Added: 3 years ago
From: abargle
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  • This person makes me happy even on a video. His work that I have researches is a gold mine of creative originality unlike I have rarely seen. If there was ever a genius in the field of creative arts, Shel Silvertein would have to be way up there in history books of 20th century.....no doubt in my mind about that.

  • :) big smile.

  • this was Shel's only t.v. appearance as he thought the whole notion of 'celebrity' was invasive... so watch and treasure this Treasure!

  • You're shitting me! Shel wrote this song?! -mind blows from sheer awesomeness-

  • @Twilightail AAAHHH SHUT YOUR TRAP! WHEN I WORKED WITH THE CITY OF CHICAGO'S DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER SERVICES, I'VE BEEN CALLING SHELLIE RIEDLE a.k.a. SHELLIE SILVERSTEIN-RIEDLE FOR AT LEAST ONE-YEAR.

  • Such. a good guy R.I.P Shell Silvestein

  • Well, consider me thoroughly uncortable...though it was only I that searched for "Uncle" Shelby...

  • did Shel smoke marijuana?

  • Shel Silverstein was a genius! Love his poetry, songs, and performances!

  • search Shel silverstien dad of sue that some funny sheeeet

  • i can't get over this <3<3<3

  • I flipping love this song. We watched this video in my children's lit class at college and I fell in love with it. I read a lot of his stories and poems growing up so he's always had a spot in my heart.

  • That was great.  =)

  • Shel Silverstein died when I was only a few months old. :(

  • What a wonderful human being! What I'd give for the talent in a single one of his eyelashes.

  • He sounds exactly like Charlie from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

  • @yaultrafat hahaha you're so right. i knew the voice was familiar but i couldn't make it out.

  • I was stoned and I missed it!

  • The man is pure genius and a god damn saint!

  • There was one book I read when I was a kid in school. And that book was "Where the sidewalk ends by Shell Silverstein." Me and a classmate both loved the book, and would memorize alot of poems and say them out loud to the class. That one book really captured my imagination as a kid. I just started searching for him again because I remembered the name, and it was a sad moment to hear he had died.

  • Man, Johnny Cash nearly got upstaged here lol Don't see that often!

  • @FriedEggsandChips What a great time, when Shel and Johnny were still alive.

  • @abargle Must have been amazing - I only discovered Cash in a big way a few weeks ago. Great singer and storyteller too. I don't think we'll hear songs of the like again.

  • This was back when musicians like Cash had integrity and gave credit where it was due. How many today talk about the REAL artists that write their songs behind the scenes?

  • 9 people stopped loving their fathers.

  • in my class we practiced his poem:SICK and we ended up rapping it

  • two of my favorite people that ever lived haha

  • Holy Crap!! I didn't know that shel silverstein was also a musician!! O-o

    I loved his poem books back when I was a kid!! xD

  • This is probably the only man i wouldve liked to meet even more than frank zappa.

  • 9 people openly support a newly instated Nazi Regime.

  • Bob Dylan called Shel Silverstein and Randy Newman the greatest songwriters of all time.

  • @John7011 And right he was!

  • ...and the tree was happy, but not really. 

  • wow i had no idea he wrote a boy named sue!

  • I loved him in Iron Man

  • Yep he can't sing, but what a gifted lyricist. Dr Hook have a lot to thank him for. Daddy What if towards the end has some parts of the Wonderful Soup Stone there.

  • Freckin' Priceless!

  • 9 ppl are suicidal...somebody get them help now!!!

  • It seems kinda fitting that Shel Silverstein would be on a show on April 1... :)

  • absolutely priceless!!

  • how did they get their teeth so white back then?

  • @mattymoesc baking soda and you wouldn't believe toothpaste!

  • Shel is just one of those guys you just can't hate

  • @ugoodHomeBoy It's true.  If there's such thing as angels Shel truly was one.

  • @ugoodHomeBoy 9 people disagree

  • why would 8 people dislike this?

  • @psichomiko I have no idea. There's just a lot of unhappy people in the world. But this is still America and people with whom we disagree have a right to voice their opinion. Look at it this way: 8 dislikes out of 150,000+ views is not bad at all! Plus, we know they are sadly mistaken, and that's enough for me. I hope those poor 8 people get the help they need.

