John Martyn - Sweet Little Mystery (1987)

[alexmortland]

I always have the same reaction to these live JM clips: I look at his red face & glazed eyes & I say "oooh shit, he's wasted, he's gonna blow it" as he sets up the intro, and then he moves toward the mic & I say "ooh shit, here goes", and he starts singing, and it's (once again) the most moving, passionate performance I've ever heard from the man. Whatta guy.

[onepinkrose]

This is a perfect performance from a very under-rated singer and songwriter. Plus he was such a decent bloke. And a great guitarist. Sadly missed. Love John and his mind

[DocGreen15]

I can't stop coming back to this song, without a doubt one of the best live performances I've ever seen!

[DocGreen15]

Just an amazing song!

[gerardmcmahon1]

might there be a chance that all the nick drake professsional mourners have missed the fact that john martyn matched him in sensitivity and lyricism...its easier to be a hero when you're six feet under!

[1933cowden]

i wonder if he knew he was a genius....... probably not RIP John.

[rshawnmiller]

Absolute genius.

[doctorchud1]

if u dont like this u have no soul. absolute genius and sorely missed



[purplejash]

My absolute favourite of all time live clip of JM. Pure, simple, sweet and beautiful. Never fails to lift my heart...How I miss you Big Man xxxx

[sionnyn]

John - it's that sweet little mystery in YOUR  heart that makes us all cry!

[gusboylan]

a sad loss to music, just sorry i never got to see live strutting his stuff.

[delusionalbint]

beyond words, the man was a genius...

[delusionalbint]

love this, time doesn't change it..

[uteanatinny]

This is truly is a "Sweet Little Mystery".... :-}

[jasonibiza]

Bless.x



[stilly2009]

love this song....John Martyn was brilliant..RIP

[TheChris952]

I keep the lp "Grace & Danger" as gold....

[Coufffy]

Soundtrack of my life. A genius, sadly missed, the cantankerous old fart!

[GeneBurnett]

If John is God, Danny Thompson is Jesus. Holy Music.

[johnmartyntribute]

John in topform! All time classic recording!

btw: Look in my channel, dedicated to him!

[Chinkeyface]

absolutely beutiful...

[andreasbn]

Uhhh....Chills when his vocals kick in, so mellow and touching!

[goosewad]

Perfection

[MasKedButTrue]

I've listened to this about 40 times already

[MasKedButTrue]

Love it !

[bigsmog36]

never forget you john rip

[GaryHari]

I was at that gig and I miss him so much. Love to you john

[Ellie9691]

Genius who is sadly now gone

[coljev219]

Was at that gig

thanks a million for reminding me of that fantastic night

in Dublin

cheers Colum

[rogerholcomb]

This is beautiful! Does anyone know the tuning for the song?

[davidhealey1]

Unbelievably good voice

[thedoc684]

the bomb....... nuff said

[chain1100]

oh john....i grew into a woman listening to you loved it...........

[sid4me]

How good is this bloke?

[jasholden]

I hate that he got so old, so fat & died so quick... not reasonable...

[jasholden]

I was at this gig with my best girl... in Edinburgh... i'm a wee bit sniffy watching it m8...

[kiwizoo1970]

@jasholden No this one was in Dublin. But he played Edinburgh a lot and loved it - esp the Queens Hall!

[kakobilo000]

amazingggggggggggggggggggggggg­ggggggggg!!!!!!

[rampantscotsman]

John Martyn - Such an under-appreciated Legend! RIP

[Pippylongsoxx]

LOVE John Martyn... mellow and very moving..... and haunting voice.... can't compare.

[mfpx6je3]

set myself the new years resolution of listening to 3 new albums/artists each week. not going well hmmmmm so far so john martyn

[WhereIsTheLine1]

Can't believe I'm just discovering John Martyn. Was listening to him for a few hours on this then discovered he died in 2009. Absolutely gutted. Another fine musician my generation wont get to see. Feck modern "music".

[onepinkrose]

Heavenly melody, sublime song

[vlock1]

Ah, poor old John. Just another one of those guys with tons of talent who not enough people care about.

[kiwi360]

replayed this a thousand times over

[MrPozzoz]

@kiwi360 yeah , i know , me too .....

[MrBriguy82]

John Martyn was an amazing song writer and an amazing guy, hope him and Nick are are having a great time jamming together like old times, R.I.P boys.

