It's a Hard Life wherever you go - Nanci Griffith at Celtic Connections

[Mrdaylahoyya]

She always knew.

[SuperForeigner4]

isn't arguing the antithesis of this song's meaning....

[snowygirl131]

I am so glad I am not the only person tracking down elusive songs and, yes, her smile made me smile too. I am also proud of the fact that I have lived to see some lyrics become irrelevant.

[persistentoptimist]

Thumbs up if her smile at 3:26 made you smile too.

[persistentoptimist]

Actually I guess it's closer to 3:24. Oops!

[gjc82071]

I have been searching for this song, for well over 10 years!  I saw/heard it only 1 time on TV (PBS concert I think). I have heard of Nanci Griffith before, but have never heard her sing except for the 1 time. I saw her here in a trio with Iris Dement and EmLu Harris. Her voice sounded familiar and I searched for her name & the only lyrics of the song I remembered after all this time. "It's a hard life wh....", and I finally found it!

[Thereisonlythemoment]

Such a distinct and amazing voice. Puts her heart and soul into every song she sings. This is beautiful.

[teamfab]

I wish id never heard of Nanci Griffith so i could discover her all over again..

[CyberErin]

I adore Nanci Griffith! She is timeless! 

[fal72]

Have been in love with Nanci and her music since I was 21...has been my friend on some bright and dark days. A truly great and genuine artist...no need for sound effects or enhancements...

[Joeyland]

One of our National Treasures

[TheBieneGrrl]

To me this is the song of my uncle Robert's life and I'm sure the lives of many others. My grandmother was pregnant with him when she left Belfast in the summer of 1960. Who his father was, no one knows. What we do know is he's the sweetest, gentlest guy you'll ever meet and a cancer survivor, too. When I first saw this video and heard Nanci sing, I thought of my uncle and all he's had to go though and wept with joy. People like these are kindred spirits and it's beautiful.

[moonbeams1966]

I was lucky enough to see Nanci perform with John Prine in the late eighties...she still sounds as wonderful as she did then. Thanks for posting!

[themonaghans]

Awesome.

[mfcjd]

I will always believe! ( She moved me yet again in San Diego Thursday!)

[LTF6161]

Did Ms. Griffith suffer from some serious illness in the early 2000s? She was cute in the 90s. Here, she is not yet 60 and she looks older than my mom is over 70. What happened?

[moromedtango]

Nan is 56. Middle age. She is also a cancer survivor. Didn't you see her smile? You are blind.

[SaintFu]

@moromedtango And besides, whatever. If she does not make you stream tears with her songs, you've got not chance at all of understanding what makes her beautiful. Am I right? Of course I am.

The very definition of beauty is a waltz that makes you want to dance and to cry, equally, all at once.

Cheers.

[LTF6161]

Ms. Griffith has been singing the same songs for so long, she has become as dated as they are. It's the 21st century for crying out loud! Cronkite? Good gawd, Dan Rather has come and gone! (And we still ain't driving on the left side of the road. The US will always be right of center)

[docrod714]

Whadda neocon; turning driving into a political statement; turning time into a political statement - turning ... what part of ... never mind.

[LTF6161]

If you know the song, you know it's a political song. If you know the song, you know that here she changes the lyric from "I cannot drive on the left side of the road" to "Finally I'll drive on the left side on the road."

This apparently was performed shortly after President Obama's election. One doesn't need to be a neocon to see the connection.

[moromedtango]

You're entitled to an opinion just like the rest of us, but please check your ears. -And there is nothing more dated than a right side driver. You a Bad Dawg!

[lmd0426]

mandatory hearing for all teens today!

[PitaLeCatt001]

This women is Brilliant.

This woman shows by her presnce she is head and shoulders above mortals.

Nanci is brilliant.

I just wish the worls would catch up.

Lost Arthur Lee ---Don't lose Nanci

[emorene]

I'm going to Her Concert Tonight in Portland.