  • @abargle i hope so too

  • @psichomiko Honestly, their helmet probably fell off and they accidentally clicked the mouse when trying to synchronize the motor skills necessary to pick it up.

  • @psichomiko Because those 8 men are called Sue, Joan, Betsy, Patsy, Louise, Jenny, Rachel and Daphne.

  • @psichomiko I always ask myself that question when I see someone dislike something I think should be liked by all. And I tell myself it's gotta be because they thought the quality of the video was bad, or something that absolutely COULDN'T have anything to do with the content.

  • You know where I can find "I'm so good I don't have to brag"? Been trying to find that song and just can't seem to get it anywhere!

  • Shel is why I grew up this way...

  • Amen brother! Amen! 

  • Shel was a song writing genius

  • @gregcsr Shel was every kind of genius. What a guy.

  • @abargle im 12. i ADORE THIS GUY! when i was like 5 and 6, i would stay up everynight, reading his books, these books put me to sleep.

  • The grand master of metaphor! Giving Tree has made me cry since I was a little kid.

  • I always thought he was black.

  • Im just so glad to see one of my favorite artists live to be so happy just hearing sing makes me love my dad 10 times as more than i do. I justvwish everyone in this world could at least experience the bond between father and son. R.I.P. Uncle Shelby!

  • Sadly the legends like Johnny and Shel have gone - but they left us their stories and music - the memories will never die

  • For some reason, I started getting teary-eyed in the last verse of the song when he sang "Yeah but Daddy, what if I stopped loving you, what would happen then?" and then when he answered the question in the next verse, I started to cry because I remembered the loving relationship with my father, and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

    This man is purely wonderful, he's made my life all more beautiful.

  • Their will never be another Uncle Shelby...

  • @ mickdukes - I won't give you the heat for your oppinion on "Father of a Boy named Sue", but may I offer my condolences on your loss of humour ....

  • he wrote all of dr hooks stuff almost

  • I love him but his voice is kinda annoying but its his own so its cool

  • 6 people do not apperciate talent when they see it!

  • @HCShannon now its 7 :(

  • @toontownmaster08 He doesn't have that great of a singing voice, but he's a good songwriter

  • @HCShannon yea i guess u could say that

  • I enjoyed a lot of Shel Silverstein's poems and songs when I was a kid but I have to say, and I might catch heat for this (but I don't care), that I've lost respect for him and am frankly, disgusted after hearing "Father of a Boy Named Sue". What a twisted, sick ending that was.

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  • Shel Silverstein's poems and stories repeatedly return to themes of overcoming self doubt. I re-discovered his work as an adult, and he was able to take me back to the important decisions of childhood without panic or "instructions." Just for the record, I think he was an uncommon children's poet and author, and should be remembered and reprinted

  • i dont get why anybody can hate this video

  • @SamuraiPirate88 I can't fathom why either, but some miserable people will hate on anything and everything. Their loss - we're the ones havinf fun!!!!

  • all i can say is fucking awesome!!!!

  • Shel Silverstein was a visionary, he was on a much higher level than we could ever even think to aspire to.

  • this man was a huge part of my childhood...

  • I just listened to a remembering Johnny Cash program on NPR, they mentioned "Sue" was written by Shel. I didn't know that, and was great to see this video out here, thanks for posting it!

  • I miss uncle Shelby!!

  • What a marvelous Man

  • Shel was simply majical

  • Shel's been one of my heroes for years. This is the first time I've gotten to see him perform. Thank-you!! I'M SO GOOD THAT I DON"T HAVE TO BRAG is a favorite among many of Shel's great performances.

  • AHHH!!!!! HE HAD A TV SHOW?!?!?!?!?!?!

  • Shel had so much talent it wasn't even fair to the rest of the world!!

  • Troll.

  • make sure you check out the "father of a boy named sue". It's a hilarious follow-up to this song

  • shelby never was an amazing singer but his lyrics are very very beautiful

  • I never knew Shel Silverstein wrote A Boy Named Sue! OMG! No wonder I love that one!

  • @toshirodragon He wrote the second song too, Daddy What if....it was a big hit for Bobby Bare with Bobby Jr some 25 years or so ago.

  • @rockinredneck57 Oh yeah, I knew he wrote that one. I was 7 maybe 8 when a boy named Sue came out, so I never paid attention to writing credits.

