Iron & Wine - The Trapeze Swinger

[isabellabroskii]

Absolute favorite song-3 the only song I've listened to for two days (:

[yellowrainslicker]

Somehow this sweet bearded angel has come to my city twice in the last 4 years and I have been unable to make what would be the only concert I must go to in my life, both times ... I don't care what I have to do but, I will be in the audience the next time around. I love this man and every musical note that comes out of his mouth. This song is my favorite, and this version of the song is out of control amazing!!

[Jamesknordsiek]

I think that trying to pin this song to meaning just one thing is doing it an injustice. Songs like this one, and Justin Vernon's Holocene (although i think Sam is a much more advanced writer) are about much more than one thing specifically... they are like the Bible in that way. They will be there in times good, and times bad, and leave you with a new perception about either one.

[Blisstik]

I've watched this video so many times it's becoming an obsession. The best performance of the most beautiful song.

[mikeysgirl2006]

Ive been listening to this song all day. What a lovely, lovely song.

[ShebbaRod]

Simply Amazing... I have to see this man live before I die... Or I´m gonna be a piss off ghost^^

[nicolebranco1]

<3 fills my heart with love and hope....R.I.P. ero <3

[toast1594]

My girlfriend needs to grow a beard like Sam

[benfrankln]

@ashmyhole I'm so sorry, hon. I really can't imagine in my wildest dreams. I'm so sorry. I can't stop crying. I"m sorry.

[xfactor5492]

Listen to it completely sober, you might cry.

[pretzelzetzel]

5 people came here thinking it was the lady gaga version

[mELONHEAD1899]

Thanks for posting this. Its a great version!

[GuyInLove7]

I think this is by far his best song in its best rendition.

[surveysaysNO]

Every time I watch a live version of this song I am

A) Blown away by the emotion

B) Completely stumped as to why the album version has to sound so watered-down and timid when clearly this is Sam Beam's vision for the song

C) PISSED when idiots whoop it up at "fuck the man" like that's the whole point of the song

[PearlyGatesGrafitti]

@surveysaysNO wtf. that was like the raddest part. it really brings the rebellious nature to the song. i loved that part. but from a name like SURVEY SAYS NO you're probably some hipster who gets mad when someone recognizes anything that isn't a super super deep philosophical and probably illogical meaning behind a phrase or stanza. we get it dude you're cool. now let people enjoy what they like.

[surveysaysNO]

@PearlyGatesGrafitti Sorry, the "rebellious nature"? I don't think you've actually looked at the lyrics, my friend. It's an incidental phrase that doesn't really have anything to do with the rest of the song. If the point of the whole 7-minute song was "Fuck you, I won't do what ya tell me!" then I would understand. But it ain't. They're obviously cheering because he said the word 'fuck' and I just think it detracts from the emotion.

[GuyInLove7]

@surveysaysNO Also note "We'll meet again" and "Someone save temptation." It's what you would see when people make a graffiti. That is seriously not the point of the song, it is ONE line. There is nothing rebellious about this and PearlyGatesGrafitti is misinformed.

[PearlyGatesGrafitti]

@surveysaysNO ope. k. i dont know the lyrics. original hipster is original. hahahahah

[pretzelzetzel]

@surveysaysNO i don't think they whoop it up because they think it's the whole point of the song. i think they whoop it up because he says 'fuck the man'. he's a performer. he knows people will whoop when you say 'fuck the man'. i think that's some kind of law of large crowds - "fuck the man", "don't take the brown acid" and "when i say 'ho', you say 'ha'" will ALWAYS get a reaction.

[liveandbealive]

stop clapping!

[GUIPenguin]

I can't finish a cover of this song without tearing up... :/

[abfplano54]

chills

[ChordsFromTheVoid]

2 years later since I first saw this video and its STILL fucking amazing

[RocksteadyPlumbing]

@lisamaudje He doesn't really remind me of Vic himself but the song reminds me of Vic's words. The emotion that comes through reminds me of Vic also but it's mostly the way the song is written; the words used, the phrasing.  It has that mid-life nostalgia that Vic was so good at but with a little less regret.

