"When a Child Is Born" by Roy Zimmerman

[metalisbetter1o00]

Xbox's are pretty awesome...

[jufconnie]

Just heard the new version by Niakitten. It's a beautyful song!

[niakitten]

@jufconnie Awww thanks :) I'm totally flummoxed...Roy put it in his newsletter! It was all I could do not to run down the halls of my apartment building screaming "YAY!"

[elvismilk]

great tune Roy.

[ertansaygi]

Though i like your satirical, synical, septical songs more i must say i like your playing in this song (And i'm not a father or even married -and dont wanna be-)

Good song.

Regards from Turkey.

[kendonagasaki9]

Just brilliant Roy. Heartfelt and true.

[TobyWonKenoby]

Wow, Roy, I wasn't expecting you to play it straight. This one grabbed me by the heart, instead of by the funny bone.

[B7eema]

So different from you usual satire, but this was such sweet poetry. Just beautiful.

[Splangy1]

hard for me to get but I liked it and I mean the song

[sICKmAcHiNe1]

This man is a musical savant!

[texphile]

The sweetest song ... I felt the same way when my son was born. Thanks for writing.

[jvondd]

It's kind of strange to hear Roy Zimmerman do a song that wasn't satire.  Still, it was a cute song.

[MountOlivet]

beautiful song.

[warriorscholar]

This is a remarkably beautiful song.

[Lupinssupins]

Cafeeine, mS28811, WHAT?!Give it a REST! Ur bizarre discours has zip to do w/ this stunning song;take it outside already! Same to those who pick this thread to slam religion, atheism, skepticism, ethical humanism or other moral/spiritual belief systems. Just detracts from the achingly beautiful lyric, melody & voice. To the artists - I'm drawn to this video repeatedly to assuage a terrible bereavement in what my lost one himself called "the bizarre bazaar" of the holiday season. Thank you.

[petfoodonly]

I thumbed them down just to spite them - you should too ;)

[Cafeeine]

Please do, it won't bother me, in fact it proves my point ;)

[niakitten]

Freakin' gorgeous. This will be a Christmas staple. :)

(Though I did spend a fun-filled few hours playing Wii last night...full disclosure! :D)

[NancythePatriot]

Today we are closer to bringing our children all those wonderful things you listed!

I know about sons wanting to play those vid games.

Why, my son named one of his World of Warcraft characters after you, "Roy Zimmerman"!

[NancythePatriot]

Thank you, Roy and Melanie, for sharing this lovely song with us.

[lexiibabbii113]

mann i got 6 down. shit.

[mS28811]

I hate the thumbs up/down system, its fuckin stupid.

[lexiibabbii113]

for real.

[moosesgalore]

Well, it's democracy. Deal with it. Everybody that disagrees with most idiots will be silenced, even if they are right. Democracy isn't about being right, but general consensus.

[mS28811]

Views should not be suppressed in a democracy.

[Cafeeine]

I've heard that phrase a lot, and I think it has been misinterpreted (not necessarily by you). In a democracy, noone can stop me from talking, but noone is obliged to listen either. Case in point, thumbed down comments are still there one click away. They are not suppressed, they are heard and rejected. Do I like it when its my idea? No. Do I think it can be corrupted? Yes. But its arguably the best available system.

[mS28811]

Fine people don't have to pay attention to my post, but making it disappear is not a democracy.

[Cafeeine]

Actually it is, especially as it they are not really making it disappear, just hiding it, your name is still shown and interested parties can still read it. I could say that mass posting to bury your comments has the same effect to your post, and you can't say thats undemocratic. There needs to be a process for ideas that have been presented, and denied.

[mS28811]

And no it is not the best available system. The best available system is to let the posts just be there with no voting system. Same goes for the spam button, it is abused too much.

[Cafeeine]

Then I could arguably 'bury' your posts with an inundation of my own, and your comments become just as harder to find. Only difference is, the thumbs system is more honest.

Can't disagree with you about the spam button, although I really don't see a lot of spam lately.

[mS28811]

My point is, that a lot of people when thumbing through comments simply ignore the ones with a lot of thumbs down. That comment may be unpopular, but nevertheless correct. I think leaving things the way they were would have been better. And as for the spam button, you will see on a lot of videos criticizing Creationism that Christians go through and mark the posts critical of them as spam so as not to be noticed.

[Cafeeine]

I totally get that, and agree. The problem is that one category of people fail to properly read and another abuse their privileges to buttress their views. This would continue even without the thumbs because they are the same people. Misuse of a system does not necessarily mean it is a bad system.

[mS28811]

I agree with your last statement, but it is bad system. People that disagree just give thumbs downs instead of actually debating the issue.

[deconverts]

"Misuse of a system does not necessarily mean it is a bad system."

Yeah, it does. Some penalty against Mis-use should be applied to improve the system.

[Cafeeine]

In my experience there are no perfect solutions, and people who wish to tilt the system in their favour will try (and often) find a loophole to do so. Unrestricted comments was the original system that was just spammed to death, leaving it to the video owners to do tedious deleting work. The ideal would be to force people to THINK and ARGUE, but there is no way to do that. Ironically in a free society, people are free to be closeminded.

[Bondomusic]

Aye, through being closeminded though, they limit the real freedom of those who aren't in a matter of speaking.

[anniemcu]

If you long to look into the eyes of G_D, just look into the eyes of a tiny child.

