Our Town - Iris DeMent (H.Q.)

[FLSHBK1]

The counter must be broken. I've been here at LEAST that many times. I replay this several times each day & never tire of it. My heartthrob, ELH, blends perfectly into Iris' wonderful performance and I can't imagine better musical accompaniment. It's absolutely true that 'you can't go home again' ~ "HOME" is a time & a place. You can sometimes revisit the 'place', but not the 'time' ~ that lives on only in our personal memories, making us solely responsible for keeping those sweet ghosts alive.

[PfeiferCJ]

We performed "Our Town", the play, and this was our closing song. It was the perfect end to a perfect performance.

[marah1030]

Maybe the greatest music video ever made. Oh to have been a guest in the room when this was recorded.

[peerman2006]

@marah1030 Maybe the best video ever made? Settle down girl, it's a good song and video.

[SimcoeAce]

As perfect a song as was ever written ... performed perfectly.

[milan82ca]

beautiful.

[Ender018]

Most poignant song ever.

[springhill64]

I first remeber hearing Iris singing with John Prine. My God she has a lovely voice and delivery, simple raw emotion and here with Emmylou......impossible to top!

[johnnystrayhorn]

route one sarah ms.

[stevetadworkz]

@johnnystrayhorn pesca ct spring valley ca

[genreslur]

Hold on to yr lover, folks!

[geekaypee]

Emmy Lou just couldn't break thru, could she? Iris's voice too weird. Lovely stuff.

[BobSoperJr]

Thanks for posting this! Any idea when it was recorded? JD looks much older now! :)

[DimentalLabs]

Robert Downey Jr. plays a mean fiddle.

[troutseeker1]

Iris talks to your heart. God bless you Iris. You have touched me. Don't ever stop singing.

[troublecat1]

If you can judge an artist by the other artists they associate with Iris Dement is a national treasure. Truly a great artist.

[michaelb5e2]

lets see whats the word I'm looking for ,oh yeah "Talent"

[rugmop]

@northholt When I first heard this about ten years ago, I too was driving. I literally had to pull over to the side of the road, so as not to miss a beat. Oh, and the tears in my eyes put other drivers at severe risk.

[rugmop]

One of the few examples, in any form of art, that makes you proud to be human. Yep, one of ours did that.

[AnthroSkeptic]

A contender for the saddest song in the English language. Beautifully devastating.

[5050zulu1]

It must of been very difficult to accompany Iris but Emmylou's control and timing is just perfect loved it

[ForeverAuzzie]

this song was played at my uncles funeral yesterday and my nanas a few yrs ago...its guna be played at all our funerals!!! beautiful song!! makes me cry!!!

[michaelb5e2]

there is a huge difference between an artist and an act and Iris is an artist

[Broblem12]

This is perfect to me. Iris and Emmylou singing together on such an awesome song. Like a big hug in song, a bear hug at that. :{ )

[mishapism]

..simply gorgeous.

[glbandt]

I wonder why we haven't heard alot about iris, what a wonderful traditional country voice, i am going to buy her cd's. I wish country music radio would get back to playing real country music like this. she's refreshing.

[glbandt]

I wonder why we haven't heard alot about iris, what a wonderful traditional country voice, i am going to buy her cd's. I wish country music radio would get back to playing real country music like this. she refreshing.

[tomasperry]

I'm sure I shall get a load of abuse, addressed to my private email account for daring to diagree with the conceited and foul-mouthed oafs we get on here, but the nature of this song is gentle and regretful and Iris Dement doesn't have that kind of voice. She does many songs quite wonderfully, but for this one I like Kate Rusby's cover.

[lambethguy]

@tomasperry

You are entitled to your opinion. I respectfully, disagree. This song lends itself perfectly to an american county & western(ish) tone of voice.

[funstuff2006]

@tomasperry I agree about the nature of the piece, but I don't see how you can possibly find Rusby's sickly-sweet tone and unexpressive delivery more suited to, or more moving than, Iris's more raw, expressive performance. Moreover, the guitar in Rusby's version isn't as pretty, and the mandolin/fiddle combo in Rusby's version doesn't create the same saddness as the dobro/fiddle pairing in Iris's. On top of all that, you've got no EmmyLou Harris providing delicate vocal accompaniment in Rusby's

[goldenponderbob]

Very enjoyable watching Iris play; I couldn't stop thinking about the ol' country music "three chords and the truth" axiom. It would be difficult to invent a better expression for the magic that is the singer-songwriter artform, and even tougher to come closer to the reasoning behind it  than this example.