[ALLAN25115760]

The Original Combo; John & Danny, don't get much better than this!

[gelboy61]

I simply adored his music, my all time faves him & Van Morrison. I had a ticket to see him at a small London venue not long before he sadly passed. Man as I was dressing to go I bent over arkwardly and put my back out big time!! So I missed the gig, gutted or what?

[Katiepoosful]

Heartbreakingly lovely.

[robertelliottlangs]

I will always Love your Music John,....have fun playing where ever you are now...

[JoshieBoy81]

Best performance of this ever!

Wow!

Johnny M forever!

[lennydylan]

lovely ....rave on johnny martyn....xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx­xxxx

[sparkyfyfes]

i have only just heard this song whilst driving home from thorpe park and it was amazing fantastic song

[tpot91]

Id give up ten years to watch this man live.

[Nindeism]

Totally love this man he's a god !

[jamiemcgeechan]

First heard John in the late 70s , went to every Gig he did in scotland - there will never ever be another talent like him he was unique ! His contribution to music is utterly underestimated!!! and yes as a man he wasn't perfect just human! a large part of my life is empty now he's gone but his music will live on for ever!!

[missvaribo]

John martyn is simply a god!

Much prefer the simple set up of this to the bigger ones he did.

Shows off his talent so much better. Just wish I was alive then or he was now

RIP big man xxx

[godhelpme2009]

Amazing singer, amazing player, amazing songwriter, amazing song, amazing performer, amazing performance, amazing musician ...truly simply beautiful

[unperfectismyname]

first heard john in the 70's caught him in concert in t.o. completely fell in love still am

[westkinglorna]

i loved john martyn ...still do..love this video

[trebleclefts]

So love this guy from day one, loved every album he ever made, loved every concert he ever played, just brock my heart when he left us.. loved you then.. love you now... you were a mystery to us then and to us now, your in our hearts for ever.

[70shiner]

John Martyn Rocked many a session in Carrolls of Thomastown RIP

[bid84]

@70shiner i alwyas wondered how he fit in around kilkenny? was he living there for a long time?

[showaddy11]

a genius witeffer that is. there is no one to compare john martyn with.

[sallywenham]

I thank BBC's Ashes To Ashes for helping me discover this great artist :O)

[BigDinthemix]

@sallywenham  i thank skins :D may you never was played as the song to go with the nex time on skins thing. great artist:D

[bohemiandonut]

Holy effing hellfire is this man underappreciated or what? Nick Drake, Van Morrison, Talk Talk, Jeff Buckley - all owe something to this man.

[codemonkey802]

@bohemiandonut hell yeah, where something == everything

[monkey86756]

@bohemiandonut just curious, but what does Nick Drake owe John Martyn?

[GrungeHippie95]

@monkey86756 they inspired each other's music, they were good friends and they owe each other quite a bit.

[will902]

@monkey86756 a few drinks... which has probably long since been settled! lol :)

[MrGuitarHurricane]

@monkey86756 Shhhhhh and listen.

[alexmortland]

@monkey86756 Well, I heard Martyn let Drake crash on his couch a few times, so there's that. He probably raided the fridge once or twice, too.

[alliesbeware]

@bohemiandonut Thank you! the first time I heard him I immediately referenced those people and more!

[RossM3838]

John Martin is an aquired taste, but tis worth aquiring.

[thehoodedclot]

if for some reason you have not heard the lp this is from, make sure when you get to side 2 you are not feeling sad and on your own .he must have had his heartbroken to pieces to write that side

[ChasingDestinee]

BEAUTIFUL song <3

[mundo77]

Love this song so much!

[mundo77]

Love this song so much!

[HAGIS3214]

this for my friend she from south africa living in new zealand ..love u mate

[Ystadcop]

I'd love to hear Hank Wedel cover this in Charlie's Bar, Cork, on a Monday night.

C'mon, Hank!!!!!!

[robynincarlow]

sweet,sweet,sweet...

[rangerdd]

the first time i heard this song was on the old grey whistle test , and it blew me away , its one of the nicest songs out there , and i cant believe i missed this in dublin , as im from dublin, his songs were from his heart, i was so sad to hear of his passing, R Ip , and thanks for your songs,,

[9Joker]

i just smile whenever i hear this guy

[slavatorious]

Timeless.