[jrd7]

You mean god's eyes are too big for his head?

[anniemcu]

Only when god's hungry. 8^D

[CarolynMary2]

Just love him. And by the way guys...I think he's talking about how it makes him feel, not that it's bad that a child wants a toy..just that it's hard when you want them to have love and happiness, and you can't get that across.

[lexiibabbii113]

I THOUGHT HE WAS A COMDIAN?

[mS28811]

What's your point? Jim Carrey and Robin Williams are also comedians but still do serious movies.

[LogicBound]

There is nothing in LIFE more holy than our children and nothing more SACRED than what we leave to them by way of inheritence...WOW, if there is a "spirit" to christmas, that's got to BE it! :-)

[Cabiee]

Amazingly beautiful!

[wildheartmuse]

As a parent of teenaged boys I really understand where this song is coming from. You give them everything that is non-tangible and they want 'stuff'. It is human nature. They will have the same from thier children.

[sexdrugsRnR]

zimmerman should be touring universities...

[froste12]

he really should. he should start in Canada where his views might be more accepted, well excluding western Canada, and rural Canada, and anywhere where Stephen harper is popular. But he would be immensely popular in Europe, excluding Russia and Serbia

[rissaofthesaiyajin]

In the UK. (Please!)

[dasilodavi]

I believe he does. He recently visited my alma mater, the University of Oklahoma.

[system0slaven]

They wont a x box !

SAd world we live in

[tpoucat]

Woa now, the only thing I ever wanted when I was younger was an x-box, c-mon they're probably only like 13?

[Fightie4]

asshole, remove the stick from your ass. because a kid wants a toy, dear lord, lets run for the hills, the end of the world. All thought and reason is gone.

[sciencedoggy]

At least it's a realistic expectation.

[sedroray]

Like a modern Ray Stevens - hilarious and witty, but with a passionate and sincere side. I love it.

[jackmcdaid53]

Still my favorite song, and even made better by hearing the studio version of it on iTunes!!!!

As much as I love the more clever lyrics of most RZ songs, his voice and music are so rich that simpler lyrics complement his music nicely too, and by simpler i don't mean less meaningful, just more poetic. This guy can do it all!!

[akivancg]

awsome! beautiful, perfect.

[thedenise]

beautiful!

[lolpigs]

Please dont ever stop. You give hope to all those who thought they were alone in their thoughts with the way the world was heading.

You are wonderful.

[McDaidUSA]

I love your voice, and the way you weave a tune, and the lyrics just amaze me, and all of this from just seeing you play live with your own guitar on youtube... I'm at the point now of wanting to hear a studio arrangement... love to see you with a band behind you... its been a lot of fun... wow!

[Samjew]

I've been adoring your YouTube videos for months now without commenting, but I just wanted to say...

I've been planning a musical about a modern-day nativity story, and the one song I was plotting out was a lot like this one.

You're the man, Roy.

[achievist]

Lovely.

As a father of two boys, I can identify with the immense emotion behind the lyrics. Indeed, Roy, there is nothing more holy than the celebration of life, and the arrival of a new child remains the crowning moment that defines this notion. Thank you for this beautiful gift, and Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones.

[GamberroSalvador]

I hate to say this, but I got to be straight: Your voice sounded kinda off-key on a few parts.

Creative criticism.

[blackcat355]

Constructive, I think you mean.

I've got to agree with him, though, Roy. It takes away a bit from the beauty of the song, which is a pity because it's so lovely.

Other than that, though, I think it's a great piece of music. Keep it up, Roy.

[Choo69]

its written like that, supposedly giving a ver romantic flow through the song.

which I think he has done brilliantly.

[cindyva65]

Merry Christmas!

[japanime99]

Very nice great song Happy holidays Roy

Bryan

[JustOneEarth]

Absolutely beautiful. :)

[Xakryn]

Out done yourself again Roy. Very Well done.

You're a Lyrical Genius.

I have to ask as well. What is your opinion of Ron Paul?

[narzy]

so umm whats your view on ron paul?

[DeletedDelusion]

The world is saved everytime a child is born.

Awesome, merry Christmas.

[Sadclowndoesfrown]

sounded like the music from firefly. nice one roy

[gumdropster]

that's song is called The Ballad of Serenity.../random trivia

[CousinoMacul]

That was great Roy!

Also, this is like the 3rd or 4th video in a row where my comment has made the 1st page. I guess I'm one of your few fans who has no life and is sitting in front of his computer on Christmas Eve. ;-)

Merry Christma-Hanu-you know, Happy Holidays!

[AppleCider99]

thanks Roy. Like another poster mentioned, people often miss your great vocal range and voice

[anmoose]

Beautiful song, Roy!

Merry Christmas!

Moosie

[biggydman]

Truly beautiful! Thank you for sharing your heart as well as your humor with us!

[SpiritusDeae]

People are often so engrosssed in your guitar playing and lyrics that they miss your outstanding vocal range and tone of voice. A truly beautiful song. Thank you, Happy Holidays and Blessed Yule.

[joojoojabba]

A wonderful song as usual, Roy. Have a merry Christmas.

[Mattnesss]

great! :)

[lorelaifan]

i take that video as a christmas present roy :) great song as always

[RoyZimmerman]

Yes. Happy Holidays and all the days to everyone from the Zimmerman Harby family.

Peace,

Roy

[lehman]

cool