Iris DeMent & EmmyLou Harris - Our Town

[AprilSkyeRay]

chills.............



[binfordjlb]

I've been listening to and enjoying the music of Emmylou Harris since the first time I heard her on the radio. I was introduced the the music of Iris DeMent just last week, way too long to have waited, but I know her music now. Beautiful. Thank you.

[si7ltmixwsata7]

so much strength in such gentle voices...what an amazing group of musicians...thank you all

[TheDeadhead56]

this is absolutely beautiful

[scdefion]

2 people are complete assholes.

[StephenB58]

MrRazorblade999 : In other words, it depends on who's playing the instrument and what kind of music is being played; right? Isn't this an incredible song? I think it is one of the greatest songs ever written and performed. This is a timeless song. It is way up there with You Are My Sunshine. I bet most people have never heard this song before. People need to hear this song. This performance of this song, is the best performance I've ever heard.

[MrRazorblade999]

@StephenB58 Yes on both your questions. Every song on her debut LP "Infamous Angel" are brilliant.

[StephenB58]

The guy in the purple shirt; is he playing a fiddle or a violin? And how can you tell? I don't remember why, but when I watched the last episode of Northern exposure; I thought that the Indian girl who played Marilyn, was singing this song. It just seemed like something she would be singing.

[MrRazorblade999]

@StephenB58 Fiddle and violin are the same instruments. There are no differentiating features, only the approach.

[StephenB58]

tocadiscoshumano : How could anybody not like this song? They must have no taste in music. I bet they like rap music. I can't imagine what it would have been like sitting in that room or studio, watching and listening to Iris and Emmylou singing that song. Thank you for uploading this video.

[MrRazorblade999]

I love watching Iris' face expressions when she sings. She looks so focused

[SaxJockey]

@MrRazorblade999 True - she is sincere to the lyrics.

[runnc]

love it

[joshuaaewallen]

Man I love this song.

[EricLaughingWillow]

This is some of the most beautiful music you will ever hear. It's just about as good as it gets! By two of the most beautiful people to ever grace this planet... I could watch/listen to this over and over.

[fennyflyer]

This is such an evocative song. Iris leads beautifully, Emmylou harmonizes as only she can and the backing musicians are superb. Love the Dobro

[clawhooks]

I miss my little town back home :.(

[pillroller88]

Emmy Lou Harris sings back up vocals for me......in my dreams

[bilkoz01]

Probably because she is one of the greatest singers who ever lived.

[bilkoz01]

No matter how hard I try, I just can't sing as well as Iris.

[XOkie]

That is absolutely beautiful! Thank you.

[massive707]

One of the best songs of all time!

[romeozulu57]

Great stuff...It touches your soul!

[sleaponit21]

aint this just wonderfull 

[sjbaldwin11]

The "chap" playing the Dobro is Jerry Douglas, the true master of the instrument. I love this song and the harmonies. This song is from a series on BBC a few years ago, the brought some of finest acoustic musicians in the world together, playing in English and Irish country homes. Others in the series included Nanci Griffith and Guy Clark. Just amazing.

[sjbaldwin11]

The "chap" playing the Dobro is Jerry Douglas, the true master of the instrument. I love this song and the harmonies. This song is from a series on BBC a few years ago, the brought some of finest acoustic musicians in the world together, playing in English and Irish country homes. Others in the series included Nanci Griffith and Guy Clark. Just amazing.

[blueberries4ever]

Iris sounds like Olive Oyle, but her voice grows on you after awhile. Emmylou is just great. I admire how she won't dye her thick gray hair.

[mccurryburg]

@blueberries4ever some catch on faster than others...

[blues917]

the chap playing slide on that dobro ain't none too shabby, either.

[tbjcountry]

TBone Jones plays it on his radio show.

[gorkys6]

So much talent in one room. Sit back and enjoy........ it just defies description

[mountainspring1703]

Wish I could have been in the room when they sang this.........

[PollyMorphus]

The fiddler is Aly Bain

[doowopnuts]

What a wonderful performance and song!

[Booklvr777]

BEAUTIFUL. THE WORLD NEEDS TO HEAR THIS. <3<3<3<3<3

[nikita00711]

who plays the fiddle

[tcolliton1969]

Love this song...

[ifrahag]

Heartbreaking and beautiful. These two singers and the fabolous musicians they have for backing. Lovely.

[colibri1]

I'm glad I never saw Northern Exposure so I can appreciate the song and let it generate its own images in my head.

[666Alester]

Iris DeMent doesn´t need to force herself to sing beautifullly... probably she talks as beautifull as she sings and sings as beautifully as she talks.... this is talent..

