elvis perkins letterman while you were sleeping

[feriousity]

I have heard the album version and it does not do what this version will ever do. This is a thousand times better. It is nice to see live being better than studio, the sign of true musicians.

[1fairportconvention]

One of the best performances on the show I've ever seen. And I have never seen a drummer play the harmonica.

[williamsanders]

@1fairportconvention Try "The Low Anthem". Ben Knox Miller does it all the time (when he's on drums, and not on the gazillion other instruments he plays)

[leol307]

Lennon reborn.

[naty1m]

I remember watching this when it was on TV. When he was done my brother and I broke into applause, we were speachless

[cityofwhat]

3 people are in the blimp?

[JensenLuhar666]

Fantastic song.

THX for posting.

[aferraro7gmail]

I feel like this songs being sung to god,

[Jessev1968]

thanks for posting! learning how to cover this song changed my life! thanks again!

[polarene]

2 people don't like Music.

[gatztopher]

A true man of his times. His father died of AIDS, and his mother died aboard one of the planes flown into the World Trade Center on 9/11.

[kpchester]

Great Live performance...I (still) remember seeing this live and I always listen to it.

[Ollo1412]

Paul Banks with a moustache on upright bass xD

[melora72]

Except for being shortened, I think that this live version is better than the album version. I think it's because of the harmonium. The horn seems too abrupt without the harmonium leading in. I've watched this so many times. It's wonderful.

[vanderWendan]

This is just one of the best things on the internet.

[EMACDUCK1919]

3 minutes it gets soo beautiful and intense

[TwigDjango]

Ugh, shut up Letterman. You stopped being funny when you started ripping on Harvey Pekar.

[DavidMB76]

Elvis Perkins is great — too good for that jerk Letterman.

[Floydisco]

still gives me goosebumps.

[TwigDjango]

'I closed my eyes, but the future it burned through.'

Holy shit, this man is a genius.

[ifaf23]

aah yess music is still alive and well

[TwigDjango]

This is incredible.

[zyguraat]

I cry with this song... it's too beautiful.

[BlackMat3]

its impressing the way they do it!

Respect and Love !

[ahain141]

from :38 to 2:45 i went from thinking i hated this guy to knowin he's the bomb.

just shows, you really gotta look at a work as a whole. lookin forward to seein him.

[vidguy007]

An amazing performance al the way around. The drummer gets extra points.

[vlaf9]

@vidguy007 I saw them yesterday in Quebec City, the drummer was dancing around, he was crazy

[OMNOMMOUSE]

His father died the year I was born, shame. ): He continues on his father's legacy of talent, for sure.

[gauchatche]

Elvis and Oz are beautiful, but their father was more beautiful.

[ktkow]

Spellbinding

[tookool4school]

this song was about his mom who passed away on 9/11.

a very beautiful and touching song. one of my favorites.

[bobjohnson513]

@tookool4school

The first half of the album was written before his mother died. I'm thinking While You Were Sleeping is more about his father's death from AIDS....but I could be wrong...

[melora72]

@bobjohnson513

I've read they are in sequence too. But I wonder if they are with the exception or the first song. If you look at the credits, it has more people in common with songs later in the album than the first ones. It's hard to believe that anyone could come up with something this wonderful as his first song.

If it IS pre 9/11, maybe it's about missing things when we're sleeping as opposed to being awake or dreaming. And those are dreams that everyone has. Falling, flying..

[bernardokeiserman]

gorgeous song, gorgeous album. saw his norah jones opening show in chicago last month, playing solo, amazing. greets from brazil!

[HNpedersenTube]

this was absolute amazing, spellbinding,,,

[edmame]

gorgeous song, so rich

[peterhonda]

such a beautiful song! perfect!

[ub3rmenschx]

Elvis Perkins is such an incredible song writer/musician. His music makes me want to cry, it's filled with so much emotion!

He also puts on an amazing live show.

[ventersiliana]

AMAZING VIDEO THANK YOU SOOO MUCH

[mikerudjazz]

Who's in the band?

[IAmShelleyJane]

Beautiful.

[21borntorun]

elvis, grizzly bear and pt walkley are the finest in the biz right now!!!

[herehouse]

Great job at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass.