[DollyLoverForever]

Wonderful! If I could give 6 stars I would :-)

[georgekallin]

in reply to jkosmdd there is no real connection.. Celtic Connections is a series of concerts held in and around the centre of Glasgow which are open to the public and take place each year in January. The sessions are not open to the public and are held in a fairly exclusive hotel. Some of the faces seen in Nancys video are regularly featured on Transatlantic Sessions, e.g. Ally Bain on fiddle and Phil Cunningham on accordian

[jkosmdd]

Tom, Are these live performances connected with the Transatlantic Sessions?

Thanks!

[TsukaiDaiku]

Beautiful video. Thank you so much! On behalf of the Children's Peace Project of New York, I would like to thank Nanci for giving permission for the children to sing her song for their fundraisers to help children who have become "Collaterally Damaged" by war. Bless Your Heart, Nanci

[ljbabysprite]

Here is a gathering of legends.

Next to Nanci is none other than the legendary Aly Bain, looking as if he is having just the best time ...

[unclebobunclebob]

Last night in Waukegan she said that the first verse was made irrelevant about five years ago and the second was made irrelevant with the election of President Obama and she only hopes that some day the third verse will be irrelevant too.

[coleyman1]

@unclebobunclebob She better not revise the 2nd verse!! This Obama guy is killing us!! He's made it a VERY VERY HARD LIFE!

[crawfish1313]

@coleyman1 Just enjoy the song and shut up.

[coleyman1]

@crawfish1313 Well, it seems as though that "hope and change thing" isn't working out too well for you! Look, as I said, I love her songs and think her music is timeless. As for you, well, Happy New Year you rude ass redneck!!

[crawfish1313]

@coleyman1 Actually I'm on the conservative side and really don't agree with most of Obama's policies. I make a six figure salary and really don't care about "hope and change." But Obama's our president and I respect him. But I didn't come on this video to hear people crying about Obama. If you want to do that then go on one of his videos. And I'm not a redneck. I really don't even like country music but I like some of Nanci Griffin's music.

[coleyman1]

@crawfish1313 Well, if you are really all the things you say you are then you must have understood my response to "unclebob" and why I wrote what I did. If you didn't, then you must just have been spouting off to get someone to talk to you. Again, I love Nancy Griffith's music and even have a number of her performances on my "favorites" list. So I'm not sure why you would come up that "shut up" line unless you are just lonely and want a reply or a redneck that can't communicate beyond insults.

[crawfish1313]

@coleyman1 "this obama guy is killing us, he's made it a very very hard life" ....this is what you said and I told you to "shut up." If you want to rip the president then fine, I just didn't think that is the right forum to do so.

[coleyman1]

@crawfish1313 The reference was a joke towards the song and the times due to the political and social strife brought on by Obama and his policies. Just as the times were as this song was written. I assume you are irritated because your check is late. Enjoy the music and quit worring about the reasons songs are written and sung and how others hear them as relative to their own life and well being. What a dip you must be!!

[crawfish1313]

@coleyman1 Exactly...quit crying like a lil' bitch about Obama on a song. And Obama didn't bring on anything that Bush didn't already start so go get your welfare check and STFU.

[coleyman1]

@crawfish1313 Man you are really thick! The comments would have been the same had Fred Flintstone been in office! It really has nothing to do with Bush,Obama or Fred! It was a comment about the lyrics of the song in relation to the times and the politicians that are running the country! You must be really paranoid about Obama or whatever!! Get a life or maybe better yet, get a haircut, pull your pants up and turn your hat around straight, then go get an education or a job! Now, enjoy the music!

[crawfish1313]

@coleyman1 Sure thing Redneck!

[coleyman1]

@unclebobunclebob She better not revise the 2nd verse!! This Obama guy is killing us!! He's made it a VERY VERY HARD LIFE! All the verses will be relevant again, over and over. Love this lady and her music. Everything she does becomes a timeless classic.  What a talent!

[40sSonggirl]

Just amazing! I truly love Nanci Griffith, what a gift she shares with the world.

[suseeen]

phenonmenal

[vazmo14850]

amazing version...i have chills...

[fietsvrouw]

Incredible video - thanks for posting! =)

[themonaghans]

Beautiful. One of my all time favorite singers. Thanks for posting.

[Elderwilliam]

Excellent video , one of my favourite singers , nice one