts me. I catch myself singing it even when I'm happy;.
One of the handful of perfect songs ever written.
What a great song. It always reminds me of my best friend."I probably ought to quit my drinkin', but I don't believe I will."
Always come back to this song.
This is amazing. I have never heard so much emotion in a song.
Fucking masterpiece. Probably James' magnus opus.
james... You have successfully brought me to tears
One of my faves that touches my soul...A poet.
Just discovered this guy. Absolutely amazing music!
I think this dude & Chris knight would be a great show!😊❤
any other Rachel’s here ?
Yep lol
@@rachels.5887 stay healthy out there girl!
I had never heard this song until I was looking for songs with my name!
hiii
@@rachael2254 same
Love this song so fkn much
another man, who moves me threw my day, thank YOU James McMurtry, I am grateful you share your talent, you with the those of us who love to listen.
Even my pet poodle loves this song!
These guys were really great. Songs about real stuff.
Never heard of this or the artists but it's so beautiful so glad I found this.
No dislikes...and there should never be any
Ill say it, better than anything Johnny Cash ever did...and I even like Johnny Cash. James Mcmurtry is the most under appreciated talent of the modern music era.
one of his best tunes.
Must be a cold front coming
Cause I saw the eastbound C&O
And the coal cars were dusted with a half inch of snow
And that boy'll drive me crazy
Don't know what I'll do with him
School will be out tomorrow if that cold front moves in
Calling out
To the dying daylight
The shadows of the mountains
Bringing on the night
The old folks like to whisper
He favors your side in his face
When he gets a little older
He's going to lead a merry chase
When I'm all alone it's all right
It Isn't going to wound my pride
If anyone can claim they're all right
So can I
I wrecked the El Camino
Would have been DWI
So I just walked off and left it
Laying on its side
The troopers found it in the morning
And they said it's purely luck I wasn't killed
I probably ought to quit my drinking
But I don't believe I will
When I'm all alone it's all right
It Isn't going to wound my pride
If anyone can claim they're all right
So can I
He used to ask about you
About a million times a day
I got so tired of trying to answer
I just turned my head away
Now he don't pay me much attention
He's not asking anymore
I guess he'd probably know you
If you walked back in the door
Calling out to the empty night
Watching as the snowflakes
Come dancing round the light
Dancing up against the window
It's like they're peeking through the glass
And they hover for a moment
And then they fall on past
Calling out
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: James Mc Murtry
I just discovered this.I like it
Beautiful song.
Omg! How did you know!?
Saw this guy last nite in Norwich...he was fab! His band were great esp the dude on the accordion who made some mean shapes on the guitar! Pleasantly surprised.
Haunting song, goes well with country sound.
this is beautiful
One of McMurtry's best songs
Very interesting and dark song, a lot like life at times; traveling through one of life's dark tunnels, the light at the end is at time hard to see.
I know I'm repeating this. ON PURPOSE!
Found this after meeting a girl named Rachel, and damn I'm glad I did.
dude me too
Cool
saw him for the first time the other day.
Cooooool
songs from the gut
mostly a true story for me ............
So, did Rachel die or just up and leave?
She died
winter
Re below comments: Is it about Rachel or Rachel's ex? Yes, no, either both. It depends on your perspective. There is no right answer. When a song is made public it is up to the listener to interpret.
Correct!
Randy Hansen isn't it about a son and father who loses his mum/partner
Tom it's ambiguous. Notice how the only pronoun used is to describe the son ('he"). To me the song is written from the perspective of a father (as you suggest) and the woman is named "Rachel", giving the title a slightly sardonic sheen. Others think that the narrator is a woman named Rachel.
michael porterfield well we can't all be a genius, as you obviously are with such an eloquent comment.
boston globe 3/20/23
. Do people ever get confused?
A. Absolutely. “Rachel’s Song,” it’s not a song for Rachel. Rachel is the narrator. But a lot of people don’t get that because I don’t spell it out like Prine or Steve Goodman.
ha thats my name ;)
Racheal big mood and you spell your name the right way 🙌🏼
so.... are you saying this is 'Rachel' singing and the Husband is the one who left?
Right here lol
my name is Rachel
Soak an eye.
I dida cover of this one my page love him much respect
Ethereal.
This is my favorite UA-cam comment ever. I think about it often, you are so right
Wrong...It's written from Rachel's perspective
WHAT!! are you saying this is 'Rachel' singing and the Husband is the one who left?
@@notreallysure9 According to James McMurtry himself, yes. He has other songs where a woman is the intended narrator.
@@1om8cat which other songs?
@@notreallysure9 Lights of Cheyenne, Fire Line Road.
@@notreallysure9 Also "Crazy Wind" on his first album. The narrator is ambiguous but it's definitely the woman's perspective described.
lou reed out of texas!
Rachel here
Jake I hate/ love you
obviously none of you have lived in sand springs, okla
Well, I've got to admit that's true... the closest I've been was a couple of job sites outside of Alva, but then I got sent north into Kansas
Must be a cold front coming
Cause I saw the eastbound C&O
And the coal cars were dusted with a half inch of snow
And that boy'll drive me crazy
Don't know what I'll do with him
School will be out tomorrow if that cold front moves in
Calling out
To the dying daylight
The shadows of the mountains
Bringing on the night
The old folks like to whisper
He favors your side in his face
When he gets a little older
He's going to lead a merry chase
When I'm all alone it's all right
It Isn't going to wound my pride
If anyone can claim they're all right
So can I
I wrecked the El Camino
Would have been DWI
So I just walked off and left it
Laying on its side
The troopers found it in the morning
And they said it's purely luck I wasn't killed
I probably ought to quit my drinking
But I don't believe I will
When I'm all alone it's all right
It Isn't going to wound my pride
If anyone can claim they're all right
So can I
He used to ask about you
About a million times a day
I got so tired of trying to answer
I just turned my head away
Now he don't pay me much attention
He's not asking anymore
I guess he'd probably know you
If you walked back in the door
Calling out to the empty night
Watching as the snowflakes
Come dancing round the light
Dancing up against the window
It's like they're peeking through the glass
And they hover for a moment
And then they fall on past
Calling out