Tom Rush - The Child's Song, from DVD "How I Play (some of) My Favorite Songs"

[karenrae58]

I love this song! Makes me cry thinking about my mom who's been gone over a year now. A friend once told me how she cried when I left home. Mom prepared me for it though!

[bronhi]

I love this song. Love, love, love it! It reminds me of Dylan's I was Young When I Left Home but I love this song more.

[TheMarsoff]

спасибо 

[73scoobi]

Wow Tom simply amazing

[sjbaldwin11]

I shamelessly stole this version from Tom. I've played it for my family, especially my elderly Mom, who loves it. As I love. My eternal thanks to Murry McLauchlan and especially to Tom Rush for showing me how to play it.

[pdc726]

No.1 daughter departed from Mass. for Boulder 2 days ago. 50 miles down the road I got a wonderful text when she discovered I had placed Child's Song in her car CD player. At 25, she had never heard the song before and said Tom Rush nailed it. He (and Murray M) certainly did. Here's hoping TR has a new fan in Colorado.

[MrEconline]

If you dislike this your not a human being

[AlanClinton123]

makes me wanna cry...in a good way

[Chrilleball1979]

You say Lady Gaga, I say The Doors

You say Hannah Montana, I say The Rolling Stones

You say Owl City, I say Led Zeppelin

You say Jonas Brothers, I say The Beatles

You say Justin Bieber, I say Queen

You say Taylor Swift, I say AC/DC

95% of teens these days listen to the same crappy pop over and over again. If you're one of the 5% who still listens to real music, thumb this up, then copy & paste it to at least five videos. Don't let real music die!

[Iaff939]

Wow. That's all. Wow. Sit back and listen. If you're 19 or 49 it will impact you.

[pshkdavis]

NPR interviewed Tom Rush today. First time I've heared the song, but very appropriate for graduation time

[jimbascom]

I stumbled upon this touching, truthful song while looking for another...yes, it moved me deeply, too. I'll learn it for my mom's 88th birthday in August. The song and words are ageless. Banjo Jim

[dingdongqpalzm]

I am not joking that was emotional and heart touching I am definitely liking thanks for the song

[Ryedor]

Very nicely done .. good soul in a very soulful song. One of my favorites from the Rushman.

[luckyrabbitfoot99]

i am just another stupid teenager who like punk and techno, but i swear to i am trying so hard not to cry, and even as im writing this i have tears in my eyes. god bless you all.

[verbaud]

This song by Tom inspired me to go to Woodstock and hit the road and find life. He is one of the most talented song interpreters I found in my life. He gave me Joni Mitchell, James Taylor & Murray Mclaughlin before I knew who they were. He was a beautiful, fresh faced young man who looked like all my friends at the time. Now he looks like all my beautiful experienced friends I still love dearly today. Bless you, Tom.

[lumandesanto]

@verbaud so beautifully stated.....

[hatchgarden]

Can't stop cryin when playin this song. I remember my mom when she still living...its hard for her until we grew up.

[kenorian]

Played this over and over again when my son left for boot camp....

[mvo5720]

Great performance of a great song....Mike

[JASMINEGUITARPLAYER]

this song is so beauitful it makes me cry =')

[TenHouseCats]

i wrote out the lyrics, and left them for my mother the day i moved out of her house. 1971, i think it was.

[yobobbyc37]

THIS IS FOR MY FAMILY.

[SurfGoldCoast]

Great

[ginry12]

Listening to "Witchita Lineman" got me thinking about this song and those years.

[shebinkow65]

This is execllent Tom, I have the original MM Live on Vinyl & have always loved this song of Murray. Great voice & great sounding guitar. Has anyone ever told you that you look like John Prine ?

[marlowe1600]

Simply one of my favorite songs of all time. Played it and cried buckets as I left my parents' home to move and get married in 1976. Thanks, Tom, for this heartbreakingly beautiful rendition.

