Paul Westerberg - It's A Wonderful Lie

[mc17strat]

Not only a great version, but a rare perfect live version from Paul. He actually looks like he is interested in nailing it. Would love to know the open tuning and chords he is using on this.

[maggsayy]

he definitely doesn't get the recognition he deserves. brilliant songwriter, suicine gratification is a lovely album

[kwray1962]

A. Minnesota is kool. B. Haters are not. C. F**k off -- go play your Beiber where you obviously belong.

[Dollyrar]

Best songwriter ever.

[bocphet]

@Dollyrar Totally agree!

[breadmanofscience]

Not only is this a great song that never gets any credit...This Jools Holland TV show was the best music show around, and it got cancelled. What an odd world we live in.

[thecosystoner]

@breadmanofscience later with Jools Holland is still going

[amandakatedonovan]

ahhhhhhhhh! CHILLS. 

[jmturner3701]

If the world made any real sense - there would be at least 1 million hits on this video

[volksrepair]

Never gets the credit he deserves... Great song.

[11xzxzxz]

Paul can write these songs in his sleep and everyone who doesn't get him is sleepwalking through life. Look if Tom Waits gets in the Hall of Shame maybe in 2021 Paul can be where he deserves. Love to see Neil Young still alive and induct him into the place he should have been in the first year it opened.

[homesteadyband]

ha, the acoustic Elton John! :P

[mrgb46]

@homesteadyband  Or more like an edgy Ryan Adams.

[leminyelloblak]

@mrgb46 Actually, Ryan Adams is more like a less edgy version of Paul, as Paul came long before Ryan Adams :). If it weren't for Paul Westerberg and The Replacements, the story of indie/alternative rock would likely be quite a bit different. In the early 80s they were playing what basically became known as "grunge". In the latter part of their run, they definitely had a role in the development of "alt-country" (which is more or less what Ryan Adams plays). Paul Westerberg is one of the greats.

[mrgb46]

@leminyelloblak Very true.If the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame had any sense,they'd put The Replacements,Husker Du and The Pixies in there.Just to name a few..

[leminyelloblak]

@mrgb46 amen to that!

[NorthinThecountry]

Wonderful !

[dylannintendokid]

Love Paul and The Mats

[TRAVOLTIK]

Paul Westerberg is so cool! The Replacements was the most influencial us rock band from the 80's. Now, as a solo artist Paul keeps on writting fantastic songs with brillant lyrics and catchy melodies. This acoustic version is awsome! Suicaine Gratifaction, released in 1999, is a very good album, even if the production by Paul and Don Was is a bit "polished" (because of Don Was who also polished Iggy Pop, The Stones...). Paul Westerberg is a rock'n'roll treasure who deserves the best. Thanks man!

[meandminni]

Jules couldn't even get the cd title right. Paul should have been pissed. I loved this performance, maybe better than cd version.  Glad to have both, hard choice! Great post.

[MikeFromRLC]

It's amazing how great he looks and sounds

[yamon98]

i can't believe i like this better than i like his Replacements songs

[CapnCanard]

His heart is on his sleeve dripping with honesty. The truth hurts and only quality artists can reveal it like Westerberg .

[CapnCanard]

as usual Westerberg throws down a song and it is a classic before anyone even hears it. For newbies check out:

"Sorry Ma, forgot to take out the trash" ca 1980

or "Stink" ca 1981

crazy freedom "Hootennanny" 1983

sublime realization: "Let it Be". their best album 1984

then "Tim" used to be my favorite album 1985

then "Pleased To Meet Me" my favorite album 1987

then "Don't Tell a Soul" slick, it sounds professional 1989

and the last "All Shook Down" excellent. 1990

[crabshaw]

Why can I not find Paul W doing the song 'Self Defense'?

[11xzxzxz]

Hey Paul who says you don't open up? Of all the rockers you are one of the most open and revealing. Your life is not a lie compared to others who don't even have much to reveal .. you are so cool and intelligent and funny and heart-on-the-sleeve kind of guy .. just start to make more records again.

[askl23]

0:03 What? I want this footage of The Replacements on Jools Holland

[suchagoodtime]

I love this song

[pitbull103]

The amazing Mr. Westerberg has a way of setting you up. A typical Mats song starts out as a straightforward rock song. Then the hook takes an unexpected turn, the lyric leaks out a bit of heartbreak. Suddenly you have a classic. What an amazing artist.

[11xzxzxz]

Paul's comments in rock books and in interviews shows his great intelligence as does this song. Such an under-rated songwriter .. listen to THINGS and see how perfect lyrics and music and voice come together to make a great great song.

[leed818]

genius...

[DoctorTchock]

He sounds really different from his days with the 'Mats. Really cool though.

