The Hollow Men

[oliviasmovies]

I heard this in the Haunting Hour by R.L Stine

[magma11000]

This is very very good. LOVE it. Thanks x

[SofGangsta]

Thank you. - A Hollow Man.

[DancingTillIDie]

Good reading. Not great - but good. Best on Youtube. 

[clintnortheastwood]

Thank you friend for your good work.

"There are no eyes here In this valley of dying stars"

I have stared at this line and studied this line and pondered this line for a while and all I can say is stare study and ponder this line more. For in these words you can see the past of humanity, you are seeing the presence of people and you are becoming a seer of the future of us all if nothing changes...

Hope for Love.

Love for Life.

Live hopefully.

[pwm02176]

A wonderful reading and presentation on a wonderful piece of work by Elliot. Touches me in deep and profund ways....I am wandering towards my own death, not in a hurried way but in a certain way as my cancer slowly progresses....and this poem and reading gives me great comfort.....

[SofGangsta]

@pwm02176 Death is merely a transformation, my friend. We've all done it innumerable times before and will surely do it again. Best of luck to you on your journey.

[itskaylaaa23]

i just cried.

[RIDETHESUNSHINE]

Thank You for posting, Will

[drivinailsinmycoffin]

wonderful

[TheRealDaveMatthews]

Beautiful.....

[cambob70]

powerful stuff...

[laysareawesome]

@cambob70 create a visual essay using interpretive dance

[laysareawesome]

@cambob70 create a visual essay using interpretive dance

[MrHeslopian]

My God... I know I'm a little late to the game in commenting here, seeing as some posts are two years old, but I just have to say, this is one of the most beautiful things that I've ever seen. The Hollow Men is my favourite poem of all time, and the way you read it, accompanied by that mournful tune and those war photographs, brought me near tears. Thank you.

[britnifer]

I loved this reading. Great job and good music behind it.

[themaskedbassplayer6]

I get goosebumps when you say Life is Very Long, this was already my favourite poem, and you have made it better. I commend you on that, you have an amazing speaking voice.

[Rain1952]

We must be f**king Stupid to still be let the ruling classes use us as cannon fodder with no reward but to make them richer does nobody learn ,

[crunkatron5000]

This makes me think about Rodger Water's father...

[MrRichBiker]

the reality of love, honest,war and memory!!!

[Rain1952]

@MrRichBiker what do you mean

[MrRichBiker]

@Rain1952  dont annalyze...just enjoy !!!

[MrMcFavorite]

Beautifully done.

[MrRichBiker]

got me thinking of you-woody94.....how inteligent is a poets  capacity...!!!

[MrRichBiker]

woodygirl94- i was corrected by ransom900. he is correct. roger waters father passed in ww2 at the anzio-beachead.in italy,in 1944. sry for misconception!!! thats what the song" when the tigers broke free" is all about!!-take care.......

[MrRichBiker]

woodygirl94- you just made me cry..and weep...like some grandmother!!!

i am just the opposite-my mom died 3yrs ago-tomorrow-the 3rd. good luck and god bless you, what an awesome comment....and im a guy by the way!!

[woodygirl94]

@MrRichBiker _ I'm so very sorry for your loss....I understand completely how you're feeling , i feel its the hardest loss of your life. I don't think the pain ever goes away in your heart; You just learn to live through it . God bless you too. And yes it is about the war WWI... But I see it through my eyes as it to WWII because that's when my father fought the war.

Thank you for such a sweet comment. Go out and live your life to the fullest! thats what your mother would only want 4 u!

[MrRichBiker]

@woodygirl94 THANK YOU FOR THE COMFORTING WORDS-MEAMNS ALOT ,ESPECIALY FROM A COMPLETE STRANGER,WHO HAS THE SAME THING IN COMMON-A TRAGIC DEATH!! ROGER WATERS, FROM PINK FLOYD-WENT THROUGH, EXACTLEY WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH. MOST OF HIS SONGS ARE IS FATHER DYING IN WW1. THERE IS A BEATIFUL SLOW SONG, ITS CALLED: WHEN THE TIGERS BROKE FREE-YOU CAN GET IT RIGHT HERE FROM YOU -TUBE,JUST PUNCH IT IN THE SEARCH BAR,GREAT SONG.LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF IT!!!

[ransom900]

@MrRichBiker Roger Waters father died in WW2 at Anzio in 1944.

