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From: deerfried
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  • just went browsing on u-tube and came across this song by jesse and am blown away...wow..i am a avid guitar player and just have to say this song is beautiful in every way, the lyrics the voice and the guitar playing..simply a work of art..i confess i cried and keep playing it .."am i sad or wot"

  • @leesagrrl

    And when Neko starts tearing... I lost it. I won't be looking to find it either.

  • Kleenex disclaimer: You better have some handy, if you listen to this performance.

  • Incredible! Best example of voice, guitar, and imagery coming together resulting in something truly transcendent.

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  • This is my favorite tune on this show. Enchanting.

  • What a fantastic song! masterpiece! wow !

  • Wonderful

  • Encouraging news from Jesse's website: "Regarding my health: I have finished my treatment and surgery, and the doctors have sounded the "all clear." I expect to be performing again early in the coming year. I want to thank precious Cindy and my children, the doctors and nurses who cared for me so lovingly and skillfully, and you, dear ones, for your prayers and good wishes. I can't wait to see you again."

  • msCentrum04: Jesse is very ill now. Prayers & Good Thoughts from every fan and every belief system out there would be grande.We love ya, Jesse!

  • Such a beautiful song. How can one not be moved to tears. I mean, whats with those 2 dislikers-have they no soul?

  • Funny, I just favourited a video by Neko Case and then come here, and she is sitting beside Jesse.

  • Grandpa made Neko Case cry. Good job, Jesse. What do I love about the south. Jesse Winchester, that's what I love about the south.

  • I never saw or knew of Jesse Winchester until I saw this episode of Spectacle. He had me in tears with this song.

  • Get well soon Jesse! You are one of the greats!

  • This is as good as it gets...amazing how a simple lyric given with a wonderful melody.. and impeccaable guitar and a singular voice......better after 40 years and I loved the guy then too--Mark in Tulsa OK

  • Have loved this gentle sweet man for 40 years.

  • excellent !

  • Twigs 'n seeds!

  • Great song by a great artist!

  • amazing. that's all that can be said

  • He's been a Montreal boy for 40 years or so.Some of his French songs are amazing.Defying Gravity will always be my favorite,though.

  • @oleole52 didn't know he wrote songs in french.  Do you know the name of a record on which there is french songs ? Thanks for posting this.

  • @louis brillon Only one song in french I believe (Let The Good TImes Roll) , and I doubt if you can get the album. Then there are other songs with some french in them. Someone speak up if I'm wrong.

  • @louisbrillon Wish I could remember the names of the albums,but my wife sold them.Laissez les Bon Temps Roulez and La Lousianne are on the same record as Defying Gravity.Another,with the chorus

    "triste,ah triste

    ce n'est pas le mot

    tellement riche

    mais tellement pauvre" about a wealthy guy hopelessly in love with a girl unimpressed with his money.,is on the same record as Why I like Roosevelt.That's just 2 albums.I've heard there are more on others.And he wrote them;they aren't covers.

  • @oleole52 Albums. 1970 Jesse Winchester 1972 Third Down, 110 to Go 1974 Learn to Love It 1976 Let the Rough Side Drag 1977 Nothing but a Breeze Live at the Bijou Cafe 1978 A Touch on the Rainy Side 1981 Talk Memphis 1988 Humour Me 1989 The Best of Jesse Winchester 1999 Gentleman of Leisure 2001 Live From Mountain Stage 2005 Live 2009 Love Filling Station
  • @69ximkee69 Thanks.The 2 albums I'm referring to are Learn to Love It and Nothing but a Breeze.But I seem to remember Nothing But a Breeze as a studio album,on Bearsville Records.I could be wrong.

  • @oleole52 Albums. 1970 Jesse Winchester 1972 Third Down, 110 to Go 1974 Learn to Love It 1976 Let the Rough Side Drag 1977 Nothing but a Breeze Live at the Bijou Cafe 1978 A Touch on the Rainy Side 1981 Talk Memphis 1988 Humour Me 1989 The Best of Jesse Winchester 1999 Gentleman of Leisure 2001 Live From Mountain Stage 2005 Live 2009 Love Filling Station
  • @oleole52 The Album is "Learn To Love it" it is a maroon jacket with a photo of he and a baby are on the cover

  • @andrepaul15 I can see it in my mind.It's a small photo,isn't it?Doesn't take up much of the cover.It's his baby.Well,his wife's,too,a pretty Quebecoise.

  • @rahzel101 It measures % 1/4" wide by 9 " high which is quite prominent. Bearsville record. You can most likely google it

  • @rahzel101 that would be 5 1/4"

  • Amazing.

  • Absolutely fantastic!

