Elbow - The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver

[FROSTEDxSHREDDIES]

LOVE ELBOW

[ardvark84]

Such a power of music and voice with such a tenderness of everything it's just epic!

[ardvark84]

My hair they all standing up right now!

[mstodden]

@Theonlynamenoonehas: I saw them at The Avalon in LA and he told the same story to us. You're pretty much right on.

[zondervanamo]

When the choir kicks in - one of the most emotionally incendiary moments in live music.

[Ilucyroo]

i want to like and favourite all their song on youtube definitely my favourite band of all time

[buerplaysguitar]

Can someone please PLEASE tell me the meaning of this song? I get very excited when i listen to it but I'd like to know its meaning

[ExoTheMage]

@buerplaysguitar Just read some of the comments. They have it.

[TheAndyked]

@buerplaysguitar maybe its, "ambition if pursued at any cost can leave you high dry and lonely" i could be wrong tho :).

[PolarBearMeetJesus]

no words

[NelsonOuellet]

J'ai longtemps pensé que les orchestrations magistrales des groupes rock appartenaient à une autre époque. Celle-là est non seulement d'une puissance émotive inouïe, mais d'une qualité sonore à faire oublier l'invention des pistes mp3. À celles et ceux qui ont eu le plaisir de voir Elbow en spectacle, je vous crois aussi chanceux que vos ancêtres (!) ayant vu Peter Gabriel dans toute la splendeur des années Genesis.

[leboof1986]

anyone know why it was called "the lonliness of a tower crane driver"?????

[blokey8]

@leboof1986 That's the "character" of the song. Presumably at the end of a relationship, and Guy's using height as a metaphor for how he feels cut off or how he's fallen.

[leboof1986]

@blokey8  Thank you, thats given me a better perspective

[daleeeeeeeeeet]

@leboof1986 It's about a crane driver that is feeling a bit lonely.

[Theonlynamenoonehas]

@leboof1986 The story goes, allegedly, that he got talking to a guy in a bar. They guy told him he was a Tower Crane Driver and how awesome his job was. Pay was amazing etc. By the end of the night he was almost in tears because his wife had left him, the job was actually very stressful and lonely. But it also has an alternate meaning about being at the top (top of your game) how lonely it can be there and how far and easily it is to fall from there.

[gards2]

@Theonlynamenoonehas erm, well that's your made-up version and it's open to interpretation, that's all it is.  The good thing is, IF you write meaningful lyrics, people will desperately try to interpret them and in this song Elbow have done that.

[Theonlynamenoonehas]

@gards2 Erm...... if you bothered to read what I wrote instead of just sounding off. I said that's the alleged story.

[amnesiacradar]

Amazing.

[scarletmoonfall]

I just cant STOP listening to this its simply breath-taking the build up is phnominal and you can tell how he's putting his heart and soul into every word it just gives me goose bumps all over <3

[TheGapsterPool]

Goosebumps, goosebumps everywhere.

[lambrettalover1]

I too have found "Elbow" a little late??? When I first saw Guy I thought it was Ricky Gervais doing some spoof???........THEN I heard him..and shat my pants (not literally) it just wasn't what I was expecting....and that's the beauty of bands from Manc.....you NEVER really know what you're gonna get?... I absolutely LOVE their tunes (well MOST of 'em). LOVE IT!!

[mattycrocks]

Elbow are simply stunning -especially live. I prefer this version to the album version of the song. Its so beautifully crafted and Guy's voice is just mind blowing.

Can't help but think of Gary Speed right now when listening to this - RIP Gary.

[Lynx0359]

@mattycrocks Elbow cannot be topped live. I saw them in Atlanta and it was amazing.

[MrGrocer1]

Absolutely amazing - a have a new favourite song.

[MrGrocer1]

I can't believe it has taken me this long to find this wonderful music. And I just found out they are touring Australia in March 2012 - can't wait to see them live!!!!

[dddogg32]

Simply Beautiful...Sublime.

[swampthing20]

Listening to the album version always gives me goosebumps. Listening to it live I have tears in my eyes, every time. What a truly sensational band.

