Ironically, Tom sang this song at Lincoln Center at a public concert while the Deutsche Bank Building near the World Trade Center was burning. It's absolutely uncanny. The song certainly deserved more coverage than it received.
@jw5745: had to laugh at your double en dash (instead of a single em dash) & missing space when you're accusing others of poor literacy. Well played, dickhead.
I saw him do this live just a few months after it happened...you could hear the wave of sobs throbbing beneath his words. I think everyone in the audience were wiping their eyes. This song still gives me chills after so many years.
Hard to understand why this song has received so little notice. Brilliant sentiments from Tom, as always. Tom is one of the all time greats along with Pete Seeger, Woodie Guthrie and Joan Collins. We are privileged to live in their era.
I am fortunate to have met Tom Paxton twice on his tours of the UK and have been a fan of his since my teens. now not far from 60 I feel that this man just gets better and better. There are many of Tom's songs that are emotive but none more so than The Bravest. As a former Firefighter in the UK who was involved in bombing atrocities in Birmingham I feel that the song is a true tribute to those who fell at New York on that fatefull day. Well done Tom, keep going. Tom Green.
Tom Paxton is the one of the greatest song writers of America. His music is just unbelieveable. I am a musician and a public school music teacher. I play this every year for my 5-8 graders. They are always greatly moved and always asked what else he has written. They are always surprised when I list many of his songs that they have sung without realizing who had written them.
Did Paxton perform this on "Prairie Home Companion"? It sounded different, less polished, more emotional, raw, as I remember it. Not that it needs polish. Thanks for the video, in any case.
I was watching Tom last night live in Bristol, England. He performed this song and it reduced most of the audience to tears. It's not just beautifully written, Tom filled every note with nothing but pure emotion. He is, as we all should be, truly grateful for what those brave people did on that fateful day. Thank you for posting it, and thank you Tom for a wonderful evening, and a wonderful tribute to those who deserve it.
I saw Tom Paxton in London this week too, 40 years since I first saw him in Birmingham, UK. Still singing great songs after all these years, and still an old protester at heart. "The Bravest" is one of his recent best. Keep on Tom, we love you!
One of the greatest writers of the last century, and into the current. Just a shame that Paxton does not get the full credit he deserves for the songs that he has created.
I have felt the same for 40 years! Tom Paxton is much too unappreciated for what he has written. Tom Paxton is a National Treasure! Too bad most of America is clueless.
Tom sang this beautiful song in Galway last night. Thank you Tom for a wonderful night.
darrbridge 4 months ago
just like with that other hoaxer Alicia Esteve, it will eventually be proven that Tom Paxton was nowhere near the towers on Sept 11th.
johnnybermo 4 months ago
Heart touching
Thebeast8198 5 months ago
Al Quida will never have songs like this, every play says "we win for them".
rorybowskill 9 months ago
Ironically, Tom sang this song at Lincoln Center at a public concert while the Deutsche Bank Building near the World Trade Center was burning. It's absolutely uncanny. The song certainly deserved more coverage than it received.
chilasa324 1 year ago
Fucking awful song.
bnipmnaa 1 year ago
@bnipmnaa - You mean you like it....
rnm354 9 months ago
@rnm354: er... no. It's shit. That's why I said it was fucking awful. Having trouble grasping the bleeding obvious, are we? Stupid septic bastard.
bnipmnaa 9 months ago
@bnipmnaa
You seem to have quite a limited vocabulary.
jw5745 7 months ago
@jw5745: why, because I used - *gasp!* - naughty words? In which case, seppo, you seem to have a limited perspective.
bnipmnaa 7 months ago
@bnipmnaa just saw your "comment"--you sound like a truly illiterate child.
jw5745 7 months ago
@jw5745: had to laugh at your double en dash (instead of a single em dash) & missing space when you're accusing others of poor literacy. Well played, dickhead.
bnipmnaa 7 months ago
the best of all the 9-11 songs
TheRealEricLester 1 year ago 3
Not sure why this beautiful tribute never receives more plays...
timmiked 1 year ago
I saw him do this live just a few months after it happened...you could hear the wave of sobs throbbing beneath his words. I think everyone in the audience were wiping their eyes. This song still gives me chills after so many years.