[MrRichBiker]

@ransom900 thank you for correction-i was not sure if it was ww1 or ww2-thanks.i hope woodygirl94 see this. her father was in ww2. thanks again...it is a great song..when the tigers broke free!!! did you listen to it -ransom900???

[ransom900]

@MrRichBiker Yeah the song has been in my collection for a few years, it is also the only song in the movie The Wall that is not on the soundtrack the Wall by Pink Floyd.

[MrRichBiker]

@ransom900 yes you are correct,that would have been a geat opener for that movie with bob gerdoph!! tell me..that song doesnt put chills down your spine-what a great sounding waters tune. to me , i find it my favorite!!!

[woodygirl94]

@MrRichBiker Thank you for sharing that song ! Pink Floyd one of my favorite bands of all time, put the images and the words for this war in a vision that we all could understand, it was a great marriage of both!

[MrRichBiker]

@woodygirl94 i am glad you enjoyed it!! if you look at random900's comment- i was corrected. it was ww2-that is the war your dad fought-see that....ransom900, could be " our angel" in disguise..lol!! hope your  well....feel free to contact me any time!!

[woodygirl94]

"This by far is my favorite poem, the meaning for me was about my father in the war and the stories of which he spoke of to me as i was growing up. And if I could at this point in my life, I would put my arms around him and tell him how proud I am of him . For he received the purple heart for putting his life in harms way, to save 15 men to safety. Oh father " i love and miss you so much ; You carried so much courage inside ....... you will always be my hero in life.

[nara1shika]

band band bandger

[spacecowboynj]

Bravo. Superb reading, good music to set a mood of eerie, spiritual loss. 16 million dead and 21 million injured. An entire generation of lost souls.

[eplpsp2]

I truly appreciate this poem, and have applied it to personal situations, though I find myself questioning the true story behind T.S Elliot's writing. Does anyone know the meaning behind this poem, from Elliot's perspective?

[mazrio128]

Wow! Wow! Wow! Amazing...unbelievable. What a perfect contrast between poetry and reality. Art at its highest form. Thank you so much.

[TheChar1]

It is just a wonderful reading....

[eddieblackritual]

this poem is about men at war

[OURPLAYLISTSSSS]

with themselves..

[RobertLowellPoetry]

Wonderful reading and video. The musical accompaniment was just right.

[DavidRandallCurtis]

A great reading of one of the greatest poems written.... 5*

[alishechka29]

i will shoot myself :D its soo good

[zurich1935]

Good one

[Iancad1]

Truly Outstanding!! Thank you so much.

[Nuuboat]

The world ended with a whimper. So quiet we didnt even hear it..

[DasCrue]

This video is absolutely wonderful. I believe it captures the essence of the poem and ties it together with World War I in such an emotional way. Your voice truly adds feeling and a voice to a work that demands it. Well done, and thank you for the video.

[yahoohkdavid]

Remember the one who fought in the war!!!

The one who use their live to exchange peace, we should remember them

[willbolger14]

Fantastic video, well done sir.

[JealouSenoritaMimi]

i hae to study this poem for tomorrow and i got it all from watching this vid .. thx ...

[xanfus]

friend you've done a great job!

[graciesleg]

Very powerful. Excellent. Thank you.

[jamesspalding]

Outstanding.

[HenrikKRJ]

Clearly one of my favourite videos on youtube. We heard it on class in one lesson at school. Outstanding job!

[toReasonWhy]

You know what kills me, if you'd pronounced "descent" correctly this would be the best video on YouTube.

[ejtower]

haha, I know, I hated that I messed that up too.

[Rain1952]

@toReasonWhy

Looking at all the dead and this prick checking the spelling what a ass wipe

[Rain1952]

@toReasonWhy

Looking at all the dead and this prick checking the spelling what a ass wipe bet the idiot buys the biggest poppy on remenberance day to prove how patiotic it is\.

thought I'd make you happy left a typo 4 u

[toReasonWhy]

This, like any great poem, was not primarily about what it was about. Every word must be taken simultaneously with extreme precision and in a mode of the totality of its metaphoric potential-- the full sweep of its definition.

If there is one event exactly then it would be the result of World War I, that is, how the world now must be viewed in the wake of that war and the way it concluded. In that light, it's eerily prescient of World War II, which ended with a bang if anything ever did.

[timHYPERLITE]

wow i was led to this vid from halo vids,(this is the way the world ends, not with a bang,but a wimper) has opened my mind to the true horror of WW1,il walk past the monument to the dead of WW1 at liverpool st and take a monent to think about what they gave. there lives and there humanity,true grit. i am truly humbled

[flatonia]

This is a fortunate harmony of poetry, music, photography, and reading.