[Myrtle791]

Dave here. As I sit here sipping my Cub Libre, it occurs to me that "Northern Exposure" was probably the closest thing to a dramatic work of art that TV ever produced and adding Iris Dement's "Our Town," just added to that impression right up to the end. I hardly ever watch commercial TV anymore, except for "Law & Order, C.I." with Vince DiOnofrio, and now that appears to be gone except for reruns. Funny how somebody like Iris comes along, just when needed.

[Myrtle791]

Time to this the hay. Pleasant dreams & many of them. Goodnight. ( - - )

[Myrtle791]

Correction: Dr. Joel Fleischman didn't stay in the Alaskan wilderness, he ends up going back to New York City and sends Maggie a postcard with the message: "New York is a state of mind."

[Myrtle791]

Strangely, the town that this song makes me think of is Upper Darby, PA, where I lived for 7 of my first eleven years. I had some of my worst experiences there, but, maybe some of the better ones, too. Most of the childhood illnesses, but also the first childhood crushes. Rejection by one set of first-grade classmates, but a kind of acceptance at another school. Memories of the seasons, etc. I fared better in other places, but, somehow, my heart goes back there. ???

[Myrtle791]

Dave here. I was very touched by, not just the song, but the way it so perfectly fit into that last "Northern Exposure" episode, where all the characters had found their mates, except Dr. Joel Fleischman who went off into the Alaskan wilderness. Even a couple of stray dogs who "found eachother" are seen running up the moonlit street together in the last scene. I wonder how the producers found Iris and her song, not, I assume, a "top 40" number, in time to fit them into the episode?

[DrStich]

Incredible song, sung by the angels, Iris and EmmyLou. Brings a tear to my eye...

[fatjud1]

BEAUTIFUL

[BacInTexas]

You know you're great when Emmy Lou sings harmony w/you. Nothing better to set a mood than some good'ole Iris Dement folk music. bless her :)

[edslides]

this song never fails to give me goosebumps.

emmylou and iris ARE Heaven. what a pair.

prohhum: intelligent comments are often deleted by idiots.

unclebob: no shite, right? taylor swift has a beautiful voice, but i dont care how many times you listen to her, SHE WILL NEVER BE COUNTRY. she doesnt even have the milage of a young tanya tucker.

same goes for 90% of the crap they play on "country" stations these days.

[rnr5682]

is this from transatlantic seesions and where can i buy a copy of these two angels?

[chris888ism]

@rnr5682 Yes - from Transatlantic sessions. Gerry Douglas on Dobro, Ally Baine on fiddle all these progs are available on BBC DVDs I think. Try Amazon et al

[geezer1946]

@chris888ism The SESSIONS are available on I-Tunes

[nnndIT]

We can keep our values, etc. But a liberal is a conservative who just had their first bite of cat food.

[cci110]

I think this is a very sad song..life moves on , but why,cann't values,life styles stay

[nnndIT]

It's not good enough to say that's a sad song. If jobs are shipped to China for somebody's profit--who cares, right?

[andyinoregon]

What's left to say about this perfectly written and performed song except that it rivals the very best of the great Hank Williams.

[Billscreek]

These two ladys send me into another world. It doesn't get any better than this. My hat's off to both of them.........................

[Toober1969]

Iris is the only person I know who can even come close to rivaling Emmylou, so it's very fitting that they are collaborating.

[tomoneweir]

very good ur beginng to work me out , thanks D

[guyNbluejeans]

Horrible.

[davidhyperion]

Iris is sooo good! I will always think of this song as her song. Now, I'll give a buffalo nickel to anyone who posts Iris singing Shores of Jordan...

[DrBarnes1]

The hair stands up on the back of my neck listening to Iris Dement sing. Sings like an angel.

[whiteman703]

I just can't stop listening to this! Thank you so very much ladies xx

[flamencoprof]

I am from New Zealand, a little ex-British colony in the South Pacific. Nevertheless, we have heard (of) music made by Americans. This example has many of the characteristics that endear it to me.

The lovely intimate setting for the recording. The use of only accoustic instruments. The skillful playing of same. The singing of Iris. The restrained additions of a mature talent like Emmylou. The evocative lyrics that seem about one place but can be empathised by anyone.

In short, I like Iris.

[misomaya1]

I love this song, in general.....does anyone know if there is a version of it on youtube that has the closing scenes from Northern Exposure, as well?

[mondo78]

Two beautiful women singing a beautiful song. Nuff said.

[modraker]

I have never seen Iris more beautiful than when she sang Pretty Saro in the movie Songcatcher.

[greedyboydy]

greedyboydy ses wow

[slamarine]

Iris proves she's not just a pretty face ... I have two of her CDs based on hearing her once on Prairie Home Companion. But this is the first time I've ever seen her perform! Just excellent in every regard.