[TheSjspen]

THere is a tribute concert at Birmingham Symphony hall on 14th May, currated by Danny Thompson

[richyceltic]

uncle john. gone but never forgotten

[melonhey]

the best man in the world went to see him many times and he takes my breath away im so sad hes no longer with us i was brought up on this guy RIP to the greatest guy ever xxx

lisa liverpool uk

[tpot91]

Dose not get any better than this.

[PLATINFERN]

Love You John. Simple as that.

[purplejash]

My hero. Sadly missed, <3

[bailersss]

definitely the best version of this song

[zingala3]

posso ouvir isto milhões e milhões de vezes e amo sempre este música!

I can hear this music millions and millions of times and I always will love this music!!!!!!!!

[rockmonster5000]

This is perfection.

[Tigs1980]

Always come back to John, no matter what's going on... living on in our hearts as a man who could say what was needed, even when we didn't have the words ourselves... x

[MsLouise1960]

He loved where we live love reign always for John Martyn.lol

[415vJJBL]

RIP JOHN he was a real pioneer

[paulsoli]

He set a standard that is only strived to be met...brilliant...

Bon Iver, Scott Matthews, Tom Baxter can thank this man for a great and rich music history!

Awesome!!

[Cradlestoner]

Beautiful performance...rest in love.

[mrmaturemaximus]

thats the funniest thing ive ever read...

[JoeChrisMorris]

absolutely lovely track

I can see why Island entitled his best of Sweet Little Mysteries

MUST cover this

[mundo77]

This is such a well written and performed song.

[ronanbuggyburke]

was saddened when i heard john died...he was one of the most amazing musicians ever....never got to see him but i wish i did....rest in peace john

[Durbin72]

127,434 views, and I'm probably responsible for 1,000 of those. What a great and tragic man he was.

[tteu123]

John Martyn is one of the artists that proves to us that, no matter how many prizes and how much money douchebags like Kanye West and Taylor Swift get, they'll never be musically superior. John Martyn stepped down to earth from the Musical Empyrean.

[catweasel28]

Too right!

And exactly one year ago, the Empyrean decided they were a genius short and reclaimed him.

But I thank them a million times for the loan.

[laqlouq]

God bless him.

What a talent.

[mattfinn]

A-mazing. First heard of John when my mate's dad passed away and he loved 'Spencer the rover' amazing artsist, and a sad loss.

Why is the country obsessed with talentless tossers when there is magicians like this guy about???

[bandit2336]

couldn't agree with you more mate ..its a sad fact of corporate Britain ...

[cocochanelleke]

@Mattfinn

To answer your three question marks:

Because there's nothing new among wo/mankind, ever.

And there is always good music to be found.

;)

Keep well & greetings from the NL

[mattfinn]

@cocochanelleke

Cheers bro, Seasons Greetings from a cold and snowy UK.

Peace everyone.

[cocochanelleke]

@Mattfinn

Cheers to you too -

from a sis not a bro - and very best wishes for 2010 - and peace, indeed!

XXX

[EZRAJESUS]

Guitar tuned B E B B F# C#

I think...

[cardigan3000]

just have to say how good the guitar playing is on this

[TheHotpenguin]

30yrs listening to John, i feel like a son born of this understated brilliance of a musician. Always with me. Kevin, Glasgow

[myownservant]

Gold

[dirtballjohnny]

legend.

rip

[GuitarnPiano]

what tuning does he use?

[bossyhannon]

goal of mine to see him before he died

as we all do some day ;-)

did it too in london 2 years ago

[cocochanelleke]

@bossyhannon

I didn't know he'd passed away until I read your comment just now.

Gobsmacked silence now over here.

[django1889]

be about a year coming up i think

[cocochanelleke]

@django 1889

Yes, January 29th 2009 - just looked that up.

Hope I get to meet him when my time has come, and a few other people, too.

[johnbytheway65]

I met John as a young man at.a BBC theatre in London on the first day of radio 1 we were doing country meets folk he was a very funny guy and had us all in stitches!! Ifolled his career from then till he died, He will be greatly missed.

[AberavonAbstractics]

<3 john..legend among mortals..

[Bampottery]

He used to play the Edinburgh fringe. Fantastic concerts and atmosphere:).

[wyrdsysta]

His music proper gives me goosebumples! What a beautiful musician.... touches the heart...