Outstanding job!

[afieldy]

Not only was Patrick Cassidy good, all the plaudits have to go to the excellent reading of the poem itself. The reading is what makes it such a good youtube video - well done.

Plus, the minor fact that Patrick Cassidy is on their because you chose it. So, everything said about this video is done to you; and this video is excellent

[MasterChief22530]

ooo i love this song! can anybody tell me what is the song called in the background?? ..thx!

[bandaidmafia]

It is by Patrick Cassidy, I think it is called Lament. He is a phenomenal artist, I can only think of a few in our time that can compare.

[colbyVas]

it says right in the description.lament by patrick cassidy.

[lordcarnabon]

We are the hollow men We are the stuffed men Leaning together Headpiece filled with straw. Alas! Our dried voices, when We whisper together Are quiet and meaningless As wind in dry grass Or rats' feet over broken glass In our dry cellar Shape without form, shade without colour, Paralysed force, gesture without motion; Those who have crossed With direct eyes, to death's other Kingdom

[colbyVas]

t.s eliot is the shih

[FutureDeadPerson]

Brilliant. The music and images were perfect. I think you may have left out the epigraph "Mistah Kurtz -- He dead / A Penny for the Old Guy." It really adds a lot to the poem, especially with the final four lines, since Fawkes ended "not with a bang but a whimper," as did Kurtz. Anyway, good job. Having it read out loud really adds to the poem.

[flasher555]

beautiful.

[bandaidmafia]

Nicely done video. Perfect choice of music; Patrick Cassidy is outstanding. Good work.

[ep1433]

As fantastic as this is, I am sure Eliot wouldn't agree with the representation. But then what artist would? I love it. But....I hate to mention it.....the phrase is, "not with a bang, but a whimper", not "but WITH a whimper". Minor.

[joe360x]

Why not?

I always thought this poem was about the "Lost Generation" who fought in WW1.This poem is about the soldiers returning home from the trenches.

[CryptidHunter13]

Hollow Men is a good poem. Right up there with 'The Rave-Edgar Allan Poe' and the other greats. At times, I have felt a 'Hollow Man'. It really is true: We quiver and shake, and cry for help, but we do not affect the universe. We only affect our own world, populated by superficial things and people. Without theses things, most of us are, in the end, Hollow Men. Good presentation and narration, and great pics to enforce the feeling 5/5.

[akery516]

I don't generally comment on these sorts of videos. But, you're post was the most absurd thing that I have ever read. I really hope you don't believe that the poem was about about universal feeling; because that is absolute gibberish.

[themaskedbassplayer7]

you don't like this poem?

[CryptidHunter13]

First off, no two people interpret a poem EXACTLY the same. And if this is the most absurd thing you've ever read on the internet, you must be new. There are people who belive Yeerks from the Animorphs are actually here and real. There are people who belive THEY are demons. There are people who have called ME a yeerk... So believe me, I am FAR from the craziest.

[DragonBallPaul]

There are dumb interpretations of poetry, though.

[davevisk]

What do you think the poem is about?

[WhoaKaela]

what movie is this song from?

[crunkatron5000]

this is the best poem about war, really a great poem, and great reading, you should ask to put this on Itunes

[Ahavati1]

I actually cried. Thank you.

[yetimach]

To me, many of Eliot´s poems are about the emptiness of life as experienced by the egoic mind, as explained by Eckhart Tolle (and lots and lots of others...) T. S. Eliot seems to have understood that, though I don't know if he saw much beyond that, like in the sense of the spiritual awakening of the death of the ego. But, then again, I'm not always sure there is much anyway. Really great reading of this poem. Makes me feel sad and yet happy. Hard to explain...

[cafais]

Terrific reading: Slow and non-dramatic.

The images are effective; although I disagree with the comment that the central theme of the poem is WWI. To the extent there is a theme, it is about religion/faith, and lack of it, the emptiness/frustration of life, the inevitability of death, and the uncertainty of an afterlife.

WWI certainly had a tremendous influence on Eliot and is probably most directly represented in sections of The Waste Land.

[crunkatron5000]

well man, ts eliot wrote this poem in 1925, it would really be about ww1, but you are right about it being about religon and frustration of life and war, but good comment

[Ccaven]

@cafais i think that its all up to how you interpret the poem...