[lalovacheff]

Beautiful song to say the least

[giblettog]

also, only assholes clap to this song.

[giblettog]

whoever disliked this video is just an asshole.

[gavinauzzie]

This song always reminds of peanut butter!

[americanpie243]

did i just gasm!? ….i think so!

[BleedingKS]

This song fills me with a plethora of emotions. It's perfect.

[bge9198]

Oh my god. Goooooooood.

[RocksteadyPlumbing]

A lot of this song reminds me heavily of Vic Chesnutt. The nostagia, the phrasing, it's just great.

[lisamaudje]

@RocksteadyPlumbing it reminds you of Vic chestnutt or of Vic's music??

[PearlyGatesGrafitti]

I made a youtube account just to say how much i love this song. so moving

[55kirkwood]

5 people are out of their minds if they aren't moved by this song.

[gorducha88]

has to be one of the most phenomenal songs i've ever heard

[yellowrainslicker]

I want them to play this at my funeral. This is my favorite song on the whole world.

[valerio14]

@yellowrainslicker I've always thought I would like them to play at my wedding. this song fits everything which has got feelings

[dirtycockerspaniel]

True musical poetry

[CyMistue]

I want a tab of this live version.

[CooperLordOfAll]

his voice is light; ethereal and forever

[sidelliott]

Please, remember me...a masterpiece.

[puddsauce]

this is seriously my favorite song in the world and my favorite band

[GSanchez13]

FUCK THE MAN!

[MattD37]

this looks like 1080p :D beautiful song..

[marsman888]

one of my favorite songs. this might be the best live version i've ever heard of any song.

[OneLifeOneChance90]

because it says fuck once doesnt make it explicit

[paperthickmusic]

My favorite song for sure ever. -Austin

[SteveLeeG]

sam did this as his encore at radio city music hall a couple of weeks ago and brought 5900 people to absolute silence.

some people can't handle that, sadly.

[Yamahaphone]

Good songs don't need a verse a chorus or a bridge all it needs is a chord progression and a whole lotta love.

[nova0981]

@Yamahaphone Amen

[TomStrudwick0108]

This is my funeral song too.

[CastAThinShadow]

this song makes me tear up. god. sam beam man. sam beam.

[parrothead1992]

Anybody know where I can get a boss shirt like that? (Serious question)

[henobeno]

i saw him on the 25th and it was honestly the WORST concert i have ever been to. i was so looking forward to him, and hes two hours late, sang songs that nobody in the audience knew, and left early. he didnt even song the trapeze swinger :'(

[adamhasnojetfuel]

@henobeno god forbid he's not perfect.

[henobeno]

@adamhasnojetfuel i never wanted him to be perfect, i just didnt want him to be a complete dick

[tylerismybf0]

@henobeno haha he is touring his new album.. he played songs from Kiss Each Other Clean. And he isn't the one driving his car. I'm sure he didn't plan on being late... Think about it

[Filbunkish]

@henobeno yeah well, if you only know "trapeze swinger" and "flightless bird, american mouth" that's your problem. I'm sure people in the audience knew the songs.

I saw him just a couple of days ago. I knew the songs. But they changed up the arrangements on the songs pretty much. Maybe that's why you didn't recognize them.

[cookiiiebreath]

This song always brings a tear to my eye. <3

[LesPaul4306]

BEARD

[mugabsb]

My funeral song

[porterodevon]

This song = Genious

[porterodevon]

This sone = Genious

[addeSYNC]

This is not a song to clap to since Sam does subtle variations in speed. Bah...

[pageerror404]

Listen to it stoned, you might cry.

[Fuseijitsu]

@pageerror404 or just anytime.

[LioninAComa22]

@pageerror404 Listen to it sober, you might cry.