To Iris; love your talent, peace to you, and please tour again and soon with Ol' man Prine.

[sgraffwriter]

One of my favorite songs of all time. This is the perfect mesh of lyrics and music--a song that is sad and wise, but that earns every tear it conjures from the listener. And the video--with the great Emmylou Harris joining in--is majestic!

[ernstbecker1]

Many of us have moved from "our town" because of economic reasons. In my mind's eye I'll return -- often. The elders have passed on ; however, the memories never fade. It always remains pleasing to the eye when one returns to "our town". Thanks Iris !

[Yamelal]

Beautiful, simple music is always the best! This is pure music

[davestul]

And let's give Randy Newman credit for writing this sing. But I sure do like this rendition.

[stephenpweeks]

@davestul Actually, let's not, as the Our Town song that he wrote was the one sung by James Taylor in the Cars movie, not this version, which Iris herself wrote. Same name, entirely different songs and songwriters.

[davestul]

@stephenpweeks Thanks for the correction. I looked up the title, but didn't check on the words. I certainly don't want to take any credit away from Iris, I think she's an excellent artist, and I do love this song. On the other hand, Randy Newman is also an excellent song writer, and so it wasn't unreasonable that I thought he might have written such a good tune. Anyway, thanks, Iris, great job!

[XsarahbelieberX]

I have only ever heard this song once, back in the 1990's, but it stuck. Its great to hear it again. A piece of magic. I understand the crying bit too!

[XsarahbelieberX]

I have only ever heard this song once, back in the 1990's, but it stuck. Its great to hear it again. A piece of magic.

[nudge527]

You can feel the pain from the Queen of the Tormented Soul. What a song - everyone should listen to this.

[YeshuaKingsKid]

Soooo excellent, oooh and what a treat to see Emmylou :)

think I stumbled onto your channel because I was listening to

other dobro players and that led me to Jerry Douglas....

Merry Christmas, seems there are presents and miracles

everywhere!

[rockgor]

A wonderful song. With the power to evoke memories.

I have all of Iris's CDs. I hope she will put out some more.

Tnx for the wonderful post.

[john9944]

Emmylou and Iris seem like the same person. They both have that high lonesome. Pretty nice duet....putting it lightly and politely.

[shuksanblue9]

Love this song so much! Reminds me of my youth..and my mom's, and my grandma's! My town will never die!

[gjtaylor99]

Fantastic version of a jewel of a song. Can't stop listening to this song!

[wednesday55]

I *love* this scene in Northern Exposure.

[hoodatwhatzit]

Lovely! I've listened to Iris for years and she breaks my heart every time with this song. Emmylou with her is icing on an already sweet cake. Now... how about the old Trio gets together and let Iris make it a Quartet?

[willg54]

ya...what you said...and more...

[BillyDaMountain]

My heart's bound to die if I keep breaking it by listening to this song every day. Why do I continue to come back for more? Because it's freakin' beautiful, that's why. How does one reason these things out? It gives me that crushing, nostalgic sort of feeling, where all I can do is cry about how fleeting life is and how I'll never be a kid again and I should've appreciated it more when I was one. And yet...the brilliance of the performance inspires me and leaves me smiling. Oh well :)

[tommyburgos]

@BillyDaMountain : Wow, you captured my feelings way more eloquently than I ever could have. This song is heartbreakingly beautiful. Sad, poignant, and yet, strangely uplifting.

[arkyron1947]

Once heard- never forgotten.

[ChomFa]

@arkyron1947 So true

[OhSusannah63]

I  first heard Iris' version of this song on the last episode of Northern exposure- suited that show fabulously.Unforgettable.

[MSMac8084]

you are so right. this said it all when it came to Northern exposure. the best show ever to grace the small screen !!

[shermanhillbilly]

if there are voices in this genre lovelier than these 2, i have not heard them

[pappymcdamnit]

completely agree. if you have heard wildwood flower done by these two, you will know how right you are

[pearcyknowsbest]

prob 1 of the most catchiest song!!

[TheUglyTruth2]

She is very good! What a voice. Her expressions fit her song so well.