[izword]

Preach Guy, preach .... gives me total, all consuming goosebumps

[biggestbooshfaneva]

how can anyone possibly dislike this? it's just stunning like every single song by elbow.

[paudub70]

send up a prayer in my name at 3.44 is the closest emotional experience ive had since my ravin' pill poppin' days.....Im sitting in my truck in Dublin wanting to hug the next person i see.

genius

[paddyjaybee]

Goosebump city.

[OutlawIV]

It's Lonely at the Top...Bein a High Up Guy Has it's Perks.. Ya Can Always Piss on The Boss From Way up and Tell em I Think It's Gonna Rain Now!!! Rain Down On You !!!!...

[LordTonyofTyneside]

Music in it's most Brilliant form.

[Vstromdl650]

Wow this is really mindblowing. shivers all over the place

[jgroth169er]

When Guy sings 'send up a prayer in my name' and the choir comes in, it's one of the most emotionally rousing things I've ever heard. These guys are on a completely different level, I'm proud to be a fan of them.

[anessahughes]

Here here.

[hollyhollytree]

This is music that can take you completely and utterly away from everything. I just shut my eyes and listen and everything else disappears. Absolutely beautiful.

[696969Trash696969]

i´m a fucking metal man... but this is fucking amazing!

[elvemageownz]

@696969Trash696969 Same. I only listen to metal but Elbow are just amazing metal or not.

[seriousbe]

This is fucking pure madness!Amazing version!

[Ellis307]

3.39-3.42 is just beautiful. well even more beautiful than the rest of the song

[BenDaleTV]

large dose of LOVE for this song!

[jackthegecko]

3:39 ............. wow

[VincentPaulCaddell]

00:49 My POD XT LIVE :D then the gibson Les Paul, (possibly a special?) which I also use! :D

[1horseman]

Sandwiches..A flask .. and a radio..8-12 hours a day. Happy old days back in the seventies..

[woahjustintime]

holy shit!

[Willyzk]

Just EPIC!!

[gards2]

Jesus christ, that was astonishing.

[TheRockingEndo]

every life time somebody walks among us that posesses a talent that only a few understand elbow have got that gift but i pray that the masses will soon catch up too the gift they give too us

[ianham68]

Absolutely unbelievable performance! Chills, goosebumps, hair standing on my neck! I have never, ever had a song make me feel like this, ever! I have only watched/listened to Elbow for the first time yesterday and today and I will be off to HMV tomorrow to buy their every album! Class :0)

[Theonlynamenoonehas]

I cannot listen to this live version without physically breaking down in floods of tears. Guy's opening line on the second half of the song gets me every time. The clarity and power of his voice is something I've never heard before in a live performance. That, coupled with the very clever instrumentals from the rest of the band and a dramatic crescendo from the backing orchestra makes this not only the best live performance I've ever heard, but the best song I've ever heard.

[saminiky]

@Theonlynamenoonehas I have the same thing with the night will always win

[venbear3]

@Theonlynamenoonehas I so agree with you on this. These guys are a recent discovery for me and I am just utterly amazed at this performance. It's the 2nd case of me liking someones live stuff better than the studio in the last few years, the 2nd being Kimbra, who is a must hear as well. Here's a link to my favorite song by her. Thanks for putting my thoughts about really this entire BBC special into words. Here's Kimbra!

[gyqz]

@Theonlynamenoonehas Either you are me or you are a person in my head!!

[SirSchranzALot]

@Theonlynamenoonehas

same, best song.

[transmitting13]

couldn't agree more.

[WalterSobchak1000]

everyone should watch this. it would make the world a better place

[hydfawr]

YOU LOT HAVE OBVIOUSLY NEVER HEARD "EGYPTIAN TOMB" BY MIGHTY BABY

[matthewgilpincom]

this is one of their worst songs. it's still better than most music made in the past... um... forever

[FrazzleAndTheWolf]

This song just gives me chills.