[retsam001]

there is a really sad story about him. His mum died in the attacks on 9/11 on flight 11 and it was the day before the anniversary of his fathers death that event shaped his album

its really tragic have to admire his resolve

[Sirdydimus]

He's not dead. WTF....Can't wait to see him next month. So beautiful.

[free2mention]

I met him last fall in Toronto at the Horse-Shoe Tavern..last fall my ass hes dead!

[SWAC424]

I met him last fall in Toronto at the Horse-Shoe Tavern. Had a 'round of whiskey with the band before the show with the buddies at the bar,no lie!

[thejoekster]

what the hell was the drummer doing right when the drums came in? he was like hitting the air...?

[Mrun985]

keeping the beat in his head

[retrogradepink]

gorgeous. i wish this particular performance were available on an album (i'd even take an MP3).

[brenfen]

This is amazing.

[TralalaDooDaDoo]

yay!!

[normanhate]

Great..

[annara]

So much as I have been moved.

leaders mean nothing when we hear truth.

Quake and quake-not

love and love-not

let us re-live or rancor.

why not? we are men

[traptraptraptraps]

What is this?

[WNRNradio]

Evlis Perkins was in studio this week! Check out my page for four different performances.

[savecarvey]

i just saw him at the house of blues in dallas.

SO GOOD!

[benarbia1500]

fantastic song. hope elvis and his band visit norway soon

[SWAC424]

nice perfomance of a great song. I'm seeing him next week in T.O. !

[KeeperOfTheTrees]

Absolutely amazing @ Brattle last night. This is my favorite version of my favorite song. I want my life to be a continuous Elvis Perkins in Dearland concert.

[wickedradicalmandude]

this is some classic stuff.

[kingserj1]

wicked!

[mfdooom]

love this man. fuck the haters

[Ritsel12727]

He was amazing with his band yesterday in Paradiso, Amsterdam!!

[befuddledman]

Great stuff. He reminds me of Roger McGuinn, a sort of wistful quality and some great words.

[disa1987]

love him

[debkakes]

Just heard of him this morning on NPR Morning Edition! What I've been missing -- truly wonderful! I could kill my friends for not telling me, cuz I bet they knew about him.

[brent1229]

wow hes really good, I cant wait to see him at bonnaroo

[pottereader]

comparisons sometimes feel confining, but Mr. Perkins seems to have evolved from Jacques Brel, too. How I've missed him. So very glad to hear Elvis Perkins and Dearland. Love the Doomsday, too.

[4jonah]

i love the way they come out one at a time...its really poetic.

[tharikreis]

It sounds great live! very similar to the album version. Elvis Perkins is amazing!

[BRIANisBALLIN]

geez anyone getting a bob dylan vibe?

[kierstenmh]

first thought exactly

[larrypearce2]

Yeah but the melancholy and gorgeous melody is more akin to Leonard Cohen. I really dig this guy. Gives Conor Oberst a run for his money.

[calcio1020]

Elvis Perkins > Conor Oberst

[redline31102]

I'd say its very compairable to Mr. Johnny Cash also.

[dontpushmedute]

What is that instrument that sounds like an accordian?

[TheSkiesEyes]

Harmonium (Indian Instrument)

[healfast]

this guy has so much behind his name. research his parents. god bless you elvis p.

[badgeronmove]

"... who's making his TV debut with us I'm surprised he's still here" ;)

poor Elvis Perkins

This song is awesome

[signurandal]

every time I listen to this song, it gives me chills. Having rsome knowledge about the tragedies in his life (the deaths of both his mother and father, it makes the song that much more powerful. I saw him at Bonnaroo. Magic.

[jedimindtricks87]

it was awesome seeing this song live. crazy that his dad played norman bates in psycho...

[Buster4]

im seeing him live at colgate university tonight!

[BuddyWillis]

is this an original elvis perkins song?

[Ollo1412]

yes it is and its a f##### awesome one too :)

[BuddyWillis]

word son.

[SVissy]

sans pareil

[TheBoss2332]

His songs and voice remind me of Jeff Mangum from Neutral Milk Hotel a bit.

[gokinsmen]

Absolutely. This one in particular is like the best song NMH never wrote.