[lilyoidu]

38 years and this song still makes me cry

[ThePwctv]

This makes me sad :(

[guitar62751]

Great tune ! Awesome performance !

I just heard it for the first on the

Festival Express DVD yesterday.

Stu

[Niamhdm7871]

This was just awe inspiring to watch. Love your picking, style.

[dtgutman]

Tom, just discovered your live performance of this song on the special features section of the movie Festival Express. It was one of the most special music moments my husband and I have ever had. We immediately went out and bought several of your records. You sound just as wonderful here... what an amazing artist you are! Now we've got to go out and find your Homespun video, as we are both guitarists and would love to learn from you. Thanks for giving us such a beautiful gift with your music.

[skatetrue19]

Wow, that's amazing, I just saw Festival Express today and I also was very taken by your wonderful performance of this beautiful song Tom. Thank you for this.

[horizont20001]

ilike your voice

5*

[mombabytiger]

I can't listen to this without crying. Thanks for posting.

[gschiess]

just saw him live in Minneapolis. could have heard a pin drop when he did this as his last song. not a dry eye in the hall.

[danskheste]

Oh I love this song, thanks so much!

[pistolabus]

my lord thats a beautiful song...that killed me

[frostbittencanadian]

Tom Rush does an absolutely incredible job on this beautiful song. The song was written by a gentleman by the name of Murray Maclauchlan,

who like me, just happens to be a Canadian!!

It's too bad that there is not a clip on here of this song being sung by Murray.........

[kingofcaravans]

I love this song, i fell myself welling up just writing this.

[48squinnav]

Great Song. I was up in Warner,NH since '48, always thought of Tom as a neighbor. Probably shared an ice cream at the North State Street Dairy Bar in Concord,NH.

[57jar]

ive been to so many of toms shows wish he didnt move from nh great person one of my favorite songs

[DavidS1231]

I just saw him play this last night, 8/14/09, at the Philadelphia Folk Festival and he was fantastic! Such a beautiful song performed by such a great artist!

[amazongift]

Great stuff

5****big stars....Mel

[EverElizabeth]

This song is so amazing....I had to share it with my friends, just too funny, lol !!!

Endless, endless stars !!!!!

[hotrodmimi]

This song makes me cry......This song describes my brother leaving home, and how he responded to our parents...Love the part where he says..."little sister, you'll have to wait awhile to come along...". Because one day Stephen, you sister WILL be with you. Love you Brother....And I know you did what was best for YOU. And I am so proud of you Brother...

[DoorofPerception60]

This is so sweet, God man! *Tear rushing to my eye*

[maida1982a]

few rival tom's ability to capture the beauty and power of a song that he didn't write. this and urge for going are 2 of them

[FlyMoon97]

I am glad that my brother SK sent this to me. I smell my daughter's hair and tell her I love her all the time, especially when we listen to music like this. It speaks for itself. Thanks to you brother...and all of you listening...

[rolandgladden]

Very touching.

[rosesredvioletsblue]

Amazing voice and song.

for those who have written about serving

in the military -- I thank you for your

sacrifice!

Wow, this is difficult to listen to without

crying. This is a video everyone should watch.

thank you, tomrush2.

[sgtreilly]

In 1970 when I was a senior in high school I needed a way to go to college. I did a desperate thing and joined the Marine Corps. My father got angry and my mother cried. A friend lent me the Tom Rush album and I heard this song. I taped it on my Dad's reel-to-reel the day I left for Paris Island. Two years later when I came home from Viet Nam, my Dad played it for me and told me it was one of his favorites. A shock for he loved only Classical.

[4711StGermain]

Took my new Martin & backpack and left a letter to my mom & dad in the mail box. Hitched from Mass. to the Big Sur. Surely broke her heart - but I was 18 and burning to live. Wish I could have talked to them about it. That was 1967, 18 mos later I was a medic in II Corps Vietnam. Hug your kids and smell their hair and tell them you love them. (glad you made in home, too Sarge! Happy Memmorial Day to you. Doc Tom

[talkrite]

this is a wonderful song that is "Timeless"... to all parents and their children when they grow up.

