I remember the first time I heard this. About 3 years ago. I was trucking along on 80, in Wyoming. I cried a good bit. It made me feel so alive. It was this torrent of thoughts and emotions. Everytime I hear it, I still feel all of those feelings. Like just now, I have tear in my eyes. Some artists just have a way to getting to you. Harry is definitely one of those.
That's the magic Harry Chapin had. Musically wonderful yet lyrically devasting. Happy and sad all at the same time. This one is outstanding.. One of his very best...
I grew up working with my father and his construction company. We would ride together in his truck to the jobs and would listen to the live in concert version often. Every time i hear these wonderful songs it reminds me of all the great times i got to spend with my dad. He introduced me to so many different genres of music but we would always end up listening to Harry more than any others.
I bought this album because I loved W-O-L-D. That’s how I discovered Mr Tanner. So many jewels on this album. Mail Order Annie (possibly my favorite Chapin song), The Rock, They Call Her Easy, Short Stories.
Just heard this song today for the first time. It grabbed my attention and I just sat there with my jaw dropped....then tears. Wow. Thank you Harry. With my love.
Heard this song a while ago... and it brought me to tears.... Just ruined me... SO powerful this was to me personally... Goes to show the amazing talent and heart Mr Harry Chapin has for music... Harry is forever missed....
I was a small child when I listened to this song and the others on the album because my parents loved him as well and had this very album. I love Mr. Harry Chapin and still listen to him some 30 years later. Such talent and passion. I hope he's in a place now where he is surrounded by music. If there is a heaven, he's writing for the Angels.
I saw Harry at the Annapolis Naval Academy in 1976. Just love his style. the women were throwing underware at him.LOL Lost him way to soon. Miss you Harry.
1961 Don't know dude. When he gets to the end of A better Place To be, and the "little man", looks at the empty glass in his fucking hand.....sorry man, but I fucking lose it.
"Hard work is painful when life is devoid of purpose. But when you live for something greater than yourself and the gratification of your own ego, then hard work becomes a labor of love." - Unknown . . . . . . Amen, Will
What nobody talks about is the song Big John is singing, for Mr.Tanner. "Oh Holy night" - so Mr. Tanner is singing about God/Jesus. This has many meanings for me. So Mr. Tanner is singing about God, thats good. Probably one reason the critics didn't like what he was singing. And it doesn't matter that they didn't like it. Singing about God made him feel good. And he gave it all his heart. So he didn't make it as a popular singer. And the experience made him feel bad, so he kinda went home a failure. But he still sang quietly to himself. What is important is he didn't quit singing. Because God sees what you do in secret. He said dont be like the Pharrisees. He said go into your closet and pray, and what you do in secret, God will reward you openly. So maybe God wouldn't want him to get famous and have that life. It might have led Mr. Tanner down a bad path. What is important is he went home and didn't stop singing. Even when we dont get something we want, its important to keep glorifying God.
This song is a result of when you take the influences of Paul McCartney and mix in Billy Joel. lol Good song though! Harry was one of the best from the 70's
Hmm.. Personally, I don't see an influence of either Paul or Billy. But so be it. I always thought of Harry as being his own, very thoughtful, very deep, incredibly talented self..
Billy Joel has talked about people wrongly crediting Harry with "Piano Man" which he has said he learned to take as a tremendous compliment, to be compared to a songwriter of Harry's caliber.
Critics are necessary, but sometimes overboard. If I may, Taylor Swift's song 'Mean' relates and is on the same bent. I love 'America's Got Talent.' I just commented to a friend that this relates to most of those who don't make it. I have to believe that Mr. Tanner is one helluva brave guy for even trying. How much talent is out there that people will never hear?
There are many Mr. Tanners. God bless them all.
I remember the first time I heard this. About 3 years ago. I was trucking along on 80, in Wyoming. I cried a good bit. It made me feel so alive. It was this torrent of thoughts and emotions. Everytime I hear it, I still feel all of those feelings. Like just now, I have tear in my eyes. Some artists just have a way to getting to you. Harry is definitely one of those.
One of the finest songs ever written, to be sure. This song is devastating and uplifting at the same time.
That's the magic Harry Chapin had. Musically wonderful yet lyrically devasting. Happy and sad all at the same time.
This one is outstanding.. One of his very best...
Great song, live version is just as good...
Rest in peace, Harry. We still miss you.
I grew up working with my father and his construction company. We would ride together in his truck to the jobs and would listen to the live in concert version often. Every time i hear these wonderful songs it reminds me of all the great times i got to spend with my dad. He introduced me to so many different genres of music but we would always end up listening to Harry more than any others.
Sing it, Big John.
He has a vocal range of 5 octaves.
Still one of the best story songs written. Has aged like fine wine!
❤ That was Harry's best studio album.❤
I bought this album because I loved W-O-L-D. That’s how I discovered Mr Tanner. So many jewels on this album. Mail Order Annie (possibly my favorite Chapin song), The Rock, They Call Her Easy, Short Stories.