[beck8vegas]

"so don't pin your hopes or pin your dreams to misanthropes or guys like me, and the truth is overrated, I suppose." That's why he's the greatest. Nobody else writes stuff like that.I try to listen to other songwriters,but even when they write somrthing clever it seems like they are trying too hard. Or they are so proud of themselves they hold their lyrics up for all to see. "Did you see what I just wrote?" Westerberg never does. Just another bit of brilliance-it's what I do.

[tristessa56079]

Such an effortlessly great voice.

[Winwood39]

Nice version.  Even better than the studio recording.

[xAlyssaJones37]

Paul Westerberg makes me cry... :')

[stangable1984]

to wovokanarchy:

I guess you've never heard 'Breath Some New Life' or 'Man Without Ties' oh well. Top notch tunes.

[hopkins4545]

This is better than the studio version, definitely

[tbonefender]

Pretty sure I like this better than the studio version. Very cool.

[iwantthemoon]

this is great

[RMBowden]

Wow really good performance!

[11xzxzxz]

I dunno. Good song but Paul's voice doesn't crack and show that wonderful humanity that some call heart-on-his-sleeve. Is he trying to sing country? I still like the song a lot.

[MrMaryEstes]

This is my favorite Paul Westerberg song. This version is amazing. Even better, I think, than the alum version.

[spencerny]

Ok...I've got a fairly decent tab to this song yet I can't produce the same intesity that paul is producing with the bass notes. Is it possible that Paul had some backing on this one?

[loic1457]

No he's just a great acoustic player ... by the way, wondurful song ...

[paddlepop77]

Are you insane?

[11xzxzxz]

(Cont). .. for some reason I don't know as much about the mats as most rabid fans .. I know I should but I haven't even read "it's all over but the shouting" and I guess I should read it right? It's as odd that I haven't as how the fuck the Replacements are not know to the world. Does anyone know how many records the Replacements have sold ? I know during their stint they didn't but I always see 4 or 5 of their records in any music store I go to buy have been unable to determine sales ..

[MrMaryEstes]

I'm pretty sure The Replacements are VERY well known. They are very well respected. And I don't think Paul Westerberg really wants to be in the public eye. He's not the happiest person ever ha.

[11xzxzxz]

I'm not so sure that the Replacements are very well known. I think I have asked 400 people in my lifetime and only 1 could name one song and most never heard of them. Most were women I asked. Hey if Paul were happy he wouldn't write songs that so many can relate to. This is a fine song .. my favorite solo work is "things" .. sort of a perfect song to me. I think I have listened to that a thousand times.

Off of 14 songs..

[MrMaryEstes]

Well I am a woman and they are one of my favorites. Listened to them literally my entire life. My parents, aunts and uncles and all of their friends are huge fans, and i come from a very big family. Things would be my #2. Amazing song. Yes his sadness and alcoholism are in a sad way very responsible for his beautiful music, but what I meant by that is he doesn't want to be in the eye of the world. TIM is a Pretty well known album.

[MrMaryEstes]

If you really look into I am sure you will find they are very well known and respected in the music business. Or maybe just here in California. They couldn't have influenced so many bands if they weren't well known. The Goo Goo Dolls are in fact often accused by critics and other listeners of being rip offs of The Replacements and a band as well known as them wouldn't be so accused of ripping of an unknown band.

[11xzxzxz]

Well sure the critics and bands know them .. I was just talking about the common average person. I am in PA and things could be different in Calif. but I was sort of sad to know over the past 20 years that no one knows The Replacements around here and Paul is completely unknown. Well if you send me the tickets I be in Calif. in a day.

[MrMaryEstes]

Haha wish I could. Honestly that really surprises me. I have never met someone who didn't know who they are. Well no one very into music (Mostly Alt. Rock fans) that is.

[11xzxzxz]

Yeah maybe the east coast sucks. Very little musical talent out of Philly. Minnesota and California are hot beds of talent and particularly alternative rock, I guess. I swear I have not exaggerated .. probably asked a lot more than 400. Replacements got very little airplay on the east coast in the 80s too .. don't know why .. and I've played this stuff for friends and girlfriends an they rarely like it . Once they don't like .. I drop them . no just kidding.

[bohicass]

MN and CA can claim a lot of great music, but philly and the east coast always embraced the 'mats. before cali, they played cbgb and other great east coast venues.

[11xzxzxz]

Sure very true, but would be nice if Philly produced some great bands too .. more than the Del Fonics and Hall and Hall and Hall and Oats.

[bohicass]

consider yourself above the rest. i went to college in PA and now live in LA. back in college in PA (mid 80's) few people knew of the 'mats b'c they refused to sell out and make videos for mtv. even now, only true purists know the greatness of westerberg, kind of like mould or weller. fk critics.  what do they know???