[teddyoneills]

Success is fleeting, talent is everlasting, anyone who has not bought Toms new album "What I know" is missing out on more of the same from this truly gifted songsmith. Anyone living stateside, you dont know how lucky you are to be able to get to a concert. I would love the chance to see him unfortunately there is a rather large pond between Ireland and the states stopping me at the moment. Teddy O'Neill Dublin.

[Fretkillr]

A fine singer-songwriter. The Ladies Love Outlaws album is a real gem. "Jenny Lynn" is a favorite with James Taylor on harmony vocals. "She's my best friend. Let me say it again."

[felixq78]

I've only known his "No Regrets" and have just now discovered this song as well as some others.

This one has taken me back 40 years to when I left home as we all must. Just wonderful, so inspired.

[ikbeneengek666]

were could i find the tabs of this beutiful song?

[ricksterr14]

watching the video closely is probably the best way to get it accurately. looks like a bunch of C G F and Am variations to me -- not too bad. maybe google it? good luck

[tremoloheart]

You know, another song about leaving home, much less cerebral, but along the same line was "Sugar Mountain" by Neil Young. Both these guys are icons in my mind. Tom Rush deserves more credit than he gets.

[felixq78]

Why would you need tabs? You've got the video, be brave shoudn't take too long to see what he's playing.

[duncandenny]

Listen to songs Prine did with the late Steve Goodman and I grew up in Winnipeg where Neil Young sang in every church basement, he was too young to play in pubs.

[tremoloheart]

Tom Rush wrote a hauntingly beautiful guitar instrumental called Rockport Sunday in a funcky open chord tuning. Someone PLEASE do a cover of this song...maybe fretkiller. I've found only two covers and they're only partials.

[teddyoneills]

Tom has brought out a dvd on how he plays most of his good songs and its available to buy on his website. Its very easy to follow and as Tom tells you he never learned guitar in the usual way, just by ear mostly, so there is hope for everyone. Log on and buy the dvd now and while you are at it, order his new cd, its brillant.

Teddy O'Neill Dublin

[mainducky]

My daughter left home almost one year ago. She had stayed with me for three years following the death of her Mom. I watched her drive away as tears ran down my face. This song really hits home.

[catwomansd]

I cried the first time I heard this song in 1972 waiting to be drafted, sleeping on my friends couch.

[pennysworth]

I've loved this man's music for 40 years but it appears he's sung this song one too many times. Check out the original version.

[tremoloheart]

He's probably pretty well aware of the oringinal. We'll give Tom Rush licence to make adjustments on how he feels about the subject matter, especially a song of this nature, especially after 40 years of reflection. And I'm not so sure that this song can be played too many times.

[alwayslooking4space]

what kind of guitar is he using, the headstock doesn't have a name on it? it sounds great, what it is?

[bigdjindustriez]

It's a custom made guitar made by Don Musser in 74' when he was just starting out as a luthier, he's now a pretty famous luthier (guitar builder).

[tremoloheart]

I can't find luthier in Webster's New Universal Unabridged dictionary (copyright 1994), and maybe you're just spelling it wrong because I have heard the word, but I thought a luthier was the last guy on the line. When I went to the Gibson plant in Memphis, the tour guy really referred to the guy at the end, stringing it, tuning it, playing it., jamming. All of these guys are good musicians and good guitarists. Can you imagine that gig?1 Anyway, I'll investigate it more. Thanks for your comment.

[bigdjindustriez]

A luthier (IPA: /ˈluːtɪə(r)/) is someone who makes or repairs stringed instruments. The word luthier comes from the French word luth which is French for "lute".

[moonjuke]

i think this song is great

makes me think about what its gonna feel like when i leave

[Hutchhaven]

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS SONG. THANK YOU TOM

[williedb47]

Beautiful song. Tom Rush does a great job singing and playing this song.