[MrDavytweed]

Well the mass of plebs that you describe could be you sisters brothers or daughters & sons,my music is right across the board and i will agree that Elbows songs take me to a place where I can only describe as magical but dont ever forget the music before elbow,i would like to hear the music you listened to before you heard Elbow and what other people would say to you now.

[MrDavytweed]

Well the mass of plebs that you describe could be you sisters brothers or daughters & sons,my music is right across the board and i will agree that Elbows songs take me to a place where I can only describe as magical but dont ever forget the music before elbow,i would like to hear the music you listened to before you heard Elbow and what other people would say to you now.

[winchmeet]

@MegaWoodss

I tend to agree to a certain extent but the fact that this link has over 1,000 likes and only 5 dislikes (obviously from the people you refer to) makes me believe that the majority still have very good taste. That key change is fucking awesome though. Makes me want to cry.

[rubix2009]

I have this song on the full Elbow playlist... Cannot stop listening to this song though!

[chiemtenhave]

The Best of - Elbow:

1. The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver

2. The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver (LIVE)

[Ulfhdnar]

I've just discovered I'm in a dire need of bigger speakers.

[STRYKARLITE]

This is my first time hearing this...WOW!!! After reading the coments here, I now understand the feeling it gives you...some kind of BLISS!

[windymiller7]

Stunning. Every hair on my body stood on end. Brilliance.

[donzie975]

The whole track is a masterpiece but from 3.35 when the song reaches it's peak i get such a natural feel good high that i'm sure everyone who loves this song knows what i mean

[JRodC24]

THIS, is music.

[Ulfhdnar]

I guess this is how people who take re-creative substances must feel under the influence. Absolutely blissed out and like their brain can't process anything but pure pleasure. If it isn't they should really switch to this instead, because they're getting a raw deal. The brain just melts to this sound.

[PRODUKTSOUND]

3:42 = GLORY

[ichabodd]

At 3:40 I just lose control....its joyous music of a kind only Elbow can craft.

[putamadreyadejate]

WWWWWOOOOOOOOWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!

[xDoubleZer00x]

REM of the 2010s.

[Jokapaikanapina]

Every time I hear this, I feel something swelling up inside of me. I think it's my soul. This is otherworldly music.

[mac6away]

Just great.

[Freule75]

3:42 Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­aah! :)

[enddebtslavery]

Reminds you there is still beauty on this ****ed up planet.

Peace.

[bob76610]

hello from france;

great song !! i like

[heftyjet]

This is Guy Garvey's Finest Hour!

[karldaly81]

Send up a prayer in my name.

[stingfan1000]

Without question....haven't heard a song as beautiful as this in a very very long time...and I go back some years - (ex punk-rocker) - the power and sentiment in those lyrics is astounding. My jaw dropped the first time I heard it on the album...and I'm still having trouble closing my mouth....

[joeafb]

Love u

[gutgutgutgut]

Can this concert be bought on CD?]

[SpinningGibbon]

@gutgutgutgut Absolutely, and you should buy it now! The name to search for is "Seldom Seen Kid (Live at Abbey Road) + Bonus DVD (Live at Abbey Road)" on Amazon or the like.

[gutgutgutgut]

@SpinningGibbon Nice one, thanks

[nikama67]

Great music!!!!!!

[sayspain]

Saw 'em yesterday.....................­. orgasm

[JaywalkerJack]

4 people's view of the city is blocked by a tower crane

[acasualtee]

if i was a tower crane driver ... i would listen this song in my tower crane all day

and then ... i wouldn't feel lonely anymore

[xDoubleZer00x]

'The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver', what a great title for a masterpiece.

[ozkoks]

spine tingling.

[1345dk]

sheer class



[RHCP117117]

they give me the shivers brill brill, well done best at glastenbury by far

[RHCP117117]

they are jus.t brilliant brilliant

[vegbloke]

quarter of a million isn't too bad, only 508 have watched my upload of the best ever version of Mercy Seat by Nick Cave & Bad Seeds. plug plug plug....

[MegaWoodss]

Less than 1/4 million views. Says it all about our crap society really.