Until Jeff comes back (if ever), Elvis Perkins can help fill the void. Not that he doesn't have a style of his own -- it's just in the same creative ballpark.

[ElliTheDragon]

Love this song! It's so beautiful! <3

[mordrelaballe]

Anybody got this version in mp3 form? I have the album, but love this version!

[hongkongfui923]

you could just use audacity, and hit the record button, then play it, and hit stop. that's what i do for these kinds of things.

[mordrelaballe]

Right, 'cause I obviously know how to do that :P

Thanks for the idea, though, I'm sure I'll figure it out.

[nytonks]

Try googling vidtomp3 and check out the first hit

[scrantonian]

vocally sounds like jeff magnum. i like it a lot.

[00red00baron]

I am wow'd every time I listen to this, I have to pry hyself away.

[g33487m]

He is son of Anthony Perlins who died of AIDS .Depressing song about his mother killed in plane crash 9/11 Biggy Berenson actress marissa Berenson sister

[amyeditor]

his mother's name was Berry

[amyeditor]

sorry this was a reply to another comment, but youtube didn't attach it!

[SStockstill]

excellent, i hope i get a chance to see him

[dgrammel82]

Best ever...I love this song!

[sparklenight]

This is such an amazing song - the lyrics are beautiful and profound.

[aemypops]

My word, Elvis looks like his dad! This is such a lovely wee song.

[Fatmanlimbo]

wow

Bob Dylan anybody

He reminds me of him alot

[00red00baron]

Yes, I first heard this song on NPR and immediatley thought how dylan-esque this song was , even more so than dylan.

[hongkongfui923]

that doesn't even make sense.

[therealsolstice]

It's a shame that fame slims our chances of having a real conversation with this person

[TheSKeB]

This is true. But it really has to. Because there are so many people who know that one person, fame, there are continually less and less people who will have that chance. You have to travel in the same circles as them, which is also less likely. I truly wish it weren't that way, though.

[InThisStyleGMinor]

i don't think that's a problem in this case

[karlgetsalong]

Elvis Perkins is amazing. I'm lucky enough to have seen him play this live. His album is brilliant, a true talent.

[therealsolstice]

I totally love this guys style. He sings like he's talking... but it comes out huge... and the way the musicians walk on for each verse to progressively juice up the sound is the best!

I've watched this vid like 10 times in the last few days. It's amazing... and for a live version on a talk show, the sound is incredible.

thanx sooo much to those who recorded this and posted it!

[mathmusic]

What an amazing voice the guy has

[SweetPotatoJunction]

an eye on this one keep

[TheSKeB]

Yoda?

[rsafaye]

Great

[JinzoCreed]

he signed my guitar pickguard =^____^=

[TheSKeB]

I wouldn't let somebody write on my guitar!

[JinzoCreed]

it's not on the guitar, it's on the pickguard, and of course the signed pickguard is now hanging in my room and i put a new pickguard on my guitar...

[TheSKeB]

Well in that case, that is pretty kickass.

[videobartz]

una hermosa canciòn ke hace recordar las historias de leonard cohen y la melamncolìa de costelllo

[cornonthecobbob]

i fell in love with him at bonnaroo '07.

he was amazing and i love his music!

[davidOmatic]

It is a beautiful song and a great performance too.

Thanks for share this

[bhartzer1]

Interesting video, thanks for sharing. I had to watch this several times!

[JinzoCreed]

looking forward to see him in germany

[malpakoza]

he does look like mr. bates....

[vanna81594]

what a touching song

[healfast]

what a differently structured song!

[bowieluv]

beautiful

thats all i can say..

beautiful

[chicoetereo]

i knew him too several months ago thanks to Pandora!!!...not avaible in Spain anymore...

[kingserj1]

Do you know what. I FUCKIN LOVE THIS.

[MysticalChicken]

I've known about Elvis Perkins for several months now--thank you, Pandora dot com--so I knew I had to watch this when it was on. It was just brilliant. I love this guy so much.

[123jeff]

can you upload the clip of dave and pauls road trip that was on at the start of this episode when he's on the phone to kitty?

[stepore]

it's up in my video's section -- letterman -- dave and paul's road trip day 1 -- kitty.