[duncandenny]

He does a great job sinning any song.

[HowlinW]

No matter how long Murray lives, he will ALWAYS get his named spelled wrong. It's McLauchlan (NOT McLaughlin). But it IS a great song, and he's written dozens more, equally affecting.

[maida1982a]

I cannot listen to this song without crying and I have been listening to it for many many years. A beautiful and sad song.

[SCLOGSE]

Heard it when it came out..around 1968. Good to hear it now.

[fuciledacaccia]

I cannot find the picking pattern on this song...would you share it with us??

[KingofRoath]

He has! This is an instructional DVD - go and buy it!

[RoadNasty]

As heartfelt a song that's ever been written......I've loved it for many years now.

[MichaleenOFlynn1]

heart-wrenching

[kenorian]

when my son left for boot camp, I cried my eyes out listening to this song over... and over.. .and over... The I remembered when I first heard it - when I left my folks' house in '74... Thanks Tom....

[tommybball46]

I wore this album out back in the '70s. I've seen Tom a few times in the last couple years. You can shut your eyes and swear you're listening to a studio recording. TR, you are the best!

[FonkyLynx]

Been a fan of Tom's since "Panama Limited". Here's a nice rendition of a song by Canada's Murray McLaughlin. Thanks...bob

[Pattyoday]

No matter how much time passes, Tom Rush always sings and plays this song so well. This piece also displays his great delivery on the guitar.

Keep on truckin', Tom! (Did I really say that?)

Patty-o.....:-)

[shaddyhills]

I remeber this song when I left home for the first time and absolutely cried my eyes out - thanks for this great song

[SCLOGSE]

I played this song for myself and my mother when I went to Vietnam.

[TrueHavik]

that must have been a heavy moment then... CHeers:)

[specialk3123]

its a very fitting song, thank you for serving

[alliesw]

@SCLOGSE I'm glad you're still here to write about it today.

[dbailey62]

Certainly one of Murray's finest compositions!

[dustoffranger]

I sang this song to my son and daughter, on the day of their departure from home to college. Very powerful; and a once in a lifetime chance to sing it with great personal meaning.

[OGollaher]

This song made me cry when I first heard it many, many years ago. I was about 19-ish and ready to leave home. Now I'm 54 and my son is where I was then...

[rudakai]

You got Dylan, Lightfoot ,and maybe a couple of other super troubadors but Tommy Rush ain't too damn far behind 'em, baby!!! "Urge for Goin'", "No Regrets" and this tune puts him right up their amongst the great ones!!!

[speburns]

We saw him Friday night. He still has a great voice. He sang this song. It was great!

[dominicue]

Thank you for posting an ageless, timeless and most poignant song sung by a marvel.

[craig1961]

OMG I love the music Tom!! I saw you sing back in 1980 in south paris, maine. The best years of my life

[bgpritch]

Tom, you sound great,like Ian Tyson you will always have THAT VOICE ....ageless!! Is that a David Russell Young guitar...it sound terrific too.

[jedmarum]

nice guitar

great song

[timfahey]

Wow Tom. It's one of those ageless songs for empty nesters.

[tlsteeley]

Just saw Tom sing Child's Song last night in Sellersville PA. It doesn't get much better than this! What a great show. Thanks Tom!!

[ballydownfine]

Priceless, Tom ! nearly as good as Black Bush Irish Whiskey!

[capkarl2]

Thanks. My favorite is your version of "The Circle Game"

[1966andrew]

I really enjoy the sound of Toms tunes, the irony I first heard the memory song, then forgot where I'd heard it!! Since re-finding Tom, he's not of my playlist! Keep it up fella.

[ozzman35]

HI Tom,

I dicovered you from watching the DVD of Express Train..I'm really glad I found you.. Many thanks

[hoaglund1]

Tom Rush is the most consistently excellent performer we know. We have seen him perform probably 30 or 35 times since 1971 - always good company with good songs and gentle humor.