[TheHoodedBastard]

@MegaWoodss couldn't have said it better myself megawoodss

[basstard013]

@MegaWoodss doing my bit.

[richandiben]

@MegaWoodss maybe but 1/4 million of us have watched it over and over....

[texanoiltycoon]

@MegaWoodss Unfortunately, the mass of plebs that now occupy this country and vastly outnumber the educated would rather be spoon fed manufactured auto-tuned talentless one hit wonders from low grade talent shows than listen to anything such as Elbow who possess utter understated brilliance.

[gullivera]

@texanoiltycoon If I may clarify something, when you say educated, do you mean academically? Because I'm not a highly academic man (Secondary school and NVQ in plumbing aside), and by pleb do you mean lower/working-class? If that's the case I find that slightly offensive, appreciation of beauty and culture can also be done by your average "pleb." This pleb finds Elbow awesome.

[matthewgilpincom]

@gullivera plebs don't like elbow, you my friend are no pleb, even if you don't have as much as some others

[gullivera]

@matthewgilpincom Pleb is a term usually used to describe the lower/working-classes, that's where it derives from anyway.

[texanoiltycoon]

@gullivera I have a level of academic education similar to yourself. When I say educated in my comment, I mean culturally. This is also why I choose the word pleb. I certainly don't mean to sneer at the working classes by any means, as I too consider myself working class. My dismay is at the amount of manufactured talentless acts that seem to dominate the music industry currently, forcing much more talented acts into the background. There are many bands out there who deserve recognition.

[mygaffer]

@texanoiltycoon Starting to get older are we?

[mygaffer]

Respond to this video...  What a great performance.

[Gepman408]

just incredible...

[basstard013]

4:42 Guy was like, "WTF was that!"

Off the Epic scale, that was.

[rlees76]

I hear the prose, I feel the ache, Elbow surprise me yet again. Seldom Seem Kid Again please, i don't think it will happen. Last 30 seconds of this one........listen carefully.

[SpartanM621]

What Guitar is Mark playing?

[sayspain]

@SpartanM621 I believe it's a Gibson ES-335.

[SpartanM621]

@sayspain

Thought so, thank you very much. 

[miss2tone]

Speechless.....



[orcaan]

this is f*cking one of the most beautifull things i ever heard

[TheBananna16]

At 3:42.. My day is complete :')

[jojo0675]

I happened to catch this when it was on TV, and i have been hooked eversince. It must have been such a special evening....Tower Crane Driver send shivers down my spine at 1:50 Amazing

[bjarnyg]

glad to see that someone's still making this kind of music; timeless, beautiful classics that will still live among us long after lady gaga is gone...

[gyqz]

Again I tell you, that it's against nature to dislike this!!

[adzyhere]

3 people are dead inside.

[AndersCules]

The look on the band members faces towards the end say it all. This was special.

[TireFill]

This is what youtube has been made for: Real Music, not all the other kind of stuff...

[vincejunkyardmedia]

waoow... awesome

[Folkertniessen]

goosebumps...

[imperial1237]

This is just immense, what an amazing piece of music

[stateofloveandtrust1]

This is THE best thing on youtube.

[Cheshiremd]

@stateofloveandtrust1

watch?v=3hGpjsgquqw

one of the best, i agree, but this is is no less incredible

[Twickerz2]

3:39 when he goes "send up a prayer in my name" with THAT key change no matter how many times Ive heard it chills and tingles roll through my person every time this whole album is so uplifting, beautiful, inspiring, unique and above all timeless!!

[chiemtenhave]

@Twickerz2 3:39 F*CK YEAHH!!

[fancypoe]

@Twickerz2 Same here. I've gotten to the point where I don't even want to listen to it unless I have it full blast w/ headphones in my ears. It definitely reaches soul deep.

[ArseBags]

@Twickerz2 I couldn't have worded that any better, and exactly at that point in the song, too. Chills and tingles rolling through me is EXACTLY it.

[jonathanlaughlin]

@Twickerz2 I came here to watch a live version of that exact moment. Wow, this one KILLS. The harp, the voices, other instrumentation. Holy crap.