    I think it's almost a crime to do a cover on this sing... but I did it anyway :) How could I not give it a try since I rate this among the top 10 love songs of all times

    Please let me know what you think, what I can do better etc. All comments are appreciated!

  • A beautiful song and an extraordinary performance!

  • Damn...

  • What's the problem with these 2 peoples?

  • Brought out the first tears I ever cried in over 2 years. He reminds me of my grandfather. I never met him, but the stories that were told painted a picture that reminds me of Jesse. The song he's singing reminds my grandmother about thier early years. much love.

  • I saw him last weekend on Blue Highways 2011 (Utrecht/ Holland). 1 hour of excellent music and lyrics!

  • I am such a sook. I was getting misty eyed even before Neko.  I bet I get handbags this birthday.

  • The sweet whispy rasp in the age of his voice gives a tender irony to the nostalgia woven in the lyrics. Almost unbearable beauty.

  • @2011finnwest "At his peak?" He was better than this at some point?

  • Beautiful and very touching! What a gentle voice! So calm and soothing!

  • What a great song!!!

  • This is hypnotic....really amazing.

  • Beautiful song!

  • Beautiful so beautiful, Cheers Billy ;)

  • A gem from the past-truely

  • A gem from the past-truely

  • he has a perfect voice

  • Saw him live in the summer . Sounded so pure, just Jesse and his guitar. Amazing!!

  • chills. Jesse Winchester's performance here just gives me chills. 

  • beautiful

  • I bought the album this song is off of BECAUSE of this song. I found this version, the live version, to far surpass the album's.

  • @nickdude09 So did I. This version is much purer. Adding instruments does not always enhance a performance.

  • i shared in a moment with neko case

  • I saw this on Spectacle and was amazed. I watch it regularly. It's a great version of a great song. It comes from the heart and touches the heart.

  • I never tire of this song.....just amazing

  • If you can't connect to this performance, you must be dead inside!!

  • Neko Case just might be the most attractive crackhead I've ever seen! But I'm not sure.

  • When I hear his songs, I think of the art of the word and Mississippi, Faulkner and Elvis and I am forever thankful for Canada.

  • :I bet they did some in there day:i know we did still together after 50 years ahh memories sweet memories !

  • I've watched this clip so many times and it still hits me the same way it did the first time I saw it. What an amazingly beautiful song. It just doesn't get any better than this. Thank you Jesse

  • pure, just pure. 

  • Amazing How can we see Brand New The Tennessee Waltz from the Spectacle?

  • I loooooooove this !!!!!

    Thanks Jesse !!!!

  • 2:30 = rape grunt .. ?

  • deerfried thank you for the upload, Jesse Winchester to me is the Hoagy Carmichael of the Baby Boomer generation!

  • I never tire of this song.....just amazing!!

  • lost art - thats the stuff of dreams

  • I just saw this on telly this evening, and now I own the album. What a master of the craft.

  • Wow..... I just saw this on TV & was captivated. What a craftsman & a truly beautiful song!!

  • Absolutely Brilliant !

  • What a beautiful song. No wonder Neko can't help her tears from falling...

  • Caught him live in Bristol, TN after his surprising appearance on Spectacle, it was an awesome show. At the break as I went into the mens room a college aged dude said "man I have never heard of him, but I feel like I just discovered "da vinci" or something. Catch hi live, as live music is better, great song, and excellent singer songwriter. I liked it when they caught the tear this song inspired in Neko Case at the 3:13 mark.

  • jesse is my cousin, coming back home to memphis to play rhode college this fall. cant wait!

  • what a performer & storyteller,,who needs a slamming electric guitar to make great music,,a true balladeer,,i luv it

  • deerfried, Spectacle, Elvis Costello, You Tube, thank you all for taking time to present THE JESSE WINCHESTER at the height of his glory, alone with an accoustic guitar, The Perpetual Incarnation Of Himself as "God's Own Jukebox!" An all American original, and every night I thank God we have him and the handful of others who approach the level of his songwriting! God Bless and Save Them All!

  • This song makes me cry every single time. Simply overwelmimg to my senses.

  • @fingal61. I did the same. I was crying along with Neco. Wow that song is so beautyfull. Normaly i listes to Rock, but this one, damn

  • @66jenner - yes, when that tear came from Neko's eye my eye did the same.

    @Lamphead1972 - I relate man, maybe 20 times in 3 days, I can't stop watching this either...and I'm an old guy who has seen a lot of life and this slays me too.

  • @IanMcMillanGuitar I've been honoured to see him live a few times in Toronto and listening to him live - I swear you can smell magnolias in bloom and feel the warmth of a southern porch. Jesse is an experience.