[elaikar5]

This song will always remind me of the last episode of Northern Exposure. Iris and Emmylou and just so beautiful in this version. It strikes such a chord. I will never forget...

[tocadiscoshumano]

I knew to Iris Dement thanks to Northern Exposure

:)

[TrueGrits91]

I too loved Northern Exposure and was sad to see it go. I fell in love with this song but the episode didn't list the song credit. Just discovered this on you tube. Also always wondered who sang and how to get a recording of the song played in the episode where Marilyn went to Seattle....do you know?

[elaikar5]

Yes, that's how I discovered it, too. But, Emmylou didn't sing with Iris in that version. I downloaded from ITunes. I think the song you're thinking of is "Turkey in the Straw" by Georgia Wettlin-Larsen. You can get it on ITunes.

[yes1no1maybe1]

@elaikar5

I am so glad I did not know NX then, it would be very sad to watch the final episode...

[acousticapothecary]

Folk music, any music, does not get more movingly beautiful than this...

[bgftman]

i luv her voice

[betsy1947]

Beautiful!

[BrokenneckYgor]

Iris sings like a hillbilly

[rushe2]

check out emmy with gram parsons........sheer pleasure

[cci110]

what 2 beautiful women

[HOUNDDAWG]

Great!

[cheyennedilbeck]

Simply Wonderful.

[RockingchairBill]

I'm totally in love with Iris

[celloprofundo]

Iris reminds me of a 12 year old at her first school talent show, her naivete is super sexy !

[OutaMontana]

This was the song they chose for the final episode of the TV Series, "Northern Exposure". It was absoultely intoxicating!

[ATHS55]

I don't know why Miss Iris isn't more popular, it can't be her writing or her playing or her voice. It must be her management.

[isotopefun]

Talk about "Soccer Mom Gorgeous!" LOL!

I'm sorry, I dig her music but I had to get that in.

[kjhiamhe]

Songwriting at it's best... sitting here with tears in my eyes....

[largeeruption]

emmy lou has the most beautiful face

[preparemelord]

Ahhhhh.........Emmy Lou, long time idol. Iris De Ment new found idol since watching the "Songcatcher" recently. I agree about the wide golf between this and radio. Profhum, I am "chilling" with you.

[Mulwany]

great singing, fantastic song... terrible bass player.

[woodscritter]

Molly Mason is a very good bass player IMHO, among many other talents.

[Mulwany]

Maybe she is, but her she's not...

[banjopicker88]

legendary

[reddirtgirl55]

The cream of Country! Superb duet!

Thank you so much for posting

[iammarilyn60]

just gorgeous, sometimes we need to be reminded of certain truths, good or bad, and these two ladies do it with such incredible grace and emotion. It doesn't get any better than Emmylou and Iris.

[Paul8342]

I first heard of Iris through John Prine and being a massive Mark Knopfler fan I've now developed a great likness for Emmylou - lovely work here between both!

[steveblevins]

One of the most beautiful songs ever written sung by two of the most beautiful voices ever. There is so much sadness in these words.

[profhum]

Do they censor these comments? I twice wrote a long one about these two beautiful women singing this haunting eulogy for a whole vanishing America, not just the rust belt or "country." "Nothing good ever lasts... Goodbye."

Gives me chills.

[unclebobunclebob]

When I tell people I like country music...THIS is what I mean. Not the crap they play on the radio...faux rock badly done with a twang. What is wrong with radio that they can't recognize good music?

[waterdamnaged]

agreed

[Hammer757]

Country Stations play Pop Country or CCC Commercial Country Radio. Check out your local college stations for the good stuff.

[sidDkid87]

@unclebobunclebob Agree 100% . . . Well said!

[cormac1613]

lovely song. iris dement writes songs to die for.

[neonmoon82]

When they harmonize together it just sends chills up my spine.

[jkoncz]

@neonmoon82 good ain't they?

[LAlba9]

@neonmoon82

Emmylou Harris could harmonize with fingernails on chalkboard and sell a million copies.

[Walshyinoz]

Exquisite

[cardiffjoe]

I've never heard of Iris before today or this song. WOW this is just an amazing song and Iris is beautiful.Thanks for posting this you just made my day.

[Krexel]

This is one of the most beautiful songs ever.

No doubt about it.

[donmattox]

Surely the angels in heaven are turning green with envy. Thank you lord for Iris and EmmyLou.

[woozle4]

What footage is this from and where can I get it??

[dermotsuks]

A programme called 'Transatlantic Sessions' a BBC Scotland production

[J4m3z1]

a wonderful video.lovley words and nice to watch.thank you.

[jeanhoel]

Always SO good ... yes.