Harry Chapin's Story of a Life Live (High Quality)

[JCLII]

From what I understand, Harry was driving a Volkswagon b and was in the blind spot of a tractor trailer. The guy switched lanes and never saw him. Harry and Jim Croce. Both taken too soon.

[unartistic]

Why does this not have more likes than this?

[NIBIRUROCK]

a great songwroter



[f2benny]

I don't think there's any alcohol related connection to Chapin's death as far as I've read. Still a good idea to avoid drunk driving, but not due to his death.

[Lulufen89]

This man is my number one reason for not driving drunk... The man who crashed into him and killed him stole a talent that can never be replaced...

[schneidsgame]

Shannon loves Harry too and she kissed Big John Wallace on the lips in St. Petersburg circa 1992.

[Philpotts24]

I saw him sing this at the Dominion - must have been 1981. Loved it since.

[nicheprof]

What is the story of your life going to be? Ahh...that is the question

[rustywrh]

Imagine the songs this guy would have undoubtedly written about some of the events since his death... Katrina, 911, etc..... I saw him live once at the college I was attending not too long before he passed. Great show, great memory.

[KJJSaintPaul]

jwilly and everyone else - There will never be another Harry, but I want to recommend a wonderful singer/songwriter/storyteller I discovered recently. If you get the chance, look on YouTube for Chuck Brodsky and check out his stuff. He's a serious talent and a serious writer, and I can't recommend him to you highly enough. I think Harry would approve of him.

[tnoonan2013]

A great talent gone much too soon. Today is the 30th anniversary of his death.

[KJJSaintPaul]

What would you have accomplished with another 30 years, Harry? We'll never know, to our loss. you died this day, 30 years ago.

[Mr48ironfan]

Well said ckeels143. This is my number one choice for my desert island discs--but could easily have been any of 7 others ! The greatest singer/storyteller ever with a way with words that touched every emotion -- my favourite Chapin words ?

When I rearrange the pieces and puzzles of my past

I'll smile at the heartaches and relive the laughs

Think about the moments that have left their mark

And the too few faces that shone a little light in the dark

Pure genius and my epitaph to be

[ckeels143]

MY LIFE WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN AS RICH, IF IT WERE NOT FOR THIS MAN.

HE TOUCHED MY SOUL AND HIS WORDS RANG TRUE IN MY HEART.

[MetalHeadChick130]

This was my grandpa's favorite song.

Now, wherever he is, he's writing his new version of the story of his life, but this time with a happy ending.

R.I.P. Grampie. I love you til the end of time.

8-22-1948 - 6-10-2011

[jwilly166]

Sometimes I wonder what happened to the great (Story Tellers) song writers. My friend turned me on to Harry when I was 16. I was young/dumb and thought KISS was the best band in the world. I got invited to one of Harry's concerts but my parent's wouldn't let me go as "16 was far too young to go to rock concerts." He died tragically later that year. I'm much older now but still find myself waiting for the next Harry to come along and show us all how truly great songs are written. Thanks Harry!

[papaof10]

And all the lips you never kissed

Cut through you like a knife.

And now you see stretched out before thee

Just another story of a life.

[DCgarrett]

Yes we all do miss him so, but yet feel so fortunate to have listened to his music and his charitable causes [ World Hunger ]. And due to You Tube can still listen and watch his unbelievable music

[brianbdp1]

I was fortunate enough to see Harry Chapin shortly before he died. After a wonderful concert in Evansville,IN Harry ,carried his young son on his shoulders out to the front lobby and made himself accessible to anyone that wanted to speak to him or have a picture made with him. It was a special time when many of the legends like him came to town. Chapin, Gordon Lightfoot, James Taylor and John Denver were all here back then, no one like them .

[mswhaley]

I am 76 now and I still love his music.

[Pegasus714]

Even after all these years, I still feel his loss deeply. It's really amazing how much you can miss someone you've never even met.

[myangell02]

terife, I'm not sure, but I do know this was put onto an album track, I believe the 3 cd compilation set actually called "Story Of A Life"... Not sure, but I know it's been released as audio only, if you can figure out which one, you might be closer to figuring out if it was filmed there. Or get ahold of Howie Fields, his drummer, he runs Howie Fields Rock Paper, he kept track of all this stuff...