  • Jesse Winchester you are fantastic

  • I am not sure what sham-a-ling etc refers to but to me I just assumed at first it could be songs like Blue Moon by the Marcels and other late 50s Do Wop groups Bom ba ba bom ba bom ba bom bom Blue moon, moon, moon, moon, moon, No Sham a lam a ding dong .. I forget that oldie. Just saw this on Elvis's Spectacle and found it moving and might be the only Jesse song I like but it's sweet and haunting and might move somewhat to tears.

  • @11xzxzxz It's in the lyric; 'Sham a ling dong ding means sweetheart; Sham a ling dang dong does too.'

  • @soin2top OK Thanks.

  • @soin2top Right, but what Winchester is saying is that the language of doo-wop and the other songs of the '50s and '60s was the language of his generation. It's part of what makes the song so staggeringly beautiful, that he can gently summon the ghosts of those days in so many ways.

  • @randomartist01 Well said. And - doesn't he have range?

  • No words can describe how beautiful this is. Such a touching and wonderful piece of music.

  • I just saw this episode on Swedish television.

    I had never heard of him before, I'm ashamed to admit,

    but this song touched me deeply.

    It's old fashioned but in the same time refreshing in all its honesty.

    Very beautiful.

  • Ahhhhhhhhhhh. Thanks.

  • This just works on so many levels. Thank you Jesse

  • this is one the best songs I've ver heard in my young life, I am 34

  • literally has me in tears...just beautiful..

  • @BoobBoobies you, me and neko case.

  • @BoobBoobies you, me and neko case.

  • seeing that tear from neko makes me love her more

  • geez one of the best elvis spectacles i have seen. jessie and ron sexsmith on the same bill. doesn't get any better. this song bought me to tears.

  • What a human what a musician, capturing the audience like that this is not something dj's or radio stations can give you.

  • Tears in my eyes and chills dring a heat wave-Hearing a new song by a songwriter for the first time-It's been happening all my life-Off to order more Jesse Winchester. I

  • Stunning. Sends shivers down my spine again just like it did when I watched it for the first time on Spectacle.

  • I had to tell myself "Big boys don't cry".

  • @dcarr84 me too...it didn't work. the song's just too beutiful

  • to everyone who posted this link...my heartfelt thank you!

  • I can't believe I've never heard of this guy before now but after hearing songs like this one, and watching him perform with Buffett, I'm most definitely a fan. Check it out.

  • doesn't matter how many times you listen to this it just keeps getting better

  • Awesome,if ever a dream was to come true it would be to hear this ....and now I have ...I am Beautifull on the inside for it...

  • This song totally touched my soul. This is one of my favorites and I can never hear this song enough. What an incredible musician!

  • I heard this and cried the first time it aired on this show. Now I keep coming back to it and the more I hear it and the more I read the lyrics, the more I keep tearing up. I'd like to sing this for my in-laws at their 60th wedding anniversary, but I don't know if I'll be able to get through it without crying. Such amazingly touching lyrics.

  • absolutely delightful.

  • tear jerka....JEEEZUS!

  • This song absolutely floors me. So honest and sweet. Thanks you so much for posting.

  • Just saw Jesse last Sunday Night here in NY at Joe's Pub - FANTASTIC show; you could hear a pin drop - a warm, personable, and deeply moving performer. As great as this clip is, it's nothing compared to seeing him do this live - I can understand why Neko case was teary...Thanks Jesse!

  • Jesse Winchester! Ahhhh! Such sweet memories of intimate gigs in montreal 40 years ago!!!!!!! Time has been good to him and he has not lost a bit of his magic.

  • Love this tune!

  • i can't get enough of this

  • I'm a man of 32, and i had a lump in my throat when I saw this on television. It's a song and a performance that stops time. As musicians, we all strive for what he does here.

  • OMIGOD!!! What a voice. I cried when I heard this for the first time.

  • This is about the sweetest song I've ever heard about young love. This guy needs to be recognized as the great artist he is. I play in a band which recorded his tune "Step by Step", and loved his writing then, but this song made me a life-long fan. If I can ever write something that even approaches that kind of poetic insight, I'll count myself the luckiest guy in the world. I love Elvis Costello, which is the only reason I ended up seeing this, so make sure to check out folks your idols dig!!!

  • this was the first episode of Spectacle...needless to say it got me hooked

  • @TheifOfEddis the first I watched is what I meant

  • Overwhelming--Neko Case's tears at the end of this song say it all . . .

  • For you Jesse Winchester fans in western Virginia: He'll be appearing at The Mockingbird in downtown Staunton VA on May 27th!

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  • when I watched this for the first time, I was still trying to reconcile my emotions from nekos performance of "Don't Forget Me". When I seen neko's tear running down her face during this song, well I just lost it. She ismy girl.