[miscellaneousmedia]

Beautiful, such a fresh interpretation. Heart wrenching.

[mar8les]

Hey just wanted to send a big thanks for making this video. I have an assignment on this poem, i have been playing this video over and over, its helped the poem to seep into my brain. - thanks again.

[Iluvatar900]

One of my favorite poems from Eliot.

[nagraimachMor]

Treachery and greed of Winston Churchill i might add

[derbedog]

A true Masterpiece

[Oscar301]

I believe about a hundred of these viewings are my own. This is the greatest, the ultimate poem of Man. But for the first time tonight I actually 'heard' the poem, understood it, and I wept. Beautiful... Thank you...

[ep1433]

I don't think the reader intended the war images to be a precise reflection of the poem. I think the poems theme of the frivolity of life and death and the drama of war give contrast. At least that's how I took it. And it worked for me. Brilliant! But he did goof the final words "not with a bang, but a wimper" not but with a wimper.

[cornirog]

Love the music!

Who and what is it please?

Great work....

[Borealis2007]

Very beautiful...It would be great if you recite some other sublime poems like The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock... Merci. Thanks!!

[switchfootrelientk]

Prufrock would be perfect.

[abanks90]

THis is a profound poem and it is beautifly read, however, the imigry used for the show is not central to the theme of the poem. The men of the war fought with passion and fear, and even if they did not belive in what they were fighting for, they lived as men with direct eyes. The hollow men are men without action who would let the attrocitys of the war go un retaliated. Still well done though

[nagraimachMor]

yuo are very much wrong and show no understanding to tghis poem or War

[jidar]

On the contrary, it is common knowledge that The Hollow Men central theme is about the men who signed the Treaty of Versailles to end WWI. Eliot opposed the treaty and felt these "men of inaction" were letting the Germans off too lightly. He turned out to be correct of course as the third Reich proved in less than two short decades.

[nagraimachMor]

a little knowledge is a dangerous thing... the harsh treatment of Germany and the German people, due to the terms of that treaty is the reasean that the Nazi party were eagerly embraced by a despirate people and this lead to world war II. No other reason

[jidar]

Harsh treatment? For trying to takeover Europe? I would argue that the treatment existed in a void where it was just harsh enough to piss off the German people, but not harsh enough to keep them from doing it again. The measures taken after WW2 were far worse, including the complete destruction of the German government, dissolution of the military, and the allied powers having supreme authority over Germany. That worked out much better.

[nagraimachMor]

Your making it up lol! years of propaganda has adled your weak mind, i suggest you re-read your books, if you've actuaklly read any about the causes of WWI. You might realise that Britains agressive hold on its empire was the main reason for that particular travesty and that the Balfour treaty as wellas the treaty of versailles was a catalysist for the Second, i won't evden bother to touch on the treachery and greed t'would be too much for you me thinks

[jidar]

This isn't the greatest forum for forming an opinion like this, but you write like a child and that makes it difficult to take you seriously. Of course I wonder why I would be motivated to take someone seriously who is engaging in Nazi apologetics anyway...

[nagraimachMor]

you can't argue will a fool

[Irishflyboy255]

And yet, here jidar us with you.

World War I was only a specter of wars to come, and maybe, just maybe, Eliot realized that. I'm not claiming to know everything about poetry and drama, but, when a person thinks, maybe Eliot was trying to say, "Wake up, before it is too late."

My only question is, have we?

[ep1433]

My understanding is that Eliot wasn't so much devestated by war as he was the peace that followed. So, as awful as the war was, those who died, died in vain due to the concessions of eh Treaty o Versailles. Thus revealing that if a war can't bring honor to the dead who struggled for a good cause, what possibly can? Live is vain. And we the living are more vain than those eyes we dare not meet in death's dream kingdom, because we have sold their lives for a pittance.

[crweber25]

Beautifully read.

[apocalypsethennow]

excellent

[dyldenisnaruto]

that isnt the real mealing though

[frymaster925]

i actually got chills when you recited the last stanza. very nice.

[Meffeman]

Great video! nicely done

[RuiC22]

BRAVO, BRAVO!!!!!, beautifull!

Rui Cóiaas, Lisboa

[joshformanunited]

bravo, old boy. well recited.

[Sparrtain117]

oh, and your poet elliot had it all wrong.

THIS is he way the world ends

-cortana letters.

nicely read, by the way

[novumbereel]

I respect where you are coming from friend, but there is a place and a time, and this is not it.