[jessilu]

This has been one of my great faves from TS, when I heard it first some years ago. Still love it even tho' I've got the DVD's and can listen to it anytime I like

[TheBadgerfat]

Try the version by Kate Rusby on you tube....well worth listening to, as is all of her stuff.

[TheBohemianTenor]

@TheBadgerfat It's beautiful. It's how I discovered Iris Dement.

[fuzzarelly57]

I just love Iris's quirky voice.

I cry every time I hear this song.

[Dwotal]

What year is this from? Jerry Douglas looks really young in this video.

[woodscritter]

Dwotal:

This is excerpted from Transatlantic Sessions 1, from 1997. Re-released on dvd in 2008. Sessions 3, of 2007 avail now as (2) dvd.

Sessions 4 recorded this March, eagerly awaited.

JD always brilliant.

[1970WasntAllBad]

Mmmm, I couldn't listen to this for a long time after Katrina. It's so nice to finally be able to get through this loevely song again :) Thanks for posting~

[fizzjet]

our planet.

[BrokenneckYgor]

buried my mommy and buried my pa

they've got a nice rest neath the old cesspool.

nobody knows where to grieve,

See molst of these folks

don' know how to reed

in our town, in our town

[onitram1]

thanks for your witty comment asswipe. You must be so proud

[Tuigvdrichel82]

Beautiful!

Greetings from the Netherlands

[surfocaster]

Incredible. Fantastic. What else can I say?

[stlivermore]

I love her with Emmilou' as backup. She's come into her own now and she's great! Thanx for the great video.

[reinirogl]

Wonderful - it touches my soul so deep! Can listen and watch through the dfay and all night long! Thanks till the end of my days-Reini

[rddavies]

OK - it doesn't get any better than this. Might as well stop trying.

[ErieBoy62]

This song always reminds me of my dad's hometown, Homestead, PA right outside of Pittsburgh. I grew up in Erie but we would go down there all the time. My grandfather worked at the Homestead Works steel mill for forty years. At one time Homestead was practically the steel capital of the world. When the mill went down in '86 Homestead itself just died. I haven't been back to Homestead, since my grandfather's funeral in '92. The sun did set fast on Homestead but part of me will always be there.

[Sooozee]

fabulous!

[belovia50]

So pretty. Thanks so much.

[rvicencio]

Discovered DeMent by accident while searching for the song Let The Mystery Be. What a breathtaking singer!

[tecatedan]

Strange what we can find if only we keep open our eyes and mind. I found her searching for the Southern Culture On The Skids rendition of Let's Invite Them Over. I must say I am equally amazed.

[ljbabysprite]

This . is. legendary. Every one there is legendary: Aly Bain, EmmyLou Harris, Iris DeMent, Jerry Dougas, Molly Mason ... S math sin! Tahplett, Thomas .. moran taing!

[glutubular]

Iris Dement has single-handedly rendered YouTube's rating system obsolete. "Awesome!" doesn't even come close. Thanks for posting this and the other videos!

[drquackenfish]

my god!!!!!!

[toterola451]

Five minutes of Heaven! Thank you so much for posting this.

I've been a big fan of her's since i first heard her on "World Cafe" back in the late '90s.

[Nhurm]

Thanks Tom. It's not any easy task to bring a tear to my auld een but..

[Shirmia]

Wow!!!

WONDERFUL!!!

5* and +

[kitsilanogal]

Magic and beauty! Angels! Amazing group of players.  Thank you for posting this lovely piece from the famous Transatlantic Sessions.

[CrackerKen1]

Very pretty music. Emmylou Harris singing harmony, and Jerry Douglas on Dobro. The fiddle player is quite good too. It doesn't take a stage full of instruments to make great music.

[Macangusagain]

"The fiddle player is quite good too" ??? Are you kidding ??? Or do you just not know ??? Aly Bain not quite good too,he is magnificent , simply one of the worlds finest fiddlers, and one of the major participants in the famous Transatlantic Sessions", He is a proud son of Scotland , and her finest traditional fiddler, and when joined by Iris, Emmylou, and Dobro Jerry , all I can say of all of them , is "Magnificent !!! Encore !!! Encore !!! "

[DonegalRaymie201]

I know, but it was meant well! Even Ally would laugh it off!

[Astrid270718]

Wow!Great!

[thistlewarrior]

Great stuff thanks tom. Really enjoy your posts and this is another cracker!