[TheSingingCello]

@pageerror404 try getting it so you cry when your sober

[XxBangurdeadxX]

@pageerror404 Did do, and then I snapped back into reality and realized how unadventurous my life is haha.

[m0i0k0e0s]

@pageerror404  i cry even when i'm not stoned.

[mayerguitar]

@pageerror404 seen him play this twice live, once while sober and once while f*cked up, cried both times

[magickunicorn]

1:31-1:33 nuffsed

[GodsentHellraiser]

BUBBLE! :D

[jamesyu896]

I'm pretty sure this is Jesus singing. This guys is great!

[tomps43]

who is that singing with sam?

[lambdachi1826]

@tomps43 : He's singing with his sister, Sarah. She sings with him a lot. They sound great together, huh?

[cookyfluke]

Oh gosh... he's so amazing... this is just screaming of that first true love; the one you always thought you'd have kids with, grow old with...

Even now, being happily married, it reminds me of that first love who inspired me and made me open my heart to so much.

[smc0173]

@cookyfluke

Could not have been said better :)

[inNickwebelieve]

My friend wanted to smoke and go to one of his shows but i wouldnt even wanna smoke cause he is amazing already

[it5ju5talx]

thank you for buying an awesome video camera and filming this!

[pseudogenesis]

0:18 Lol, was that a bubble?

[easelnorela]

"A vision too removed to mention"...oof. Too good.

[KFCBUCKETS]

this song takes me to somewhere outside this world

[MaritAkilah]

I think this is my favorite song of all time. And I can't believe 4 people have disliked this video. This is way too beautiful and complex and moving to dislike!

[maddison31797]

Too bad Sam's cool enough not to tell all those guys to shut up.

[pretzelzetzel]

that woman singer keeps being off. maybe she needs a monitor rather than just trying to ear it... FAIL, ow, ow, ow. what a way to ruin a lovely song

[georgearakawa]

@pretzelzetzel No way! She is incredible! She is very talented. Her name is Sarah, Sam Beam's little sister. 

[WellOfWisdom]

Even if he sucked, I would still like this video just because of his fuckawesome beard.

[slycoperofer]

@WellOfWisdom Yes. Good thing he doesn't suck :P

[samtc2]

it's beautiful. just beautiful.

[noirsurblank]

JUST THE MOST AMAZING SOUND QUALITY IN A YOUTUBE VIDEO.

THANKS A LOT!!!

[kylaatkinson]

this is the greatest video ive ever seen

[keirs12]

luckily the crowd learned to stfu and keep the stupid kiddie clapping to a minimum.

[pretzelzetzel]

@keirs12 aren't we mature. we adults know never to clap our hands.

[coku09]

Epic

[jmInDreams]

Listen to this atleast 3 times a week-It is poetry in motion...it is words that conjure thought and everything inbetween that makes it one of the best written and sung songs i have ever heard!!!!!!!!!!

[TheSilverdruid]

I guess you had to be there. I bet you would have been stood wisely and nodding sagely on a cold wet very late Sunday night. Still I have great memories of that night and yeah "F4CK THE MAN"

[ajuvix]

I would have favorited this if it weren't for the stupid audience. Anyone knows where this was recorded so I make sure I never visit?

[reieto]

thanks, sam. i can only thank you and give you a :)

[0bananaskin0]

Wow!

Thankyou so much for this... painting embellished with truth

[becket03]

silly to clap at "fucxk" but still someone should commission a painting of the Pearly Gates containing all the wonderful imagery in this magnificent song...i'd proudly hang a knock-off on my wall if it was done cleverly enough..sam beam is the real deal...colleen keegan this song is about us!!

[ImFallingForAutumn]

@TimmmyKyle I totally agree, beautiful simple tune, no crappy computerised technology at work on his voice, just pure heartfelt music as it should be!!!

[jvaleriu]

This song is straight from the heart, and to the folks laughing and trying to clap along i must say that you are missing the point completely. Anyway, great song and very talented songwriting.