[jaybeewalton]

@Twickerz2 I felt the same thing, utterly brilliant

[Vanoccupanther]

@Twickerz2 I'm totally with you on that! I was listening to this on my ipod at work today and was quite literally fighting back tears. Only good music from bands like Grandaddy and Midlake do that to me and now Elbow!

[hurdy72]

@Twickerz2 agreed ..its just ....beyond words.....

[0SKOOL]

@Twickerz2 i couldn't agree more. i adore 'jesus is a rochdale girl' too, and of course grounds for divorce! awetastic band <3

[VincentPaulCaddell]

@Twickerz2 the words, hit, nail and head come to mind :)

[Twickerz2]

one m0:00re time!

[freddiefernandez]

3 people missed the like button

[ryanjam07]

so why does Jupp (drums) sort of pull his face at the end of the performance as if he wasn't happy with it?

[1ginner1]

@ryanjam07

He probably thought we have just done something really special,will we ever get to do this again?

[Woffo]

@ryanjam07 He was close to ecstacy toward the end...... and close to tears because of it.

[MegaWoodss]

@ryanjam07 i think it was more of a "wow.. not bad" understatement kinda thing...

[LondonReggie]

The combination of the key change and choir at 3:39 just makes me sit there mouth wide open, goosebumps all over my body and tears in my eyes. Just incredible.

[imperial1237]

@LondonReggie me too except in the Highlands

[ausher]

Breath taking

[MrSuperborrie]

just listen,

[adamstone86]

I wish there was a repeat button... IS THERE A REPEAT BUTTON?!!

[gyqz]

Wahaaaaa....I ordered the live cd and it came in today!! When I opened it I was like "Fckking 'ell .... it's the cd AND the dvd " ( because I'm too lazy to be bothered and check if items have extra's, I thought it only was the cd) I didn't know wether to dance or to cry from hapiness...

[abrokunrockenbricker]

What's with the dislike button?

[Smayes29]

The little raise of the eyebrow at the end does it for me, that guy just knows one of the best pieces of music has just been heard by the crowd.

[botmuyl]

It's 22 degrees Celsius here and I'm having goosebumps.

[glassineheart]

there are three people unable to hear beauty in the world. feel sorry for them. their lives must be very sad.

[Daan2212]

Fantastic music !

[anneke1221]

@jest60 gisteren op canvas het hele BBC concert! Schitterend...

[gyqz]

@anneke1221 Ik heb op bol.com de cd van deze sessie besteld...ik kijk er erg naar uit!!! Live zijn zij verschrikkelijk goed!

[jest60]

Saw this performance yesterday on Canvas (Belgian TV). Really great, what an artists. This was the best song played with a wonderful impact of the strings and singers. But what a poor visual registration! Cameras were always too late with the solos, singers or instruments. How can that be?

[gyqz]

@jest60 Damn...was dit gisteren op Canvas???? Ik ontvang Canvas ook in Nederland en heb dit dus helaas gemist!! Was het het hele concert??

[gyqz]

All astounding things come from the U.K. !

[PurpleBunny7J]

I bet the dislikes were when three people missed the 'like' button.

[1niels]

wow

[ogitrev5002]

This is one of the best live performances of any song by any band i have ever heard. it sends shivers down the spine and grabs hold of you and wont let go from the first note to the very last.

[Woffo]

People from all the countries i've been to say "BBC" means quality. Add Elbow......... and i cry. In the most beautiful way.

[WillWivell]

I cannot stop listening to this. It's beginning to have a serious negative effect on my productivity. Ambrosia for the ears.

[ConciseOxford100]

Send up a prayer in my name! Awe inspiring, really awe inspiring.

[MAM2CAT]

I think I have just climaxed @3.42

[freddiefernandez]

amazing



[nilsvdv]

"without elbow my ipod would not be worth having" That's funny :-)

[bdoakes]

3 people in this world have no soul.

[pexex90]

Previously rubbed this way. Something to put in your coat pocket.