Smog (Bill Callahan) - Rock Bottom Riser

[wiredoptix]

Heard this song on the radio. Totaly reminds me of one of my fave bands called Neurosis.  Very beautiful music.

[Shhevaun]

LOVE

[keg64]

great song ,great songwriter

[aerok91]

longest target commercial ever

[Mayor2026]

The 645 is very simple it just makes a face. Paul McNeil

[sunriseRISE]

@fuck192ass ?crabs

[sunriseRISE]

this is Bill doing his'=' John lennons 68 sound style ''= i owe it all to ''((((' y o  u ')))).. & the desending picking is ****** Dear Prudence- Im so tired- happness is a warm gun -God -Remember--- Mother-**** .. i left my mother ,i left my father .Even WHEn the snare comes in at 1.47 is very white lp lennon--right up to the end vocal of 'i bought this guitar to pledge my ((((((l o v e ))) to (((y o u))))'

[Implosiony]

@sunriseRISE What I don't even

[rafitocc]

y hasta ahorita no se que caracho hacer....... ante este temon

[thetreemind]

Bill is a terrific songwriter! Just fantastic!

[crisatunity]

36 idiots drowned.

[ReignDale]

TobyTurner, anyone?

[13bleep]

LOVE HIS VOICE...

[ieatgringo]

Is this about Gollom?

[Adamdanielshaw]

I've always assumed this song is about drug addiction. Really, really powerful song.

[billiesrus]

@Adamdanielshaw Really? I don't see that.

[theCluevi]

Koρυφαίο :D

[spectrum99122]

I saw a Lord of the gold Rings at the bottom of the river.... ooops, wrong fantasy song.

[kuno1253]

its a love song

[sevenfour]

This is probably the best thing I've ever seen and listened to in my whole life. Audio and video, both together. It is relaxing but intense, and it makes me feel like I'm out of this world for almost 6 minutes.

[romcaname]

1:52 the ring! so he was referring to the Lord of the Rings and the temptation of Smeagol...

[omgilykatie8]

what is 645?

[olishant]

@omgilykatie8 A painful memory most likely. Or we're supposed to rearrange the title because Bottom(6) Rock(4) Riser(5). Just a guess. :P

[Lucretiasaid]

It's only smog..

so i just can Breath 'cause i'm a rock

[HeronOfHeaven]

Any similar artist compare with him?

[rottenvikingshark]

@HeronOfHeaven i'd say some of adam green's stuff sounds similar, maybe less downbeat

[HeronOfHeaven]

@rottenvikingshark i think adam green is not that slowcore

[panicojuanpablo]

esta cancion simplemente vuela mi mente!

This song demolishes my mind..

Amazing :)

[helioringer]

This is the first time I've ever heard this song and, man, I HAD to listen to it again and again. Excellent.

[gigigarten]

Love Lo-Fi. Awesome video.

[billyboneshisfancy]

this is the song thats played when your soul floats up to heaven

[zawesomeful]

has anyone els noticed the reoccurring 645? do you know what it means?

[finicia]

@zawesomeful I really don’t know but it reminds me a Spanish sentence that children say when make a similar drawing “con un 6 y con un 4 aqui tienes tu retrato” in English “with a 6 and a 4 here you have your portrait”

[annaladika]

I wish i put together the video - it's just so cool

[lurkingevil]

26 people have never been at rock bottom.

[guillaumelabrot2000]

superbe

[ChocolateAndCheese1]

beauty.

[TheIncredibleBAGMAN]

this song is deep

[spectrum99122]

Lo Fi Heaven

[Kajaseff]

What a wonderful song!

[margestermeister]

oh hey! i think i follow you on twitter. funny, i found this video through a blog from someone i don't believe even lives in the united states. sup, fellow scrantoneer :)

[theprinceiswhat]

And from the bottom of the river

I looked up for the sun

Which had shattered in the water

And the pieces were raining down

Like gold rings

That passed through my hands

As I thrashed and grabbed

[100helenjames]

Cool!

[MentheZombie]

What is the significance of 645?