[Sparrtain117]

oh, and your poet elliot had it all wrong.

THIS is he way the world ends

-cortana letters.

nicely read, by the way

[angrygrunt]

nicely read

[bluesage10]

hey, where did you find the music for this??

[apocalypsethennow]

Fantastic.

[ep1433]

Thanks! So well read.

[stangebrew]

Great reading

[stangebrew]

Yea thats about how I feel.

[johngalt2626]

Well done heart felt as true today as it was then

[TrippleHBK]

That was beautifuly read. Excelent slide show. Excelent music, all for an excelent poem with an excelent meaning.!

[brychar66]

An extremely fine reading. You should do more of this sort of thing.

[dianasatyr]

Wikipedia says the poem was written in 1925. The vast dying of WWI tended to break the old certainties of Europe, including Christianity. The poem is full of despair and a sense of loss. Like all symbolist poetry it adapts to many situations, rendering many meanings. WWI fits.

[ep1433]

And IMHO, this video was down right haunting. Beautiful.

[bwsmith7]

The Hollow Men was not meant as a lament on The Great War, but is rather a metaphor of moral weihgtlessness that Eliot is drawing on.

Tower knows absolutely nothing (nothing)of war, or about it. Nothing. Also, there is exactly one picture of Germans in this footage, which is the first photograph. At least be consistent; he ignored them from then on. Tower should perhaps travel Europe, keep quiet, stay sober, and try to get another perspective on things.

[ep1433]

bwsmith - May I suggest you get your English degree havin' butt back to work. Your boss from Barnes and Knoble just called and you're late.

Seriously, I didn't see where tower insisted that the Hollow Men was about war. He simply juxtoposed the poem with war image. Somethimes things seemingly incongruent work well together. Besides a message of the dangers of moral relativism and war are hardly completely incongruent.

[bwsmith7]

"butt"? ep1433: you are a wordy brave boy benefit the anonymity of YouTube.

[ep1433]

Huh?

[bwsmith7]

For the record, ejtower is a good guy, he meant well here. And he has good manners. I wish him well.

[Boris521]

bwsmith7 - you have defined yourself as one who has only been wrapped in the folds of a skirt - one who has never heard or smelled the horror of war - it should have been called the Shallow Men - then you'd be right - The "We" in the first line clearly excludes you as one huddled along the river of death's other kingdom. Eliot draws on the return of empty men spent and to see you and your kind lounging about in your sickly yellow fog of waste. What is it like to belong to Society?

[GRSIV]

The poem isn't about war per se or about vets trying to fit into "normal" society upon returning from one. It's a poem about the tragic failure to find any meaning at all. Which of course could be prompted by war but not limited to it. I see no conflict with the poem's meaning and the presentation above though.

[aserosiris]

you my friend have captured the essence of the hollow men in almost every way, great work, perfect video

[alkeck]

This was an excellent visual of Eliot's work. I am preparing lessons for a senior english class and would like to use this material in my presentation. I believe the school's server blocks youtube, is there any way I can utilize your work offline? Again! WOW

[benodem]

you made me cry

[enven]

This is beautiful.

[lokimlin]

these guys arent hollow do you know what this poem is about.

Mitzah kurtz he dead a penny for the old guy. think about it! These are men!

[aira9art]

BRAVO!

[CitricAcidDrummer]

One of my favorite poems - beautifully done.

[atomicrave]

I love you.

[Dickens123]

One of my favorite poems. My father was in WWI, so this is very meaningful to me! Well done.5 starz!

[R4L9H]

Excellent.

[GeneralAntillies]

Cortana would be proud.

[angrygrunt]

ftw

[asatryana898989]

WOW!

[PituGermany]

great Video that makes me cry.... the song does touch my heart where can i get it ??

[PituGermany]

great Video that makes me cry.... the song does touch my heart where can i get it ??

[WhoaKaela]

the song is on celtic christmass 3. its lament by patrick cassidy. ive heard it in a movie before too, but I can't quite remember which.

[h0peIs]

Extremely good and highly emotional. I think T.S. Eliot would be proud. Were can I get that song?

[persistanceofwaffles]

Wow. That was beautifully read. Everything--voiceover, music, imagery-- came together powerfully

[Psycholosophere]

Wow u did a really good job of reading it- shot!

[cochiserjs]

Superb and original, I've never read it that way. Thank you.

[KarlGynt]

There is nothing to say, here are the place where all words fail...