I had this album in high school. This song makes me cry every time. Every time.
Just heard this song today for the first time. It grabbed my attention and I just sat there with my jaw dropped....then tears. Wow. Thank you Harry. With my love.
How could you not appreciate this story ... this song?
I love this song but what makes it even more sad is it's a true story. He read that review about Mr. Tanner one day
kind of sad, kind of triumphant. He made it to a stage that so many never make.
The singers name is Martin Tubridy, here is a link to him singing with Harrys brothers, ua-cam.com/video/hLtlvPHyTVE/v-deo.html
Heard this song a while ago... and it brought me to tears.... Just ruined me... SO powerful this was to me personally... Goes to show the amazing talent and heart Mr Harry Chapin has for music... Harry is forever missed....
I was a small child when I listened to this song and the others on the album because my parents loved him as well and had this very album. I love Mr. Harry Chapin and still listen to him some 30 years later. Such talent and passion. I hope he's in a place now where he is surrounded by music. If there is a heaven, he's writing for the Angels.
+Kelly Adams I still have the album
+Kelly Adams hope your right
+Kelly Adams hope your right
One of my very favourite songs!
My mother adored Harry.
Rest in peace Harry you still matter ....
I saw Harry at the Annapolis Naval Academy in 1976. Just love his style. the women were throwing underware at him.LOL Lost him way to soon. Miss you Harry.
Really they were tossing their underware like why
A beautiful song. It Tells a beautiful story. I think of this as Harry Chaplin's signature song.
1961 Don't know dude. When he gets to the end of A better Place To be, and the "little man", looks at the empty glass in his fucking hand.....sorry man, but I fucking lose it.
@@tonygilder7912 yes.
Marina
This song sums it up to ,well sometimes you have to take the back seat , when it comes to your true dreams
Unbelievably heartfelt. Cannot help but cry Every time. Sooo saddddd. Incredibly deeply powerful--
Powerful is an understatement...
One of my all time favorite songs.
"Hard work is painful when life is devoid of purpose. But when you live for something greater than yourself and the gratification of your own ego, then hard work becomes a labor of love." - Unknown
.
.
.
.
.
.
Amen, Will
Every time I hear "Oh Holy Night" I think of this song.
Same here and also from jon Anderson
@@stephendennis5911 As in Yes?
I love this song
Makes me cry.
Wow! I've never heard this before. Just wonderful!
This is a beautiful feeling song!! So sad!!
My father has devoted his life to Harry my father music is amazing his stories are beautiful
I used to play this every morning while getting ready for school. Later, I lived right near where he lived and died.
Such a beautiful song and story ❤
i cried at this song
I cried at this post
+Nerd Sparkle me too
+Nerd Sparkle me too
Shinx7009 har dee har-
um..
is it ironic that THIS song has yet to have a quarter million views?
The lyrics speak to the humanity of one Mr. Harry Chapin. Rest in peace sir. (Thanks for the upload SongsofHarry)
Warmly,
Al
“A bird doesn't sing because he has an answer-he sings because he has a song.”
Joan Walsh Anglund, A Cup of Sun: A Book of Poems
.
Will
"The woods would be silent indeed, if no bird sang, save the one who sang the very best." -- Henry D. Thoreau
@@tomhubbard22 Amen!
Please Be Well My Friend, and Stay Strong, Will
What nobody talks about is the song Big John is singing, for Mr.Tanner. "Oh Holy night" - so Mr. Tanner is singing about God/Jesus. This has many meanings for me. So Mr. Tanner is singing about God, thats good. Probably one reason the critics didn't like what he was singing. And it doesn't matter that they didn't like it. Singing about God made him feel good. And he gave it all his heart. So he didn't make it as a popular singer. And the experience made him feel bad, so he kinda went home a failure. But he still sang quietly to himself. What is important is he didn't quit singing. Because God sees what you do in secret. He said dont be like the Pharrisees. He said go into your closet and pray, and what you do in secret, God will reward you openly. So maybe God wouldn't want him to get famous and have that life. It might have led Mr. Tanner down a bad path. What is important is he went home and didn't stop singing. Even when we dont get something we want, its important to keep glorifying God.
He's ME. Oh God, He's ME!
Laura Benanti brought me here 😄
Clearly an autobiographical song!
This song is a result of when you take the influences of Paul McCartney and mix in Billy Joel. lol Good song though! Harry was one of the best from the 70's
Hmm.. Personally, I don't see an influence of either Paul or Billy. But so be it.
I always thought of Harry as being his own, very thoughtful, very deep, incredibly talented self..
Billy Joel has talked about people wrongly crediting Harry with "Piano Man" which he has said he learned to take as a tremendous compliment, to be compared to a songwriter of Harry's caliber.
Critics are necessary, but sometimes overboard. If I may, Taylor Swift's song 'Mean' relates and is on the same bent.
I love 'America's Got Talent.' I just commented to a friend that this relates to most of those who don't make it. I have to believe that Mr. Tanner is one helluva brave guy for even trying.
How much talent is out there that people will never hear?