TheGuerrillaPoet 1 year ago
Really excited! Tom Paxton is coming to Hugh's Room in October. What a career this man has had. Many, many great songs.
rocktenniscat 1 year ago
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Hard to understand why this song has received so little notice. Brilliant sentiments from Tom, as always. Tom is one of the all time greats along with Pete Seeger, Woodie Guthrie and Joan Collins. We are privileged to live in their era.
mpredwing 1 year ago
This is brillliant Tom. I don't know why it has it not had more national coverage.
mpredwing 1 year ago
great song. very few people know about and i am priviledged to have heard this song
danmoo071 2 years ago
ive never heard his songs before, i remember whers i was when i heard the news, so sad, very powerfull words,
RIP to the fallen,
mighty6 UK
themighty6 2 years ago
Donot need a video, his words as always ( fan for over 40 years) say every thining.
lou67 2 years ago
I am fortunate to have met Tom Paxton twice on his tours of the UK and have been a fan of his since my teens. now not far from 60 I feel that this man just gets better and better. There are many of Tom's songs that are emotive but none more so than The Bravest. As a former Firefighter in the UK who was involved in bombing atrocities in Birmingham I feel that the song is a true tribute to those who fell at New York on that fatefull day. Well done Tom, keep going. Tom Green.
matt88able 2 years ago
God bless the souls of all those people who died on 9/11 never forget......
raymondXy 3 years ago
Tom Paxton is the one of the greatest song writers of America. His music is just unbelieveable. I am a musician and a public school music teacher. I play this every year for my 5-8 graders. They are always greatly moved and always asked what else he has written. They are always surprised when I list many of his songs that they have sung without realizing who had written them.
goodguy993 3 years ago 4
I teach 7/8 graders and this one makes them pay attention. I first heard this song sung by Pete Seeger on CSPAN.
Keep up the good work.
Thanks for the comment.
teach58 3 years ago
Did Paxton perform this on "Prairie Home Companion"? It sounded different, less polished, more emotional, raw, as I remember it. Not that it needs polish. Thanks for the video, in any case.
668mirabai 3 years ago
I was watching Tom last night live in Bristol, England. He performed this song and it reduced most of the audience to tears. It's not just beautifully written, Tom filled every note with nothing but pure emotion. He is, as we all should be, truly grateful for what those brave people did on that fateful day. Thank you for posting it, and thank you Tom for a wonderful evening, and a wonderful tribute to those who deserve it.
iwannamove 4 years ago 3
Saw him in London on Monday, it was incredible this was his song for his encore, it moved us all he got the longest applause I have heard!
IrishandFolkmusic 3 years ago
I saw Tom Paxton in London this week too, 40 years since I first saw him in Birmingham, UK. Still singing great songs after all these years, and still an old protester at heart. "The Bravest" is one of his recent best. Keep on Tom, we love you!
heatherelizabeth1 3 years ago
Yup it was great got a picture with him and an autograph don't think he was expecting to see a 17 year old!
IrishandFolkmusic 3 years ago
A beautiful song and a beautiful tribute.God bless TOM PAXTON.
JessyRae31 4 years ago 3
What a beautiful tribute.
I didn't even realize that Tom Paxton had written a song about the September 11th massacres.
Thanks for posting this.
Right up there with Neil Young's "Let's Roll."
Recreant456 5 years ago 3
One of the greatest writers of the last century, and into the current. Just a shame that Paxton does not get the full credit he deserves for the songs that he has created.
northwell12 5 years ago 5
I have felt the same for 40 years! Tom Paxton is much too unappreciated for what he has written. Tom Paxton is a National Treasure! Too bad most of America is clueless.
gilknutson 4 years ago 3
thats awesome Mr. Bastale.
sarah110592 5 years ago
Beautifully done. Thank you.
mitchelltrio 5 years ago
Thanks! Are you any relation to Chad? :)
teach58 5 years ago