[eatdogshite]

Holy Shit! Its Zack Galifianakis

[BlackCat3333333]

@eatdogshite and @yurismir1 LOLLLLLL

[mjtino08]

i cry. so frocking beautiful

[Outie1179]

His voice is better live its ridiculous

[ipeterson665]

i think that if jesus played guitar he would look and sound just like sam beam.

[bibiez]

Such a sad song,

Very god though, I had enver heard it before

<3

[neurofoam]

i've always been of the opinion that for sad songs, piano > acoustic, always... so i'd really like to hear a piano version of this. that'd be really nice, since this is great already

[yurismir1]

Wow...Zach Galifianakis is an even better musician than I thought. ;)

[danty100]

it's the first time i hear this song and by far i Love it

[LxrKan]

this man is an special bread of artist, one of that last of his kind!

[sexysax92]

I <3 Sam Beam

[InovaArchangelDX3]

melloooo

[sqwaladina]

This is an amazing song. It gives me goosebumps and brings tears to my eyes. I just heard it recently at a dance concert. The piece choreographed to it was also amazing.

[goliabianca]

piangere per ore..

[CaughtinaDreamx3]

I always loved this song. But when I finally got to see him live at a Folk Fest a few months ago.. wow. Totally blew me away. He's such a brilliant man with a pure, unique voice.

[jmInDreams]

Beautiful poetry

[scarymike51]

this is a perfect song to listen to while driving on a peaceful road with the windows down.

[LxrKan]

@scarymike51

or with the windows down stopped in traffic in a big city jst watching people go about their lives…

uughh i gave myself goosebumps :)

[julie1300]

wish I could just listen to his live performance...alone. I promise not to clap , laugh, talk or scream at random and inconvenient times.

[fernandoruirodrigues]

Better than all the songs he has ever done together

[raven2401]

@fernandoruirodrigues don't you this it's weird how repetitive it is but still is amazing and it works i love it!!!! this is the most beautiful song i have ever heard!!!

[scarymike51]

absolutely agree

[Spacemonkeymojo]

Amazing, love this song.

[backgroundbob]

A beautiful version of a beautiful song. He performed this live in Manchester, the first time I'd heard it - I just stood there in awe as verse after verse rolled by, thinking, "this man has just used every wonderful image I could ever have thought up in a lifetime, in one song."

I understand what you mean about the crowd, but remember that this is the Green Man festival! I don't think the cheers are meant to be ironic - I think they really appreciate the sentiment of sticking it to the Man.

[Christamaphone]

This song is so incredibly beautiful, it makes me so emotional every time I hear it.

[theugene]

amazing song.  listen to my cover let me know what you think. IandW are my fav. i recorded my version of this w out ever hearing the original. my friend sent me the lyerics. love ya sam

[95joeblo]

wow this is actually amazing

go iron and wine

[mlynn7]

Oh who the hell can see forever anyway...brings me peace at night...what's with the bubbles??lol

[skirwan900]

This is probably one of the best live videos I've found of this song, thanks.

[mademoisellesarah]

does anybody know a specific version where he does the falsetto on "the trapeze act was wodnerful"?

[bpmart0]

think it's messiah college

[GENERICSCREENNAME777]

They are slightly annoying, but this is a fantastic version regardless. It's worth watching.. so passionate.

[memetgenic]

like this song

[crankdatunowho]

what stupid fucks..this song is obviously not a clapping song...

[RunyonFan]

OH, GOD, NO!

I couldn't agree more. Audiences have a mob mentality which, of course, is the height of stupidity.

Thanks. I'm glad someone agrees with me.

Oh! And the people who hooted at "Fuck the man?" Morons.

[findingnvrland21]

This guy is God. Best beard ever. RESPECT.

[HKyle1]

@findingnvrland21 i read that as beard respect ever ;) still fits.

[yourfriendg00]

beautiful song. why people feel the need to clumsily clap along to songs like this will always baffle me...

[Tralfamador5]

maybe because they enjoy the music... ?