  • @toshirodragon I knew back then that Shel wrote "Sue" and later that he drew for Playboy. Later when I married a schoolteacher, I found he did poetry and childrens books too. A very multi talented guy. She has a book of his poetry called "Where the Sidewalk Ends". Very cool poems and illustrations too.

  • @BlankfrackCripledFUK

    The title might also have been inspired by the male attorney Sue K. Hicks of Madisonville, Tennessee, a friend of John Scopes who agreed to be a prosecutor in what was to become known as the Scopes Trial. Sue was named after his mother who died after giving birth to him google it

  • I miss 'em both... Two great men... Geniuses, if a bit 'off the beaten path'!

    RIP, Johnny & Shel!

  • am i the only one to notice johnny cash has a lazy eye at 0:11

  • Han er fantastisk, - shel Silverstein synge "Daddy, What If." - jeg så en tv udsendelse engang i halvfjerdserne, med den mand. Filmet i hans husbåd i NYC, jeg blev bjergtaget af ham og hans personlighed. Han har forøvrigt skrevet tekster til mange berømtheder..

  • the giving tree makes me wanna cut down trees

  • @markthurst100 Let them give you apples first.

  • My first poetry book as a child was where the sidewalk ends..."there was an old man with a very long beard who never wore no clothes...so he wraps his hair around his bare and down the road he goes" :)

  • You told me I would weep. You were right. Ohhh, daddy.

  • Well abargle: Man i am very chuffed that you posted this, as i am a Johnny Cash Tribute Artist and i don't do things by halves. As you know that if you're gonna' pay Tribute. It's gotta' be dead on, otherwise, don't even think about doing it. We do John proud. Godbless you my friend for Shell and JR

  • God rest the GREATEST American poet.

  • Hi I'm sue, PREPARE TO DIE!!!!!

  • this is pure talent , only he cud muster up

    amazing guy

    a x

  • THIS IS AWSOME!

  • Thanks for this video. Awesome talent Uncle Shelby was. I have a couple of his childrens books from the late 70's and I love them. They have a little bit of a twisted element to them. But great reads none the less.

  • Hmm I want a peanut butter sandwitch

  • I miss Uncle Shelby.

  • He did May 1999, a great songwriter will be sadly missed.

  • Where the sidewalk ends dudes........

  • I didn't know Shel Silverstien was dead.

  • That song is great dont you think?

  • Lucky him them Mr encyclopedia haha

  • A truly unique talent, r.i.p. Shel!

  • Wow, didn't know Johnny Cash had his own talk show.

  • He doesn't have a beautiful voice, that's for sure, but he has so much character! Regardless of his vocal talents, he was a good song writer and a hilarious man. I could listen to his rendition of Daddy, What If a hundred times, just because it has so much personality. (and Johnny Cash is amazing as always :P)

  • You're right about his voice. I've always felt that as long as a singer's voice conveys some kind of emotion well, they don't have to be technically "good".

  • Johnny sang it better

  • I think I like Johnny Cash's version best.

  • For like TEN YEARS now! I know! I just found that out myself this morning! WTF?

  • is shel silverstein dead?

  • yes he died in 1999

  • Well aren't you a walking encyclopedia.

  • Shel is so awesome! such a talented guy!

  • Is nobody watching this? Televised insanity!  Really!

  • i love both these guys

  • Shel was the first "author" or poet I ever red.

    Ma' great aunt Bea(beatriz) introduced me to him, I thank her so much :)

  • @AfroMan1171 your g-aunt did you a BIG favor. I used to think shel was s"ongs performed by dr. hook" and didn't know about his children's stuff until the dawn of the internet! I was 16 when i first heard shel's work by dr.hook and have loved him ever since!

  • amazing! hes so great! how sweet!

  • i never put a post..thank you for putting this..Silverstein inspired me ...inspires me still> his books changed my life

  • jeez.....what an incredibly sweet, smart, talented guy. i really admire him.

    thanks for posting!

  • The first time I see a video of Uncle Shelby! So many memories...

  • I seriously appreciate your posting of this video.

    I had always known of Shel Silverstein since I was little, but I had never seen a video of him.

  • All my heroes are dead. wtf

  • @Neweddy24 be your own hero

  • @Superchickenman159 lol. K dude.