[methodinsane]

That acoustic guitar sound is amazing. I want that guitar ;-) This is a lovely song, really like it..

[everhale2]

Hi Tom. This is beautiful and how old is that Martin - 70yrs?

Met you several times in U.K. clubs 40 years ago. You're looking great! Can you post 'Joshua gone Barbados' sometime?

Be well

Andrew

[malamurch]

c'était mon idole quand j'avais 15/16 ans!!

je m'acharnais à le jouer sur ma guitare!!

deja à l'epoque ses disques (certains )etaient quasiment introuvable!!

merci pour ces moments de plaisir!!

[Breety]

watery eyes ay

[madmodpo]

I discovered Tom Rush more than 30 years ago and I still listen to his old LPs. Thanks for posting.

[rp1588]

WOW

This performance is as powerful as the one I heard so many years ago on WBCN, when I was younger than the singer. This song ranks right up there among the best of all time

[TeamCannabis]

Beautiful, well done, great playin' and singin', and a great,great song. Thanks....Reg

[andrewbrowne]

This song was the best, as I packed my stuff in my parents house in New England to move to Vancouver, B.C in the summer of 1973. And now too, how recently it has been that I said good bye to both my parents for the last time, may they rest in peace. Thanks for recording this song. Cheers, AW

[annachestnut]

Yes! You must be my age because I started college in 1973. I have a son who will be 18 in March. This song soooooooo suits him. It had significance for me then and now.

[TyteFystedFolkie]

It ain't difficult to understand how/why these tunes stay in us for so long.

[taithology]

Yeah..I remember hearing this for the first time 34 years ago..I let my mom listen to it then..I listen to this now and all the memories come flooding back..

[aaronp0324]

This is my new favorite song. I wish I could post it to my myspace page. I discovered Tom Rush from Pandora's webplayer. This song I can relate to so much. Makes me want to drink alone.

[peterbooyippee]

Great song...great music.

[azima11]

At 53 years old The Child's Song still chokes me up whenever I Tom sing it.

[jessebabyaly]

I'm 50 and I couldn't remember how it went. When I heard it though, it brought back many great memories from years gone by.

[kiwibridge]

Tom makes the guitar sing, and oh the voice, magic.

[monkeyboy1955]

One of my favorites.I remember walking around Bradlee's when I was about ten or so and through the transistor radio plug I had in my ear,I heard your version of "Urge for Going"It hit me like a wrecking ball;.reached up and twisted my insides.Thank you.

[mountainwmnvt]

my all time favorite

[FunnyHaHaFunnyHaHa]

Use this one to end The Sopranos

[FunnyHaHaFunnyHaHa]

Tom Rush. A treasure. Great artist, interpreter. A great heart. Thank you for your artistry.

[danb97]

I once read, that this song is one of Tom's favourites. And indeed, it's a great melancholic and beautiful tune. But on the same original lp as 'Child's Song' there is another one called 'Old Man's Song', which is from the same composer, Murray McLaughlin. I think, that this is an even greater tune. Tom's version of it is a masterpiece.

[kimamay1]

When I first heard this song it was a new release, pressed in vinyl. As a teen straining toward freedom and starting my life, it held my heart. I hear it now, my son, earbuds snaking down to his Ipod while texting at a frenetic pace, watches me."You okay, Mom?" As rivulets speed down my cheeks. After more than 30 years this song becomes more poignient when heard with the ears of a parent whose child is now, where she once was.

[mountainwmnvt]

Not only did this song make me cry then, (when I first heard it as a teen), but now parents are aging and it brings it all back home. My kids have been gone a while and thankfully, I am still welcome in their homes!

[PeckinAway]

My son spoke to me through you today! Bless you!

[jimbrennan750]

Fabulous song and a fantastic performer. Tom is living proof that the baby boomers had the best music and the Internet is the great equalizer to prove it. One million hits on his "Remember" song. He's the best!

[gary52car]

what a beautiful song ! thanks tom!