I don't really see anything wrong with it. sorry they aren't perfect like you :(

[yourfriendg00]

haha no no i think you've misunderstood me. i just think this song has a certain vibe thats best suited to a silent room you know? of course clapping along to live music has its place, i do it myself. i just wouldn't to something like this.

[trefychan]

@yourfriendg00

Cos it rained a lot and it stoped when he came on, and we were so oved taht we wahted to be part of it. You had to be there to clumsily clap along you fuckwit. Felt nice,.

[Nomorewarmgun]

@yourfriendg00 Because they're overwhelmed with something unexplainable, so all they can do is express is through motion, and feeling like they are part of something larger by clapping together. Get it?

[FolkListener]

@yourfriendg00

I can't stand when people do that. I was at a Tallest Man On Earth concert in Philly and there were people doing that hahaha... he told them to stop, it was great.

[westgilgo2007]

@yourfriendg00 white people...

[efrenjh]

@yourfriendg00 i'm glad they didn't clap in the live album:p

[mrmedina52]

@efrenjh Is there a live album?

[efrenjh]

@mrmedina52 i believe it's called norfolk?

[mrmedina52]

@efrenjh Thanks!

[indieifyoucan]

@yourfriendg00 tools for sure... good call... epic songwriting requires zero claps, just try to keep that smile, that is infectious when you see this guy, for the rest of your life....

[bergkamparsenal10]

i wish he would record this version instead of the version found on the rarities cd. the studio version is good but his live version is simply amazing

[p0o7]

there is a studio version similar to this.. I think I may have gotten it from ThePirateBay in a discography. Either way, it's out there.

[khaoticXombie]

Try to find the "Such Great Heights" single

It's got this version on it (Studio of course)

[captainadam1]

Out of the hundreds/thousands of songs I've heard in my life, this is one of the very best.

[BoobyMcDoogle]

they do that every time he plays this live, anywhere I think. check any other video =/

[CumminsAddict]

I love this song so much, makes me miss my dad

[CloudsConveyify]

lol obviously the message is wasted if you go whoo. haha

[amazeroth]

"Uh, he said "fuck", I have to cheer!" *cheer*

[456knarf]

eargasm

[Whoozinga]

Some artists make my day with their voice, or their dancing, or their musical skills, and for me with Sam Beam, it's his lyrics. They're simple, abstract and they open us to our deepest most private interpretations. It's like reading a John Steinbeck novel for me. Truly talented work, I'm hooked.

[judah1poet]

Fantastik WRITING!

[jangocore]

what an annoying audience.

[KrazyBeeBogey]

i needed to comment on this...one of the most beautiful pieces of music i have EVER heard.

[moshicadistortion]

this is the most amazing song.

[julie1300]

I enjoyed this performance....I love the rich gentle tones of his acoustic guitar and his passionate lyrics; I liked the contrast...usually I prefer the studio version to everything almost...but on occasion the live versions create a wonderful spin on a great song....as long as your open-minded enough not to expect a cookie cutter version of a song....think of it like a new experience....

[iloveyoujules]

you're right, pretty good performance!

[acedrums]

really dislike this performance actually. adore Iron & Wine and this song especially, but he kind of croons and moans rather than applying his usual beautiful whisper..also the tempo changes etc just detract from the song I think. Just my opinion, but I think I'll stick to the recorded version

[ChordsFromTheVoid]

its hard to reproduce that vocal style live...

[Snappa29]

I think a silence in awe would say more than the clapping and the ooo's when he says " fuck the man ".. but I am trying to understand or entertain the thought of the crowd showing their support and love with the mindless typical antics

[TheSilverdruid]

You had to be there,

[Whoozinga]

Agreed

[mississippimoon]

"an angel kissing on a sinner" what an incredibly beautiful image!

[dalta0110]

Wow...that's my favorite performance of this song. This has to be my all-time favorite song...it's just so...I don't know how to describe it...but wow!