Richard Shindell - Last Fare of the day (Reid Maclean)

[ryanmalham]

nicely done. subscribed done. :)

[myblimpyburger]

so great. From Ann Arbor, Michigan. Next visit I recommend, the Greenwood Church. I will ask them to invite you. I somehow knew Lucy Kaplansky was a person you would know. Your music and songs, are in the Heart Step to Step and Beat so good.

[CarolSuemoo]

Reid - well done man! I was listening to the original today and wanted to share it with a musician friend who's driving a cab to make ends meet till the economy revives (for him), and chose your version (better audio) - and it's great to see a home grown cover. Thanks! James

[dewq17]

Very nice job. This song gets me deep, every time. Did you know it's also supposed to be about the time just after 9/11? Thus "the meters dark" , meaning that cab drivers were not charging for a time after that...or so I've been told.....

[B4Bevier]

Hey Reid, being a great Shindell fan from Germany I found you while looking for Shinell Songs. Since then I follow your channel and I love it. Great singer you are. Beside this one I love your performance of "May you never!" You are great and a great inspiration aswell.

[drydusk]

good job! this is one of my favorites by him.

[DCV321]

I think the sad day the song refers to is a likely miscarriage which, of course, is balanced a year later by the birth or Hope or Grace.

With regard to 9/11 Shindell did do a beautiful song "I Am" that was finally released released on a bonus CD with his most recent release Not Far Now. There is another 9/11 song that deals with the unfortunate aftermath called "The State of the Union". Reid did a really good cover of this song. I will look for other postings of his. Thanks!

[1969tr6]

You show Shindell a great compliment by playing and singing as well or better than he does. Thanks for posting...really.

[NateontheGuitar]

I honestly never like covers of anyone i listen to, but yours was really amazingf!

[ScottBentley64]

I agree with everyone else who said what a fine performance this is. Thnks or posting it so I can learn to play this really beautiful song. Shindell really IS one of the best songwriters, isn't he!? Another one that moved me just as much is Reunion Hill!

[jtbernard1]

wow. fantastic voice. video made my day.

[stars1861]

Great job. Richard would approve, I'm sure. I always felt this was about the same couple, post 9-11. She thanks him for turning off the radio-"I could not bear another word." Saw RS last year, but he didn't sing this. He is fanastic in concert.

[ragandbone]

I love this song. I came here looking for Cat Stevens' "The Wind" but I am so pleased to hear this song too!

really wonderful version!

[folkmusicgirl]

I am a hugh Richard Shindell fan as he is such a great songwriter/musician so I usually don't expect much when I hear someone doing a cover song of his. Matter fact I'm usually disappointed majority of the time when I hear singers on YouTube covering many artists I listen to like Joan Baez, Sandy Denny, Donovan, etc.But you are the exception! I was pleasantly surprized to hear how very good a singer/musician you are after hearing your cover of this song.Your voice/guitar playing is outstanding!

[reidospeedo1234]

hey there,

thanks for the kind words. i've always really liked this song. i heard richard shindell play just once at an old barn in Vermont and this song knocked me out. second favorite is cancion sencilla. i just got back from buenos aires for a wedding and that song was a big hit with the argentines.

i'll check out sandy denny. never heard of him/her (?)

till next time,

reid

[folkmusicgirl]

Hi Reid:

Just wondering if you could make a video singing one of my very favourite Richard Shindell's song called, "Sparrows Point?"

You might want to look up a folk singer named Jackson C. Frank. He only had one album out & there is a lot of information about him on the internet. Sadly, he did pass away in the 1990's. British folksinger, Sandy Denny was his girlfriend for a short time &recorded some of his songs. I think you might like his songs.He was American but spent a lot of time in UK.

[AllagashSinclair]

Wow. I have to say I was expecting the worst. trying to cover Shindell--probably the greatest living American singer-songwriter today--usually results in disaster, but this was damn fine! Beautiful, rich, guitar, and acoustics. Very pleasantly surprised!

[GEOHHADDAD]

I must say that you surprised me. I think Richard Shindell is the single most gifted American singer/songwriter alive and he is so subtle that most covers are heartless by comparison. But you did a great job. By the way the song is about 9-11 and it's not the same couple. A classic song of despair and renewal. You have good taste in music as well as talent.

[AllagashSinclair]

I'm not sure this song has anything to do with 9-11?? Is there some ifo you have that confirms this? The opening lyrics don't seem to support that. I think it is the same couple. He picks them up first, after she has a miscarraige, then a year later after actually having a baby. But I could be mistaken...

[GEOHHADDAD]

Yeah, I thought it was the same couple as well. But it's not. When I first heard it I had no idea it was about 9-11 either. That was conformed straight from the horse's mouth when I saw Shindell perform in 2007 and he talked a bit about the song. As is the case with his many of his best songs written in the "first person" there is a lot of universality regradless of whether the song is vague like Last Fare or specific like Che Guevara T Shirt. The mark of a great writer.

[AllagashSinclair]

Wow, I just can't make a connection to 9-11. He says "saw them standing in the rain"...considering there was no rain on or after 9-11 for days...I don't get the lyric. Unless it's a metaphor for all the crap in the air raining down on people. But then again, the GWB was closed after the attacks, so there was no way to take a cab to Englewood, NJ on 9-11....

[joecoolmccall]

The same couple? hmm- I never thought of that- I took it as if the the first couple was an elderly couple- "she might fall if he let go"- nearing the close of life..and obviously the second couple being much younger- celebrating new life.

My first impression was that there was some sort of compare and contrast going on...with the road representing life...(I over analize too much I guess..)

BUT- the idea that it's the same couple has a nice ring too it...I'll have to think about it..

[jpg0572]

What kind of guitar is that? It looks like a Martin something and it sounds fabulous!

[ronerin]

Mr. Maclean, This is my single favorite Richard Shindell song, and you do it the justice it deserves. Bravo, sir.