[moparbody]

he sums it all up in that song

[terife]

Man I miss Harry. Does anyone know if this was shot at Hamilton Place? I saw him there not too long before he died. I don't think there's been another artist that has had the impact upon me as Harry has.

[71morehead]

@terife PBS put the Hamilton concert on years ago and this is the opening song of that concert, I believe...it has been a long time since I have seen that tape.

[rdvqc]

I have always loved Harry's work - both writing and performing. Gone far too young along with Stan Rogers and Stevie Goodman

[wolverbob]

First time I saw Harry was in Jacksonville in the mid-70s. Everyone was having such a good time he just kept on playing and playing and playing and nobody was leaving.

[TheBluesDixonary]

I'm 62. I met Harry when I was 28 and there has not been a day since that I have not thought of him. He was the purest person I've ever me. When he died, a part of me died. A part of the world died.

[golf4par44]

The William Shakespeare of songwriters. In the golden era of songwriters he was the best. The world lost a great one when he died.

[golf4par44]

The William Shakespeare of songwriters. In the golden era of songwriters he was the best.

[iTzxDioxidE]

Goosebumps.

[ricnlisa]

the one and only!!!!

[Rastafari6]

Harry lives

[memorybabe1954]

A beautiful song, one of so many written and sung by a beautiful human being. He left a huge legacy. It almost makes you cry to think of how much better this world would be if he hadn't died so tragically so long ago. He would have added so much more to the huge amount of goodness that he spread during his short lifetime. They should make a movie about him.

[DivingHawk1]

This Song is it. We lost Harry way to young!!!

[peapodhas3]

*sighhh* :)

[pattytude]

I can relate

[kalelskywalker]

the man just seemed like a gent.

all your dreams of open spaces, you find in your childrens faces-genius.

[LampoonedHerd]

Happy Birthday Tyler == son

[LampoonedHerd]

@harry ~ love hath no fury such as this evokes of my spirit: why?

[cloudwaters]

I still miss Harry -- Amazing song!

[toddbria]

What a writer and singer and I agree with the many who have commented he's been gone nearly thirty years and I too miss him!

[cgargiul]

Have there been better artists or singers than Harry Chapin? Of course. But has there EVER been a songwriter or a performer who has simultaneously written more songs that inspired me and moved to the verge of tears? Not even close. Almost 30 Years later, and you are still Loved and Missed!

[margee40]

@cgargiul

he was the best!!!

[JollyXRoger1]

If I'm not mistaken this was recorded August 19 1980 at Hamilton Place, Hamilton, ONT (The Hammer) Some say the last recorded show before his death.......what a song, what a great version....

[JDean1953]

Sorry, I need to make a correction on the post below. I saw Harry at ACC in 1978, 3 years before he died. Guess my memory is failing with age. Just the same it was a great show. Long live Harry!

[JDean1953]

I'll never forget when I saw him in 1983. He was appearing at Auburn Community College in Auburn, NY. His flight from NYC was delayed over an hour. He finally came running in through the doors at the back of the gym he was performing at and played continuously for 3 and a half hours (solo) with no breaks. Afterwards he signed autographs. He was an amazing person and gifted songwriter-storyteller. Sadly, he never got the recognition he truly deserved. Harry, your legacy will always live on. RIP

[garrambide]

One of my few regrets in life, in not having seen him live. He is a story teller with out peer. God Bless You Harry. Your are forever in our hearts.

[ricnlisa]

Harry is the best, so sad of his passing , so young, not a better singer song writer..wish I was more his era....

[kitosdad]

Harry was the greatest song-writer I have ever had the honour of hearing and seeing.

Whenever he performed songs such as this you could hear a pin drop in the halls. He enchanted his audiences.

There will NEVER be another Harry. The KING!

[Catra7]

Love this song. So sad he was taken from the world so tragically.

Thanks for posting this video. The quality is remarkable.

[jstracq]

anyone know the chords?

[virtualstrangers60]

Excellent! What a loss when he went.

[LostSisler]

i love this song. Great quality recording as-well.