  • Too much. I used to run into Shel in Key West in the old days. What a great guy...

  • ive been watching some shel silversteins videos a bit today and it seems like alot of people used to run into him all the time and all said how great of a guy he was

  • Wow. This is the first time I've ever seen a video of Shel Silverstein. I've been looking for a performance of his poems, because I heard he actually sang (?) a few of them. Anyone know where I can find them?

    Thanks for posting this, abargle!

  • "The Giving Tree" makes me cry every time I read it to my students.

  • @Siafu66 Then you are a retart.

  • @Siafu66 Awww, I have it autographed, he was my dad's army buddy too.

    You have a heart of gold.

    ox

    JBirdy

  • @Siafu66 same here.

  • @Siafu66 Me too. I 'll share with you why I weep (admittedly, sometimes sob) whilst reading this or listening to Shel narrate his story. It's because I morph this beautiful story of love to the love of us parents for our kids, & God's Love for all of us. The SELFISH boy (all of us) & the SELFLESS tree (God) We reach out as best we can for our kids, & God reaches out the best he can without tainting our gift of free will. The Happy Prince & The Selfish Giant (Oscar Wilde) also gets my soul full.

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  • brilliant man!!!

    r.i.p.

  • Thanks for posting this!!

  • Shel Silerstein was the ultimate entertainer! From Playboy, kids poems, his FUN music - 'Uncle Shelby' will live on in our family!!!

  • Shel is SO talented! I love "The Unicorn" which he wrote. He wrote all the songs on "OLD DOGS" (Waylon, Jerry Reed, Mel Tillis & Bobby Bare) Hilarious songs. best line..."When you're young, your nose smells and your feet run, when you get old, your nose runs and your feet smell!"

    RIP Shel, you were one of a kind!

  • shel looks more like a pirate or a burglar then someone who writes books for kids i don't know why.

  • Dr. Hook writer/band member as well, love him!!!!

  • He wasn't in Dr. Hook, He just wrote a bunch of their songs

  • what does a pirate or a burglar look like exactly? To me a burglar wears a thousand dollar suit and wears a contrived smile. Not Shel.

  • I never knew shel silverstien wrote " A Boy Named Sue". I know him for his children's stories and poems. That is cool!!

  • Shel was a man for all seasons - The Giving Tree was one of his most successful children books.

  • Shel was one of my favorites back in the 70's, few knew he wrote for Dr. and The Medicine Show. He also wrote and illustrated some of the best children's books I've ever seen. He'll be missed for a long time coming, thanks for posting.

  • shel was a beautiful human being miss him a lot

  • What a fantastic song - great posting buddy..

  • I had no idea Shel Silverstein wrote that song! I love it and him even more now! Thank you for posting this, you rock!

  • Shel died 10 years ago today.... RIP

  • Honestly, he kinda looks like someone you would want to keep your kids AWAY from. It just goes to show how decieving apperances can be. Shel was an incredibly insightful man,

    Although I just now remembered that he wrote "The Smoke Off", featured on Dr. Demento. So an incredibly insightful, AND with a very bizzare side, and he will always be missed.

  • Honestly, he kinda looks like someone you would want to keep your kids AWAY from.

    LOL!!!

  • GREAT SONGWRITER

  • love cash

    love uncle shelby.

    this is the greatest thing ive ever seen

  • I've only ever heard Bobby Bare's version with his son (on the "Lullabies, Legends, and Lies" album), thank you so much for posting this Shel treasure!

  • blow wind blow!

  • shel silverstein is an awesome poet

  • My older sister used to read "Listen to the musnt's" to me every night at bedtime. I now read that same poem to my kids every night at bedtime. They adore Shel as much as I did and still do. RIP, Shel.

  • holy crap, I had no idea he wrote "a boy named sue"! it totally sounds like something shel would write too! R.I.P., one of my greatest inspirations. :)

  • shel looks like a pirate or a burgular of something

  • Another gent sadly missed r.i.p shel

  • THIS IS GREAT!

  • That's so touching! Det där är så jävvla rörande så man sitter som gammal farsa, och Silversteinälskare, och bara böööölar i sin enslighet. Tack! Thank you! Kiitos! Merci! Ei saa peitä!

  • Many thanks for the Vid.

    I love Shel and Johnny

  • beautiful, touching