[142jrp]

I wonder if it has something to do w/ steps 4, 5, & 6 of the program. The song seems to be dealing with these issues (inventory, confession, & willingness to get better) . I'm not sure about the order they appear in the video-maybe it's for looks. It does seem like 4,5, & 6 go together in the same way 1-3 do.

[maccam1234]

@MentheZombie I think it's a reference to the rehab program, steps 4-6.

[breadbutt]

@maccam1234

if that was the case, I think they'd be in numerical order. in the video they always appear as 645. (or 546 depending on how you read it)

[Chandler937]

@breadbutt perhaps its shows the importance?

[babizinha]

fantastic

[haroldofcardboard]

TELEPHONES

[MrMariusz915]

cool

[davidpetermurphy]

reminds me of shine on you crazy diamond!

[steamjerry]

do unto all as as all would do for we

[theearl35]

fuckin magic

[thisisthemario]

sometimes we find the right words for our hearts in the most unexpected places...

[hattie1978]

if you listen, really listen. it gets inside you. Just like love and pain. Just wonderful.

[djbethell]

Bill's voice always make's me cry like a baby. He sings every word I've ever needed to say.

[spectrum99122]

Gosh, this is interesting stuff! Need to listen to a few more from the old Bill!

[AreTf]

I love Bill Callahan!!!!

[3dhell]

Beautiful

[nisesabe]

Las imágenes tienen un algo lorquiano

[nisesabe]

excellent sequence of images. Excelente secuencia de imágenes

[kathlayah]

aweee, love the lyrics <3

[xSecretChordx]

this a beautiful song with a beautiful video, i love it

[JohnnyDreamboat]

This song has been played religiously in my house for a couple years now...

and its still my favorite song ever.

[confinedspace2006]

i wish i had a voice like Bill Calahan's

[SueGreenShoe]

Das ist so schön, das man Gänsehaut bekommt vom Zuschauen!

[Xoxocube]

I am a rock... powerful song. Beautiful. Perfect.

[ediblepet]

Amazing song, please upload a better quality version!

[jorgetokesalot]

@ediblepet it's lo-fi dude, that's how it's supposed to sound. it's beautiful!!

[mrgreanjeans]

i liked his version of in the pines too.he just has a smooth delivery that sticks with you.that cant be tought.

[mrpicklepenguin]

wonderful. i've listened to thousands of times.

[jennhenz]

i repeat this more than the duce down there. lol.

[ilDuceRetro]

@jennhenz nuh uhhh... I do it more! *wins*

[lpeeko]

Yes, thanks Bill Callahan. It's excellent all the way around: the song, the performance, the production and the video. Top drawer.

[ilDuceRetro]

Outstanding song. I have it on repeat.

[Dorillo76]

its amazing

[MarcellaPuppini]

Aaaah, this is so beautiful!

[drg88drg]

what a voice goddam

[1984Resistance]

like this song? search , vessel in vain.. by smog

[Grillwurst08]

beautiful!

[trakosvoukou]

just perfect...

[ZackVitus]

This is the most beautiful piece of art I've heard/seen in a while.

[nattoppet]

i feel the same way.

few times before have a song and a voice touched me so deeply.

thank you, bill callahan.

[interestingusername]

is this the original vdo?

 pretty cool

[scrantonian]

yes, this is the official video released.

[joggerboy]

brilliant. .. .. .

[lelechaplin]

LOVE !

[PineappleToothpaste]

What a sweet song, what a sweet video. I love it.

[okami7amaterasu]

What does the 645 mean?

Is it nothing?

[avstamo]

shit this vid is damn cool..... and the song sure is a riser

[melisea]

genious, genious, genious!!!!

one for the songwriter and singer

one for this great videoart

one for that perfect symbiosis

[AltCowGod]

it's a good song yes! i'm no animator, so yours is much better in the aesthetics dept! i made a video for smog's version of in the pines if anyone was interested.

[JASMISIAA]

beautiful!

[kdubya05]

excellent tune

[tubestick00]

the lyrics are very moving... to anyone whos been at rock bottom and come back, with the help of people who care.

love it.

