Peter Hammill - "Refugees" - beautiful live solo skeleton version (1978)

[blackesteyes1962]

I wouldn't mind getting buried with this.

What a song, perhaps the best ever written. IMHO, it is.

[edenic]

There comes a point in all of our lives when we sing this song but Peter sang it when he was just out of his childhood . I have waited for almost 30 years more to understand it and still more to vocalise its message. For some there are pioneers , to others there are prophets but to most there are friends and to me peter has been a friend and companion in hours of deepest soul searching becoming my voice and coherent emotion. Thanks Peter for your brilliant poetry and incredible honesty.

[professoricon]

@edenic

Brilliant comment.

[ZobaK1]

yes, it still is briliant...

[BlackestEyes1963]

A fantastic singer and composer.

I will be there when he and his VanDerGraaf Mates will play at my hometown, come March 30th.

And anyone who doesn't understand the beauty of this song should have his ears CUT OFF.

[LondonDada]

Totally under-rated and partially unrecognized song-writing genius.

[anniegog]

my favourite vocalist of all time. we can only wonder at a hammil/zappa colabiration

[erixoff]

@anniegog It's strange, my favorite song is "The black room" and I can't see here on YouTube :-(

[prosoloist]

@erixoff Van der Graaf Generator - (In the) Black Room (1972) is now up. Haven't seen the studio version yet

[erixoff]

Thanx. I have the Time Vaults CD actually :-)

Good day

[prosoloist]

@erixoff TIME VAULTS version...Van der Graaf Generator - (In the) Black Room (1972)

[Hammill]

@anniegog quite difficult if zappa still sleeping

[KingCrimson776]

I'm humbled by this. I accept my worthy nothingness from this.

[postesg]

hey hammill!! when he said he bought it in 1973 its not impossible because the song is from the least we can do is wave to each other which was recorded and released in 1970,some fan you are!

[taulua1]

postesg

thanks for saying exactly what I wanted to say

Taulua

[elintrafalario]

Great, I love PH an VDGG. Thank's for the post.

[juliangek]

Kippenvel.... Een "primal scream" van het genie Peter Hammill. Bedankt, Peter!

[Skipster4]

Fantastic!

Does anyone know where I can get a copy of "Skeletons of Songs"?

[taulua1]

i bought this in 1973 andit is still brilliant

[professoricon]

This is quite as haunting as "Whiter Shade of Pale".

[Hammill]

1973? that's impossible, the concert was in 1978...

[Luca88italy]

the most beautiful song I've ever heard

[Linstrumentiste]

Peter Hammill has one of the most amazing voices and also such strange behaviours when on stage. I saw him with Van Der Graaf Generator, here in Québec City, at Le Centre des Congrès, I am not sure, maybe 30 years ago or so... Thank you for posting! Oh! I saw him also in a solo concert at le CEGEP de Limoilou, Québec City, I met with him backstage before the concert, he was hyptnotizing a dog, my old friend Denis Huot introduced me to him. Denis, si tu me reconnais, contactes-moi (UL Pollack)

[ole9872]

This is one of my all time favorite songs.Please be my friend proffersoicon. peace ullerøy

[ququfato]

Gracias Peter por hacerme tan sensible a los 17 años con esta canción que me ha marcado siempre y que hasta la llegada de Internet no pude volver a oir desde hacía 20 años. Y por fin, una vez traducida la letra consigo saber qué decías en ella.

[professoricon]

Clásico

[ququfato]

Peter Thanks for making me feel and vibrate with this composition at age 17. This song has always marked me and it was not until the advent of the Internet I could not hear it again (20 years). And finally, after translation of the letter get to know its meaning. Thank to "professoricon" for upload and forgiveness for my English

[Hammill]

donde hallaste la traduccion?

[ququfato]

Yo mismo la traduje ...

[professoricon]

Yo uso Google Translate.

[professoricon]

QUOTE - from PH website (sofasound): The second leg of the N. American tour: Sept 30 Great American Music Hall, San Francisco CA Oct 2 The Rhythm Room, Phoenix AZ Oct 3 The Soiled Dove, Denver CO Oct 4 The Cashew, Kansas City MO Oct 5 Shank Hall, Milwaukee WI Oct 7 The Abbey, Chicago IL Oct 9 The Magic Bag, Ferndale MI Oct 10 The Winchester Tavern, Cleveland OH Oct 11 Club Cafe, Pittsburgh PA Oct 15 Palais Montcalm, Quebec City, CANADA More dates follow shortly. UNQUOTE

[Hammill]

Though the original song start in C - in this case one flat minus (B) - i think it sounds good. But his voice sounds very tired this time, specially when he performs "still life" (Skeletons of songs 78 Kansas)

[rmills5828]

Brilliant!

Brought back memories to me.

[bonecakabukidoll]

power peter!!!!!genius!!!!!!!!

thankx very very much for post the vídeo!!

blue hug from bsas!!!

bkd

[threviatghei]

better than the original

[constanzavictrix]

what a voice, it's heavenly

[papoulexou]

thank you very much

1st time i hear a "refugee" live version

[Bflocathy]

awe this song still gives me chills- i love it

[jose9s]

my favorite song !!!!!! perfect!!!!

[MortisIgor]

Aika vitun hieno. Marvelous song!

[virolita]

Excellent job !! Very nice version.

Saludos desde Argentina. Bellísima canción!!!

[professoricon]

Tevez es el mejor.

Gracias de Inglaterra.

[virolita]

It´s true. Carlitos is the best and Peter Hammill too!!!

[ocsdct]

Excellent bootleg! Particularly House with no door, great self-version.

[Phangaea]

One of my all time favorite songs, so beautiful and epic. Peter Hammill is God.

[funkberto]

wONDERFUL SONG.. But he is a very creative man, only.

[godbluffvdgg]

thanks for the posting, i guess you can see by my handle, i kinda like these guys!! it is so sad the lack of views for one of the greatest groups ever. i love this song although childlike faith in... is my favorite. oh who am i kidding i love all PH and vdgg peace from philly usa

[professoricon]

"... west is peace from philly ..."

Check out my other videos, which include my own live recording of VDGG playing 'Childlike Faith ...'

[professoricon]

PH solo shows in USA:

15th June Jammin' Java, VIENNA, VA.

17th June The Cutting Room, NEW YORK, NY

18th June Colony Cafe, WOODSTOCK, NY

19th June Sellersville Theatre, SELLERSVILLE, PA

21st June NEARFEST festival, Bethlehem, PA, USA,

(All subject to work visa...but it looks as though that's going to be ok!)

[professoricon]

PH says on his website: "In theory there will be more US/Canadian dates late in July, starting on the West Coast and tracking back. But at the moment this is theoretical!"

[loybillyrock]

una delle tre della mia vita!

[professoricon]

È atmosferica e magici

[bambyaa]

una delle più belle e toccanti songs dei van der

graaf generator, linfa vitale.bambygianni

[professoricon]

Sono d'accordo

[dankton1976]

This song should be in my head all the time.