  • Neko's tear at the end did me in. It is beautiful ... no words to describe it. I can listen over and over and over

  • I must admit I had never heard of Jesse before seeing him on this show. Man have I missed something! I absolutely LOVE this song. Not surprised that he made Neko cry.

  • Wish I could stop crying so could actually learn this song.I don't know weather Neko is crying because the song is so touching or the fact that Jesse blew everyone off the stage!

  • Loved this, cute how he made her Cry. Charming, great artist!

  • At last Jesse Winchester is being given a showcase for his extraordinary songwriting and performing skills. Credit to Mr Costello and all hail Mr Winchester.

    Thanks for the clip. Sublime!

  • The girl next to him was crying

  • The girl next to him was crying

  • If you have ever been in love or been loved,even if you believe in the concept of love,then I think that you may just understand how special this song and singer are!!!

  • I keep coming back to watch this clip. I'm yet to make it all the way through without wiping my eyes. The transition at 2:47 is so wonderful. This performance just beautifully demonstrates the power of music and stands as a shining example of the stark contrast between real music and the commercialized drivel we're inundated with daily. Thanks for posting it.

  • I just can't belive that that's the first song he ever wrote himself. Just amazing talent.

    Even if that was the last song he ever wrote he'd still be just as great

  • @thehighesthippie The first song he wrote was the Brand New Tennessee Waltz. This one is on Jesse's most recent (and amazing), Love Filling Station.

  • @mikewhiskey hey .. pleeease. cant be hyr than meeee!!!! great great performance

  • Absolutely amazing! What a wonderful song and he nails it bang on.

  • wow.

  • I just confirmed an interview with Jesse Winchester. It should be posting 3rd week in April. You can follow me on Twitter @jmmccann to get updates. I'll post a link to the interview there.

  • I grew up listening to Jesse because he was one of staple favorites of the house, and although I liked his stuff even as a kid I hadn't really listened to anything of his for years, instead pursuing the music that kids do because they're kids. I'm glad I got to hear this song as an adult, where I could both appreciate the musical artistry and understand both the lyrics and emotion of the song, all captured and expressed so beautifully. Thanks for the memories Jesse, of my life and your music

  • beautiful

  • The emotion in this song is almost too much to take. Thanks Jesse for writing an amazing song.

  • There wasn't a dry eye in my house by the end of the song.

  • @Bird0nTheWire thank you!

  • do you have the second song that Jesse sang during the show? .... i cant remember the name if the song:(

  • Well i have to agree its a wonderfull song even if it took me 10 minutes to copy him on a guitar. I cant copy that emotion. Soft voice that vibes.

  • This was the first time I had seen Jesse Winchester too - love it when at around 3:00 they show Neko Case crying,

  • Thank you, Jesse, for that wonderfully peaceful feeling I get when I listen to you sing and play your songs.

  • Is Jesse gettin better with age or am I turning into a bigger mush-bucket? Both?

  • this is the first time i've heard that song.. beautiful

  • My new wedding song! This guy rocks!

  • I hadn't heard Jessie in years. Since the days when CBC played him just about every day.

    This is a beautiful song. I can see why Niko has a tear run down her cheek at the end.

    I was always amazed by Elvis' incredible lyric writing. Of course the same goes for Ron.

  • Oh Gawd....I'm a wreck!

  • Sheryl Crow is the most commercially successful of all the people on stage yet compare this song or "The Brand New Tennessee Waltz" (the FIRST song he ever wrote) to "Leaving Las Vegas" or "All I Wanna Do" and you see immediately that Jesse is head and shoulders above the rest. Yet another example of someone who deserves to be better known and appreciated.

  • I need to get a life. I can't stop watching this...haha

  • @Lamphead1972

    I watch this at least once a day - it renews my faith in humanity.

  • @Lamphead1972 me too....me too,if you get a life can we share?

  • What a perfect clip, eh? He performed twice on that episode of Spectacle, and both times the other four artists looked on like wide-eyed kindergarteners who want to be Jesse Winchester when they grow up. All their performances were wonderful too, but the night belonged to Jesse, and the other four were cool with that. :)

  • @raggedyanarchist I agree, I never knew his music b/f Spectacle but I'm a huge fan now!!

  • That is just beautiful! Just watched it today in Canada on CTV. Wow. What can I say? I wish there was more music written like this these days.

  • It's a shame Elvis is not continuing the show past this season. So many great performances.

  • 1:24, he burps. Just sayin.

  • No he doesn't he sings a very low "But" lyric. shame on you.

  • this song is sooo touching =(

  • and a fabulous guitar player to boot...wow!

  • Incredible song, incredible performance. It's wonderful that Elvis has provided the opportunity for us to hear and appreciate this songwriting gem. I don't think I would have ever heard the song otherwise.

  • Jesse's the man. He's a songwriter's songwriter.