[phemohilia]

Awesome song!!!

[WhaleRider86]

hope I dont sound like a smart-aleck. love the song and I'm thankful that you put it on youtube.

[cheasea]

Awesome song, awesome Video.

[milmiligramos]

it just begins and makes me cry (a little)

[libertinefreak]

i cant believe it.

he go to play on the dockville festival. i will be there

[heavyboxes]

This is kinda like Beck's Sea Change artwork and the stuff from Punch Drunk Love.... except it's less glossy and polished. And it's all the better for it.

[buckleysit]

ugh who cares...

[honuecker]

I can't believe someone else has heard of that movie.

And I totally agree.

[ahahahayeahright]

this song is clearly about Gollum finding The One Ring at the bottom of the river Anduin

[iLiveforthis1337]

Deagol finds the ring, and smeagol steals it....

[glauberovsky]

owmygosh, this song is so beautiful..."in the pines", "ambition", "finer days", "cold blooded old times"...callahan rocks!

[verkhovensky99]

jesus...

[NoRosesForMe]

love it. 5***** faved

thank you for this xx

[thelibraryisonfire]

i wish i would have written this song.

[dhinkpiyush]

lovely

[Holycrapamoly]

Just beautiful in its simplicity. Not a lot of flash and crash needed.

[jeravincer]

to whom is Bill pledging his love, towards the end of the song?

[UncleJacktheJim]

I think God.

[jeravincer]

i was thinking his mother and father etc ...

why do you say God?

[UncleJacktheJim]

I don't know thats the feeling I get from the sounds and mood. I figured if I confessed my love to all the souls that meant the most to me then I was really confessing my love for God, but Bill is his own man and thats just the feeling I get from him.

[jeravincer]

i think the song is about the redemptive power of love

but i can't hear any direct references to God in it ...

however, for Christians, God is a by-word for the redemptive power of love

and this song has a note of repentance too --which is, IMHO, a secret passageway to God, as well as being an aid to love

i like your answer better

[UncleJacktheJim]

I agree with you alot. You can really read deep into songs or not deep at all. I guess a song is what we make it? I am just glad their are other Bill fans out there. His voice haunts me more than Will Oldham's!

[deoxyribonuclease]

His ex. The irony (and we all know irony is a function of every successful Callahan song) is that the love's gone now, he's hit "rock-bottom," and he's written this song about their broken relationship, not his love for her...he's ended up pledging his love to his family, with this song.

[jeravincer]

that makes sense - this comment was left by someone else on this thread (has clearly hit a nerve) :

"You know... I left my mother and my father and my brother... so I could be with the woman I love nine hours away from my house, with no money, a shitty job, no friends; my instruments: they all got broken...

I didn't care about anything. She was there.

And then she leaved me. From out of nowhere.

Perfect song. "

[BasementKoOk]

Everytime I play this over and over again...

just can't do anything about this...

[moTOOKUS]

what is the meaning of 645?

[jeravincer]

don't know - can't really make out the picture

is it a tree stump ?

[deoxyribonuclease]

I think it might have been the house number of the home he shared with his ex--that's what the numbers resemble, anyway, the numbers that you stick on a porch post.

[anackoul]

awsome song... relaxing and simple

[tomkat69pc]

favorite song: ex-con. why?: "alone in my room - i feel such a warmth for the community - but out on the streets - i feel like a robot by the river - looking for a drink"

[Bustacreamynugget]

Sry was talking about comment from -duelemal-

[countryumb30]

im looking for the tab, someone can help me?

[dancergrl20101]

this is very well done.

[Purusha2]

Hari Om Billy

[ultrahiplibrarian]

who is this smog guy, and why have i not heard of him until now? this song and video are stunning

[rich13k]

He performs as Bill Callahan now. He's one of my favorite artists.

[uncabro]

AMAZING DEEP SONG

HYPTNOTIC VIDEO

[pausebeforedust]

Great songwriter. I love the drums on this album. Does anyone know who the players are and who recorded it? Reminds me of The Atlantic Manor another cool band.