[bohicass]

very true that the goo goo dolls were accused of ripping the 'mats. what rolling stone (sux BTW) or other critics never tell anyone is that the GGD will be the first to say their biggest influence was and is, the 'mats. we need to listen to our souls, not critics.

[ilovemred]

Didn't PW write "we Are the Normal" for GGDs?

Can't believe he's 50 now.

[XxgrayfoxXXX]

He also wrote iris for them as well

[rnargi]

@ilovemred Yes he did. They (the Mats) also pulled a hell of a prank on the Goos when they opened for them on a Mats tour. Look it up.

[jumblequeen]

my teenage cousin is from little falls, mn and he'd never heard of the mats...

[11xzxzxz]

Try the lovable mats then. Well give him a present of Let it Be on his next birthday.

[11xzxzxz]

Unlike most rabid mats fans, I just wish Paul would be discovered again and be very famous or the Replacements will get back together and somehow find a guitarist as great as Bob Stinson. I want to share the Replacements and Paul with the world - I guess this is sabotage ..So many women I played their songs for and they hardly noticed. I look for mats wherever I go but rarely do I find them. I always welcome someone who writes me about the mats. Yeah for some reason I don't know ..

[moopderg]

Any one got a good tab of this? I can't find a good one anywhere...

[cardog813]

god i love him

[PhilJamesTaylor]

i've never heard this side of his voice before.

it's literaly nothing like what he's like in replacements songs.

[volcomxzeroxgirl]

this is the first song from him you've heard of him solo?!? well, hes amazing.

[frankybadboy]

Westerberg is one of the best songwritter in America along with Tom Petty.

[crayryan]

HERES THE LIE....PAUL IS GREAT

[gazlew2112]

amen to that...

[onewink]

I never appreciated this song back when I first heard it. Since then I've listened to an enormous amount of music, only to find that... Yes, Paul was and is the best there is and this song is golden.

[ih8music]

wish i could give this 6 stars.

[gallaghim]

He's one of the best lyricists out there too.

[jamescourtney333]

I know what it's like to get up from a dream to take an amphetamine

[nomedicine]

me too.

and i also been accused of never opening up.

they get too close then i keep my mouth shut.

[ggdfan111]

suicaine gratification is such a great album

love paul and this song

[WriteNRockit]

Goddammit, this is a great performance. The sincerity of it just floods your chest.

[oneslickjackrabbit]

He recorded this song and album not long after the birth of his son, and it's one of his most personal.

[bottlenosedborg]

Is he a hippy?

[Sammyzuko]

Nope

[ih8music]

I suppose that depends on how one would define what a "hippy" is...

[rightbrigade92]

listen to the replacements and then ull know hes a punk rocker doing awesome acoustic song

[packersabre]

are you a chump?

[fuckwithfire1984]

Only going on the amount of drugs he took in the 80's.

Westerberg is too good a songwriter to be a hippy.

[bumblescum64]

@bottlenosedborg he is paul westerberg..

[FightingPoodles]

love this song. love this album. sold about 6 copies. i have no idea why it wasn't a smash. he's phenomenal.

[lbguliaeff]

Love Paul Westrberg! Seen him live a few times, sort of a piece of work. Hurting himself with the distruction of his guitar! He rocks and I would go to see him play anytime, anywhere. I am living in the Bay Area, let me know!

[tbonefender]

That was even better than the album version!

[BuddyEatsGanymeade]

A beautiful song from a beautiful album.

[shadesaver]

Anyone have tab on this song?

[ughihateusernames]

I don't play it like he plays it here, but....

G/D (320033)

C(add9)/G (X32033)

Em7 (X22030)

A(sus4) (X02230)

So basically, I play the whole song with my ring finger on D (B string, 3rd fret). Sounds pretty good to me. I think this chord pattern is one he uses a lot.... Very simple. The verses are G/D, C(add9)/G, and Em7. The chorus is A(sus4),Em7, and C(add9)/G. I hope that makes sense!

[ilm532]

does anyone know where u can get this song?

[ih8music]

It's off of his "Suicaine Gratifaction" album from 1999.

[ilm532]

thanks

[jumblequeen]

Wow. flawless performance.

one of my favorite solo westerberg songs.

thanks!

[markkickmark]

Such an effortless masterpiece. The man is beyond talented.

[cjdog4]

SO happy I saw this. Paul is without question one of America's finest songwriters.

[king0fna1ls]

Thanks so much for posting this.... I've got this as audio only and I've listened to it for constantly for a couple of years. I never thought to check if the actual video was uploaded = until today! Thanks again.

[holaolah]

great performance, thanks for posting.

[yowhatisup]

I have always loved this song. Paul is one of the greats

[abstract88]

this man is a musical genius.

[bhelm]

this video is the greatest peformence i've seen in a long while!!!