*sigh*

[markusboyd3]

I have always loved Martyn. So many great songs. No one hit wonder. Saw him a couple of times play at Nowich UEA in the 90s. A true maverick genius.

[Tigs1980]

Can't believe people can be so negative. I know he may not be some people's cup of tea, but he was a legend to many... he was also a friend to many who don't need to hear stupid comments that are both disrespectful and inconsiderate... even if it's not your thing, try to focus on the beautiful sentiment he was famous for and appreciate that his words came from a wise mind and a genuine heart... RIP Mr John Martyn... x

[vivmarty76]

i totally hear you, 3 kids and several partys later he is still the one......

[MrAccousticman]

@Tigs1980 Well said............

[django1889]

@Tigs1980 aye people can be far too negative about him i mean yes he ruined his life and destroyed a lot of talent with his drink but what he did do was bloody mind blowing if it wasnt for the drink god knows what he would of done, but i think it was cause of the drink he some how could tap into an emotional level that connects with people if that makes any sense, but im drunk right now anyway so who knows hahah

[lennydylan]

@Tigs1980 well said tigs...i met him a few times...a beautiful man ...and a beautiful song....this is my ex girlfriends song...crying my eyes out....miss her...miss him....xxxxx

[panzermort]

@Tigs1980 Genius is often, never seen in its own time, dont lose heart m8, WE know how he pulled our heart strings with truth

[tanml34]

think he took a piece of us all and played it back to us in a way we could never express ...x

[MrErisian]

@tanml34 <<< most poetic comment of the year award goes to...

[ritchiepeyton]

@tanml34 Exquisitely put. x

[gelboy61]

@tanml34  Totally agree and so beautifully put

[MehefinHeulog]

crumbs

so, so, good

[oldgit15]

ha ha

your all so funny!

Love you John!

X

[Markfriedman59]

Saw John a dozen times growing up in St. Andrews in the 70's. A unique and brillaint talent. We miss u John, but I am sure you have brought a little mystery with you to heaven...

[wellplayedboy]

Hero, your missed. RIP.

[lazur1]

Like so many of the greatest artists, he was good for us, but not so good for himself.

[stephen53847]

So true. A fantastic artist and performer, with lyrics that his heart paid for.

He'll be remebered for by all who heard him for our entire lifetimes.

[AndPlus]

Anyone know what tuning this awesome song is in?

[0barnzy0]

absolutely amazing......

[littlemissrennieann]

u the man xxx

[SeanTheMac]

Shawlands Academy's only claim to fame?

He was an awesome talent and I was genuinely sad when I heard he had died in his beloved Ireland.

[sharpy2010]

Just sounds like someone waffling on. Not a fan of this, I'm afraid.

[Maximo2468642]

Then go away then...

[sharpy2010]

So I'm not allowed to have an opinion? How narrow minded are you!

[mertz123]

emotion.

[illuminol]

thats what emotion sounds like.

[JSWren]

Please post more from this concert. It is wonderful. Thank You.

[erdyskerdy]

particularly love it when john decides 2 be a glaswegian...sounds a lot better than that mad english vibe he sometimes stumps 4..lol

[franklruth]

Love this!!! Wish I could have seen him play live. Was a mere baby when he came and played this Dublin concert.

[colimurray]

Just watchin John rockin back and forward is great. Pouring everything out as he done, which helped me through a lot so thanks for that mate. Unique!

[LivBD]

Must be 20-25 years since I first heard this song. It touched my heart then, and it still does. This is a truly great song.

[chrisbalderson]

Ha ha, that bit at the end 6.03 - "Two songs from the hippy period."

[rocksoli4]

John you were and are beautiful. You wrote songs that you sang from your being that brought so much joy. A true -blue soul man.

[rugbyorso]

rest in peace and love & sing with the angels..

[mrroykeane16]

totally unique artist

[sugarydonkey]

I love the little raised eyebrows of appreciation when the audience applaud.

[irresistablejewel]

I saw him play live at Glastonbury solo and in the Queens Hall, Edinburgh. His magnetic music would capture the minutes you are in. I'll miss him.

[belly8787]

brilliant song by a great songwriter! you will be truely missed! RIP big guy!

[9thaspect9]

Saw him live and he blew me away, RIP John you will always live on in your music.

[mattyharrison93]

Best guitarist in the world, no question

[viiva89]

His music popped up for me on last fm just today and i wish it had done just a little earlier

RIP