[jakkelyd]

Fantastic song, and the video is brilliant.

[JacobMaymudes]

Robatspaul what's your deal? Why such a backhanded comment? I worked really fucking hard on the diamond dancer video. Why don't you keep your negative bullshit to yourself.

[joeafish]

I love this... well done

[robatspaul]

no - dont watch the diamond dancer one. its such a good song and the video is rubbish! or watch it with one eye open. naa, better with both closed!

[JacobMaymudes]

Robatspaul what's your deal? Why such a backhanded comment? I worked really fucking hard on the diamond dancer video. Why don't you keep your negative bullshit to yourself.

[pinecolonel]

It is a little cheesy Jacob. There are some nice shots in that vid, and it's obviously made well but the chick dancing on the beach is a little weak dontcha think? Smog's songs are too complex for a cliched vid I reckon. ps-you need negative bullshit in order to make the positive bullshit not just bullshit.

[JacobMaymudes]

Watch his music video for Diamond Dancer... Its on youtube too.

[beIshazzar]

just checked the comments on the video, and yeah.. it's still gay

[AdlejandroP]

hes coming to chile and im going to see it

[blindDodo]

Hey I saw this animation at BAF (Bradford animation festival) and loved it. The song is just as good as I remembered.

[mearte]

I´ll see...

Sounds good.

Watch my videos.

[barquitox]

99.100 views =)

[alostlove]

you suck you piece of simple shite

[belzebuuu]

dude, if you had a girl like Cat Power, THEN you can come here saying there's no melody or soul or whatever.

[Doopex]

Yes. This song takes it in the ass. Fuckhead.

[fky1111]

who cares if it sucks i like what you don't like

[joeafish]

u suck this songs sweet, u dont know what beauty is, in decay

[duelemal]

the worst thing about smog songs is that when I try to sing them when I'm walking down the street I can never get the tune right. This song is a persy (personal favourite), I fuck this song up better than anyone

[beIshazzar]

no I'm pretty sure the worst thing about them is the fact they were written.. or maybe it's the fact they were recorded.. but I don't think your singing along ranks that high on the list.

[Bustacreamynugget]

this guy voted bush....

[mercurius0]

such a awesome video! wonder how it's done? painted and then animated? or computer?

beautiful, haunting song very American.

[ineswtf]

really good

[jaded818]

De las mejores canciones que he escuchado nunca. Cuando la escucho me parece estar tumbada sobre un colchón en medio del campo viendo caer las hojas de los árboles encima de mi. Consigue evadirte hasta encontrar el clima perfecto.

[sevenfour]

joder...

bueno, estoy de acuerdo.

[jaded818]

jajjajaj :)

[wishipu]

You know... I left my mother and my father and my brother... so I could be with the woman I love nine hours away from my house, with no money, a shitty job, no friends; my instruments: they all got broken...

I didn't care about anything. She was there.

And then she leaved me. From out of nowhere.

Perfect song.

[DeliriumFish]

leaved?

[ibbjamin]

Beautiful song. Beautiful video.

[adembr]

if there ever was a song that could give you goosebumps, and make you wanna cry and smile at the same time, and a video that could entrance you and make you forget your house is burning down, this would be it

[tottieshouse]

Fuck I never realized this was the song! I have the Gudrun Gut version which itself is incredible, but hell this is beautiful!

[phsard9]

fuck

[phsard9]

i just want to say that im ... drunk but i want to sya that i the girl i know right now is ...yeah so yeah andi thougt id nver meet anohter yeah bu t i have and now i knw.. and she showed me this song and nowe i feel someting that i havent for so long... adnnd something about how stuff or not and then i tink again i dont know as much as i wish i did

[dusha7]

i loveee it,smoooooooogggggggggggg

[purpleandgreen]

I feel like this song and the video together tell such a captivating story I can't peal my eyes from....pure, absolute beauty.

[OsvaldoPaese]

Great great video. Added as a favorite. Love the song too. Colorful, organic, beaming visuals.